Metro Manila, Philippines – The Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles snapped the four-game winning run of the National University (NU) Bulldogs, 69-65, in Round 2 of the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
With the Bulldogs holding on to a slim three-point cushion in the last frame, team captain Jared Bahay and rookie Kieffer Alas drained three straight treys with less than a minute left in regulation to secure the lead and the momentum.
Alas and Bahay lifted the Blue Eagles to their second straight victory with 18 and 16 points, respectively.
The win kept the Final Four hopes of Ateneo alive as they improved to a 5-4 standing, tied with the De La Salle University Green Archers at the third seed. Meanwhile, NU slipped to a 6-3 record at second.
Both squads traded baskets to open the match until the Blue Eagles forced crucial turnovers from the Jhocson-based squad that led to an 8-0 blitz late in the opener for a five-point edge, 24-19.
NU rallied back in the second frame as a right-corner triple from Paul Francisco triggered a 9-0 counterrun, but an and-1 play from Alas kept a slim 42-41 lead for Ateneo before halftime.
The Bulldogs did not look back in the third quarter despite a mid-quarter blitz by the Blue Eagles after Mac Alfanta sank a right-corner triple for a two-point lead heading into the last frame, 55-53.
Both squads struggled to find their rhythm in the fourth quarter until crucial triples from Bahay and Alas breathed life for the Katipunan squad. A triple from Alfanta was not enough to fuel a comeback for NU.
The loss foiled a double-double output from Mo Diassana, who produced 17 points and 13 rebounds. Jumamoy also chipped in 16 points and six boards.
The Blue Eagles will head onto a tougher challenge against archrival La Salle on Saturday, Oct. 31, at the same venue.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs will look to go back to its winning ways against the win-hungry University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers at the same time and venue.
NewsWatch Plus intern Jade Bagas contributed to this report.
The scores:
Ateneo (69) — Alas 18, Bahay 16, Kapihe 8, Espinosa 7, Roberts 7, Rogers 5, Tuano 4, Espina 3, Baruwa 1, Bongo 0, Cainglet 0, Leal 0
NU (65) — Diassana 17, Jumamoy 16, Padrones 8, Alfanta 6, Francisco 6, Garcia 6, Palacielo 6, Cartel 0, Laconsay 0, Reyes 0, Solomon 0
Quarterscores: 24-19, 42-41, 53-55, 69-65
