Blue Eagles secure Final Four spot with come from behind victory over Tamaraws
By Maxine Louise Lagman
21 October 2017
Defeating the Far Eastern University, 70-59, the Ateneo Blue Eagles officially secured a Final Four seat in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Blue Eagles kept their record clean at 10-0, while the Tamaraws dropped to an even 5-5 slate to remain at fourth place.
“FEU came into this game prepared,” said Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga. “We have to expect that every game and that it would not be easier for us.”
Ateneo started a sloppy first half as FEU took an early 14-4 lead and ended the first half at 34-27.
“We didn’t start off on the right foot. We had a bad first quarter, but we are quite happy with the final three quarters,” added Arespacochaga.
Down 50-47, the Blue Eagles made a comeback in the fourth quarter, mounting a 20-7 run to take control of the game and grab a 60-57 lead with 1:05 minutes left in the game and a basket by Isaac Go and Matt Nieto eventually sealed the win.
Matt Nieto finished the game with 14 points, six rebounds and two steals, while Raffy Verano chipped in another 14. Both made it big for Ateneo as they single-handedly outscored FEU in the payoff period, 15-9.
On the other hand, Ron Dennison paced the Tamaraws with 12 points and eight rebounds, while Arvin Tolentino chipped in a double-double 11 points and 11 rebounds in the losing effort.
The Scores:
ADMU 70 – Nieto Ma 14, Verano 14, Tolentino 7, Ravena 6, Black 6, Asistio 6, Ikeh 5, Go 5, Nieto Mi 4, Mamuyac 3, Mendoza 0, Tio 0, Andrade 0
