UAAP Saturday: Ateneo perfect no more!

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Araneta Coliseum – The Adamson Falcons succeeded to find the achilles heel of Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagle’s dominance of the Season 74 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Senior’s basketball competition. For 13 games, the Blue Eagles from Katipunan were perfect and many experts drawing up the scenarios already with an Ateneo sweep. In its last game of the eliminations, all the accolades of the “perfect” 2011 team were suddenly wiped out by a determined Adamson Soaring Falcons.

Right from the very start, the Falcons showed the crowd that they are their not just to compete but to exorcise some past ghosts. Adamson has not beaten Ateneo since 1997. They have waited 30 games before finally ending an infamous streak. The Falcons were only leading by 3 at the end of the first quarter. They poured it on in the 3rd quarter as they outscored the league leaders 23-7 to bloat the lead to 19 points.

Ateneo tried to make game in the final period but Alex Nuyles and the rest of the Falcons keep on aswering every Ateneo rally. The game ended 62-46 in favor of the Falcons. Adamson’s win clinched them the No.2 spot in the Final 4.

Alex Nuyles had 21 points to lead all scorers. Lester Alvarez added 14 for the Soaring Falcons. Greg Slaughter led Ateneo with 10 points almost 4 points less his season average.

In the first game, UE was able to get back with its first round tormentor UP Fighting Maroons 68-54 to finish in 7th place this season. UP is once again in last place at 2-12, a 2 win increase from last year’s 0-16 disaster. Ebrahim Enguio had his best game of the season finishing with 18 points 6 rebounds 4 steals and 2 blocks to lead the Red Warriors.

Box scores

UE 68 – Enguio 18, Santos 12, Noble 12, Sumang 8, Javier 8, Zamar 4, Casajeros 2, Tagarda 2, Duran 2, Sumido 0, Flores 0

UP 54 – Maniego 12, Juruena 12, Gomez 6, Montecastro 5, Silungan 5, Gamboa 5,Weirzba 3, Romero 2, Mbah 2, Manuel 0,Gingerich 0

ADU 62 – Nuyles 21, Alvarez 14, Camson 6, Manyara 4, Brondial 4, Lozada 4, Colina 4, Etrone 3, Canada 2, Cabrera 0. ADMU 46 – Slaughter 10, Ravena 9, Long 9, Gonzaga 7, Salva 5, Monfort 4, Chua 2, Tiongson 0, Golla 0, Austria 0. Quarters: 14-8, 27-24, 50-31, 62-46.

caloycomment: Perfection Denied

Related articles

• UAAP Saturday (9/3): Game Previews (caloysports.wordpress.com)
• UAAP 74: FEU and AdU avenge first round loses (caloysports.wordpress.com)
• Adamson upsets Ateneo (ABS-CBN)
• Falcons prey on Eagles (Philstar)

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