Ateneo rips UST by 40 points, sweeps 2nd round

STRONG FINISH. The Ateneo Blue Eagles close out the elimination round in dominant fashion. Photo by Michael Gatpandan/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – It was a no contest from the get-go

The Ateneo Blue Eagles wrecked the UST Growling Tigers anew, 102-62, to complete a 7-0 sweep of the second round of the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, November 14.

Angelo Kouame squeezed in a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double with 3 blocks in just 13 minutes on the floor for the Blue Eagles, who headed into the match assured of the top seed and the twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.

Reserve big man Will Navarro erupted for a career-high 17 points on a perfect 7-of-7 clip with 5 boards in just 15 minutes.

The defending champions, who wrapped up the eliminations with a 12-2 record, are still waiting for their semifinal foe.

La Salle (8-5), UP (7-6) or FEU (7-6) all remain in the running for Final Four berths.

UST bowed out at 6th place with a 5-9 record.

With UST’s star rookie CJ Cansino watching from the bench in a leg cast after an unfortunate ACL injury, Ateneo exploded out of the gates with a 16-0 charge. It took 5 minutes before Marvin Lee broke the drought with a floater.

Ateneo only soared higher to a 36-point lead, 71-35, after a putback and a two-handed jam from the towering rookie Kouame at the 5:20 mark of the 3rd.

The Blue Eagles also routed the Tigers by 32 points, 85-53, in the first round.

Renzo Subido dragged UST to the finish line with 18 points on a 4-of-12 (33%) clip from downtown. Tobi Bryan Agustin stepped up with a career-high 15 markers to go with 9 boards, 3 assists, a steal and a block.

The Scores

Ateneo 102 – Kouame 22, Navarro 17, Mendoza 9, Andrade 9, Go 8, Ravena 6, Asistio 6, Nieto Ma 5, Nieto Mi 5, Black 4, Verano 4, Daves 4, Belangel 3, Wong 0, Tio 0, Mamuyac 0.

UST 62 – Subido 18, Agustin 15, Marcos 13, Mahinay 6, Huang 4, Lee 2, Ando 2, Cosejo 2, Bataller 0, Zamora 0, Bonleon 0, Caunan 0.

Quarters: 34-13, 58-31, 83-42, 102-62.

– Rappler.com