Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) opened the 82nd UAAP men’s basketball season with a convincing 70-52 win over Adamson University earlier this week at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Angelo Kouame led AdMU with a double-double on 17 points and 11 rebounds, along with six blocks; while Ilonggo forward Ferdinand ‘Thirdy’ Ravena III contributed 10 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists.
AdMU opened the first period with a 16-6 score before Adamson narrowed the gap to 57-52 off shots from Valandre Chauca. The two-time defending champions, however, did not allow their opponents to come any closer, armed with an impenetrable defense, their offense delivered 13 unanswered points for another double-digit edge.
“We knew it was going to be tough,” said AdMU head coach Tab Baldwin. “Adamson was really the last team I wanted to see in the first game.”/ASC, WDJ