Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) delivered an 89-63 beatdown of the University of the Philippines (UP) over the weekend in the 82nd UAAP men’s basketball season at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Angelo Kouame tallied 19 points, 15 rebounds, and seven blocks for AdMU; while Matt Nieto added 18 markers, five rebounds, and three assists; William Navarro scored 14 points; Ilonggo forward Ferdinand ‘Thirdy’ Ravena III – 13; and Bacolodnon point guard Samjosef Belangel – 11.
Trailing 21-15 after the first 10 minutes, AdMU were unflappable in the face of pressure and took charge in the third quarter, turning a 35-31 halftime lead into a 45-32 edge with 7:29 left.
AdMU gained a larger advantage in the second half after UP head coach Dolreich Perasol ejected and widened their lead to 27 points, up 89-62 on a triple by Tyler Tio.
“I thought our guys played fairly and methodically,” said AdMU head coach Tab Baldwin. “We didn’t get carried away with the crowd and the emotions.”
“After all, it’s just a regular season game,” he added./ASC, WDJ