By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles kept its UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball title hopes alive after a 65-55 win over University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons in Game 2 of the Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday night, December 14.

Angelo Kouame led the way with double-double 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Bryson Ballungay and Rence Padrigao added 15 and 11 markers, respectively, as the Blue Eagles tied the best-of-three title series at 1-1.

The Fighting Maroons surged to an early 14-11 lead behind conversions by Negrense Harold Alarcon, but the Eagles answered with four straight points from Geo Chiu and a free throw by Dave Ildefonso for a 20-19 lead.

The Blue Eagles continued its run in the second quarter with baskets from Kouame and Ballungay for a 28-19 lead, but the Fighting Maroons answered back to cut it to 25-30 on a basket by Ilonggo Gerry Abadiano.

Ateneo got back-to-back baskets from Matthew Daves to increase it back to 36-27, but UP kept it close anew at 33-39 on a Henry Galinato hit. Chiu beats the halftime buzzer to give the Blue Eagles a 41-33 halftime lead.

The Blue Eagles continued its run in the third frame with a triple and consecutive inside hits from Kouame for a 55-42 spread. Carl Tamayo answered for UP but Ballungay scored one anew for Ateneo for a 57-44 score heading into the fourth.

The Blue Eagles went on to build its largest lead at 61-46 on back-to-back hits by Ballungay and Kouame.

The Fighting Maroons responded with triples from Tamayo and Terrence Fortea to cut the deficit to 54-63.

UP had a chance to come even closer but Galinato missed on an uncontested inside hit before Ateneo wrapped up the Game 2 victory with an inside connection from Kouame with over two minutes in the game.

Tamayo led the way for defending champion Fighting Maroons with 15 points, including two outside shots. JD Cagulangan chipped in 11 markers while Season 85 MVP Maodo Malick Diouf was held to just two points and 11 rebounds.

The Blue Eagles and the Fighting Maroons will dispute the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball championship in the do-or-die Game 3 slated on Monday evening, December 19, at the same venue.

ATENEO 65 — Kouame 19, Ballungay 15, Padrigao 11, Chiu 6, Daves 6, Ildefonso 3, Gomez 2, Lazaro 2, Koon 1, Andrade 0, Quitevis 0.

UP 55 — Tamayo 15, Cagulangan 11, Fortea 9, Lucero 6, Alarcon 5, Abadiano 4, Diouf 2, Galinato 2, Spencer 1, Calimag 0, Gonzales 0, Lina 0.

Quarterscores: 20-19, 41-33, 57-44, 65-55./ASC, WDJ