By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles kept their title-retention bid alive after a 70-48 rout of the Adamson University Falcons in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball do-or-die game at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Wednesday, November 22.
Jared Brown spearheaded the offense with 20 points, four rebounds, four assists, and a steal as the defending champion Blue Eagles secured the fourth and last Final Four spot.
“Our coaches have been preaching the game plan and just following what they would say. I think today, we really followed it to a tee and we executed what they wanted,” Brown said.
Sean Quitevis added 11 markers, while rookie Mason Amos contributed 10 points for the Blue Eagles, which will face no. 1 seed the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the semifinals on Saturday, November 25.
Brown and Amos almost outscored the entire Falcons squad in the first half with 14 and eight points, respectively, on a combined six triples to boost the Blue Eagles to a 40-26 lead at the half.
In the third period, the Blue Eagles did not allow the Falcons to pull off a comeback, providing all the answers to increase their advantage to 17 heading into the fourth quarter at 56-39.
The Blue Eagles continued their rampage in the fourth quarter with six straight points from Kai Ballungay, Quitevis and Joseph Obasa for a 62-39 cushion with 6:18 remaining in the game.
“I guess, probably, on the scoreboard, it didn’t look like a tough game, but it was a very tough game. It’s always with Adamson. And I think that’s reflective, probably on the low score,” Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin said.
Matty Erolon led the way with nine points. Didat Hanapi chipped in eight points and four rebounds, while Jed Colonia and Vince Magbuhos, who played their final game for Adamson, combined for three points.
Jerom Lastimosa, who was sidelined due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, was fielded in the game twice and finished with a three-pointer in the final seconds of the contest.
ATENEO 70 — Brown 20, Quitevis 11, Amos 10, Ballungay 7, Bongo 4, Obasa 4, Koon 3, Nieto 3, Credo 3, Espinosa 3, Lazaro 2, Chiu 0, Gamber 0, Tuano 0.
ADAMSON 48 — Erolon 9, Hanapi 8, Calisay 5, Manzano 4, Yerro 4, Montebon 4, Sabandal 4, Magbuhos 3, Lastimosa 3, Barasi 2, Ramos 2, Colonia 0, Ojarikre 0, Cañete 0, Barcelona 0, Anabo 0.
Quarterscores: 24-15, 40-25, 56-39, 70-48./ASC, WDJ