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By Emil Noguera Correspondent
ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY
played steadier in the second half to repulse University of the
Philippines, 93-59, and secure at least a playoff for the remaining
semis slots in the 70th University Athletic Association of the
Philippines men’s basketball tournament Thursday at the Ninoy
Aquino Stadium.
The Blue Eagles nailed their
eighth win in 12 games and will need one more win to automatically
barge in the Final Four phase along with unbeaten University of the
East and second-running De La Salle University.
If Far Eastern University loses
its match against National University on Saturday, Ateneo will get
the third semifinals berth.
Sophomore shooting guard Eric
Salamat led Ateneo with a career-high 18 points and two rebounds in
17 minutes of play while forward Ford Arao scored 13 mar-kers on top
of nine rebounds. Severino Baclao and Eman Monfort ban-ged in 10
points apiece.
“We played relaxed in the first
half. I challenged them to play with more intensity and more fire in
the second half and they responded well,” said Ateneo coach Norman
Black.
The Blue Eagles are all geared up
to face archrival Green Archers in an expected jampacked Araneta
Coliseum on Sunday.
“We will just show up at
Araneta and we are ready to play on. Sunday is a big game, we have
to beat them again,” uttered Black.
After fighting neck-to-neck in
the first 20 minutes, the Blue Eagles made an explosive surge in the
second half behind Salamat and and Chris Tiu to take a commanding
64-42 advantage going into the final quarter.
Ateneo posted its biggest lead of
36 points on Baclao’s undergoal stab with 5:31 left.
The Fighting Maroons soaked up
their 12 consecutive setbacks.
Forward Socrates Rivera and
Martin Reyes paced UP with combined 17 points.
“I know we are playing bad. We
really lagged behind because the team was formed one month before
the season started, we have two games left, let’s see what will
happen,” said Joe Lipa, who steered UP to the 1986 season
championship crown.
“I believe in the skills of my
players, I recruited them myself. My mandate with the team is up to
2008 but there are people asking for my head. If they prevail then I
won’t take it against them. I will not stand in the way of the
development of the team,” he added.
Scores:
Ateneo 93 – Salamat 18, Arao
13, Baclao 10, Monfort 10, Long 9, Laterre 7, Al-Hussaini 6, Tiu 5,
Baldos 4, Escueta 4, Sumalinog 3, Reyes 3, Barracoso 1, Nkemakolam
0.
UP 59 – Rivera 9, Reyes
8, Marfori 7, Lopez 7, Gamboa 7, Sison 6, De Asis 6, dela Victoria
3, Agbayani 3, Epres 2, Serios 1, Wong 0, Co 0, Hipolito 0.
Quarters: 21-21, 40-34,
64-42, 93-59.
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