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ATENEO DE MANILA stamped its class over University of
the Philippines 83-66 on Saturday to remain unbeaten after four
games in the 71st University Athletic Association of the Philippines
men’s basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena.
Rookie Ryan Buenafe scored 11 of
his 17 points in the third quarter where the Blue Eagles took a
48-33 lead. The former National Collegiate Athletic Association
junior most valuable player also had 2 rebounds and 2 steals.
Rabeh Al-Hussaini banged in 13
points and 7 rebounds while veteran playmakers Eric Salamat and
Chris Tiu added 12 and 11 markers for Ateneo, which posted its
biggest lead at 74-54 going into the final eight minutes.
“He’s [Buenafe] playing like
a veteran, not as rookie. He’s playing with a lot of maturity and
we’re expecting more in the coming games,” said Ateneo coach
Norman Black.
Martin Reyes and Arvin Braganza
finished with 12 points each while Woody Co and Mark Lopez combined
for 16 points for the Fighting Maroons, who absorbed their third
loss in four outings.
Braganza scored 5 straight points
to put the Fighting Maroons within 42-51 but Buenafe scored 4 points
from the free throw line and Nonoy Baclao completed a 3-point play
off Kevin Astorga to give the Blue Eagles a 58-43 advantage.
--Emil C. Noguera
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