Blue Eagles oust Warriors, boost Final Four bid

Reigning five-time titlist Ateneo missed the services of coach Bo Perasol but not its killer instinct as the Blue Eagles showed University of the East the exit.

With prized wingmen Kiefer Ravena and Chris Newsome taking turns in the second half, the Blue Eagles rallied past the Red Warriors, 77-72, to boost their Final Four hopes in the UAAP Season 76 men’s cage championships at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Smarting from a painful 64-66 defeat dealt by archrival La Salle exactly a week ago, Ateneo got off to a slow start, even trailing by as many as 12 points, before Ravena and Newsome came up big in the crunch, leading to a seventh win in 12 outings and tying idle University of Santo Tomas at fourth spot.

Not only did they avenge a 68-72 defeat in their initial meeting last July 17, the Blue Eagles also shredded the semifinals hopes of the Red Warriors, who suffered their fourth straight setback and seventh overall against five wins.

Ravena led Ateneo with a season-high 22 points, 13 coming in the second half, while the athletic Newsome, a 6-foot-2 forward, banged in nine of his 19 markers in the fourth canto.

Prolific playmaker Roi Sumang led all scorers with 27 points but laid a big fat egg in the payoff canto, typifying UE’s sputtering finish. Making matters worse, Sumang also suffered cramps on his right calf late in the game.

Import Charles Mammie tallied a double-double outing of 11 markers and 17 rebounds for UE, which played without suspended wingman Ralf Olivares for the second straight game.

The Main Man: Chris Newsome continues to live up to his billing.

Proving he’s more than just a lockdown defender, Newsome took charge offensively in the payoff canto, racking up nine big points in all cylinders, highlighted by a hangtime move against UE center Charles Mammie.

Newsome also had eight rebounds, three assists and one steal while trying to contain UE star Roi Sumang.
 
Honorable Mention: Virtually absent in the first half, Kiefer Ravena–as expected–made his presence felt in the pivotal turn.

The 6-foot guard provided the initial force in Ateneo’s uprising as he racked up eight huge markers in the third canto where they outscored their rivals 22-11.
 
Game Turning Point: The Blue Eagles appeared headed for an easy win as they took a 72-62 cushion but the Red Warriors, thanks to Gino Jumao-as and JM Noble, answered with seven straight points.

UE had a chance to pull closer when Sumang drove hard to the basket but the Tondo native missed it and, in the process, suffered cramps in his right calf.

In the ensuing play, Ateneo got away with a backcourt violation on guard Juami Tiongson and Newsome fed a wide-open Ravena who made a lay-up for a 74-71 cushion with 1:17 to go.

A Jhon Sumido jumper kept UE’s hopes alive but Ateneo, showing steely nerves, managed to hang tough.
 
He Said It:
Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga: “Our adjustments in the second half were mainly defensively. We gave up too many points in the first half. We talked about playing better defense–first on Roi Sumang, second better individual ‘D.’ May halong gigil ‘yung first half. But in the second half, the players stepped up on ‘D.’ they were able to follow our game plan.”
 
The scores:
Ateneo (77) – Ravena 22, Mammie 19, Buenafe 9, Elorde 7, Tiongson 6, Pessumal 5, Erram 5, Golla 4, Tolentino 0, Enriquez 0.

UE (72) – Sumang 27, Mammie 11, Jumao-as 10, Alberto 10, Noble 5, Santos 4, Sumido 2, Hernandez 2, Javier 1, Olayon 0, Pujante 0, Flores 0, Casajeros 0.
Quarterscores: 14-16, 34-44, 56-55, 77-72.