Ateneo blasts UP, creates three-way tie for 2nd place

Two-time defending champion Ateneo strolled to an easy 78-53 win over University of the Philippines for its first back-to-back triumph in the 73rd UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

After a slow start, the Eagles frustrated the lowly Maroons with a stingy defense to easily roll to their fourth win in six outings and join idle La Salle and Adamson, which pulled-off a 69-56 decision against University of the East in the first game, in occupying the second to fourth spots. The Fighting Maroons, who even made a coaching change midway in the first round after Aboy Castro went on leave, remain winless after six games. They will close out the first round against National University on Saturday. Nico Salva topped the scoring with 18 points while sophomore guard Juami Tiongson took advantage of the extended minutes given to him by coach Norman Black by firing a career-high 13 points for the Loyola-based squad. Lefty guard Eric Salamat had an all-around game, with 12 points, two rebounds, nine assists and four steals in 25 minutes. The Blue Eagles trailed 13-12 after the first period then led 23-22 midway into the second. From there, a see-saw battle turned into a demolition derby that frustrated UP at both ends of the floor. "The offense in the first quarter was not very good but we're really trying to reach our goal defensively by limiting our opponents to 15 points per quarter and we were able to do that," said Black, who is reportedly being eyed to coach Meralco when the utility giant joins the PBA in its 36th season. UP was held to dismal 25-percent shooting while holding the Maroons' heralded gunner Mike Silungan to just five points on a 2-of-10 shooting. Ateneo also turned 14 UP turnovers into 16 points while scoring 12 in transition compared to the Maroons' four markers. The Eagles also got solid contributions from big men Frank Golla and Justin Chua, who combined for 16 points while Jason Escueta made six markers and grabbed nine rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench. UP center Magi Sison tallied 13 points and eight rebounds while Alvin Padilla added 12 markers, nine boards and five assists. The Diliman-based cagers, who stunned Ateneo in last year's first round, are still aiming for their first win in six games. It is their worst start since going 0-14 in 2007. Ateneo's last opponent will be a finals rematch against UE on Sunday at the PhilSports Arena while UP takes on National University on Saturday at The Arena in San Juan. – JVP, GMANews.TV