Ateneo claws UE to keep unbeaten slate, 73-61

Unbeaten Ateneo shrugged off a sluggish start to keep University of the East winless, 73-61, in the 74th UAAP basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum. The Blue Eagles drew a collective effort from rookies Greg Slaughter and Kiefer Ravena, and veterans Nico Salva and Eman Monfort to hike their record to a perfect 4-0 slate. Slaughter registered his first double-double in the UAAP with 18 points and 10 rebounds aside from blocking two shots as the Loyola-based cagers won their eighth straight game dating back to the start of last year's Final Four. But Ateneo had to rind it out against a lowly UE squad, who fought heavily in the first half before faltering in the final two periods. "It wasn't the prettiest game, that's for sure. We struggled the whole game but luckily we didn't turn the ball over too much and we kept trying to put the ball inside," said coach Norman Black, whose team turned the ball over just six times. Ravena registered 13 points, two rebounds and four assists and Nico Salva scored 10 markers. Monfort produced another solid game with nine points, six rebounds and four assists. The diminutive Monfort hit a three-pointer then stole an inbound pass for an easy layup to give the Eagles a commanding 63-47 lead with 4:09 left in the contest. Monfort's three, which came 29 seconds earlier, was the lone triple made in 17 attempts by the Eagles. Paul Zamar had 13 points and four assists to lead the Red Warriors while JM Noble scored 11 for the Red Warriors, who dropped to 0-4. It was the second straight season that the Recto-based cagers posted the same start. - JVP, GMA News