CEBU, Philippines – The Ateneo Blue Eagles made an endgame surge when they were about to collapse, thanks to Eric Salamat.
Salamat scored five of his 11 points in the closing seconds of the contest to power the Eagles to a 76-68 victory over the Smart-Pampanga Buddies last night in the Friendship Cup basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.
It was, however, reigning UAAP MVP Rabai al-Hussaini who paced the Eagles of coach Norman Black with 21 points, most of them he made when they needed it most in the final period.
The Eagles shoot for their third straight win and a final berth when they take on the CESAFI selection tomorrow.
Ateneo’s Cebuano ward Christopher Sumalinog hit two triples to put the Eagles in front at halftime, 30-29. He sank another trey for a 56-50 Ateneo lead with 27 seconds left in the period.
The Buddies staged a courageous fightback but Ryan Buenafe, Rico Salva and Jai Reyes, son of PBA coach Chot Reyes, pumped up life to the Eagles before Salamat came up with his own endgame heroics.
Reyes, who topped the Eagles with 23 points in their 83-69 victory against the Landmasters the other day, chipped in 14 points followed by Salamat, whose score macthed his jersey No.11.
Gelig finished with 18 points to the Buddies, who suffered their second straight loss in as many games. Former Ateneo star Ford Arao had 14 points followed by Anthony Espiritu with 11.
The scores
Ateneo (76) - Al-Hussaini 21, Reyes 14, Salamat 11, Buenafe 9, Salva 8, Sumalinog 6, Baclao 2, Austria 2, Long 2, Chua 1
Pampanga (68) - Elig 18, Arao 14, A. Espiritu 11, Vizcara 7, Al Espiritu 4, Luanzon 3, Saguindel 3, Alfad 2, Taylor 2, Baluyot 2, Nicdao 2 – THE FREEMAN