The Eagles sealed the semifinal pairings by ripping the Warriors, 76-65, yesterday in the 68th UAAP basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.
JC Intal sizzled with 21 points while Doug Kramer chipped in 16 on top of 16 big rebounds as Ateneo claimed its third straight win over UE, the No. 3 spot and an expected explosive showdown with archrival and defending champion La Salle on Sunday at the same venue.
UE, for its part, plays FEU, which topped the elimination round with 12 wins and two losses, in the other Final Four game.
"This is the first time our big men had the legs, we haven’t been getting that production from them lately, it’s a good sign," said Ateneo coach Norman Black.
The Eagles, however, would be hard-pressed against the Archers, who clinched No. 2 spot outright after emerging with the highest quotient from a three-way tie, needing two wins to book a return trip to the finals in three years.
"It’s an exam we haven’t been able to pass, we have to study and prepare hard against them (Archers). It’s a problem we have to solve," said Black.
Ateneo seized a 53-39 advantage – it’s biggest – early in the third quarter but UE closed the gap a 51-54 on the strength of Jorel Canizares’ constant outside sniping.
It was the closest the Warriors could get as the Eagles had every answer to gain the win.
Kramer churned in 12 point and collared nine rebounds as early as the first half as the Eagles went to the break with a 41-32 lead.
He got help from Magnum Membrere, who had eight points in a second quarter stretch when Ateneo turned a 21-19 advantage to a 37-24 lead midway in the second period.
Canizares then scored six points in an 8-4 exchange as UE closed in going into the break.