ADMU Blue Eagles VS UP Fighting Maroons

Banking on its vaunted defense and perimeter shooting, Ateneo cruised to a 77-57 rout of University of the Philippines to stay solo at the top in the UAAP Season 74 at the Araneta Coliseum.

With Kirk Long shutting down State U’s wingmen and 6-11 Greg Slaughter making an imposing inside presence, the Blue Eagles easily topped the Maroons to remain spotless after five outings and move two wins away from sweeping the first round.

“Our defense, especially in the last three quarters, made the difference and our perimeter shooting helped us a lot today,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black, who drew double figures from all his starters.

UP was in the game only in the first canto, taking a 21-19 lead after the first 10 minutes.

The Eagles cranked up their defense from the second period on, making their breakaway with a 23-10 exchange to seize a 42-31 spread and never looked back.

“In the first quarter, we actually did not really play bad defense; it’s just that they (Maroons) played very well offensively. But I thought we buckled down in the last three quarters defensively and that made the difference,” said Black, whose wards choked UP to a measly 20-of-70 shooting (28.6 percent).

Long made life miserable for the UP top guns, like Mike Silungan, who was held down to eight markers on a 2-15 FG.

“Kirk is a veteran. He had the same role he has had the last four years, which is to guard the best offensive wingman of the other team. He doesn’t get much credit but he does a very good job,” Black said.

The Ateneo mentor also took notice of their perimeter shooting.

“We recovered on our three-point shooting. Last game, we were 1-17, and we’ve been working hard in it on practice. Today, we made 6-of-10, we did much better job from beyond the arc,” he said.

Rookie Kiefer Ravena delivered 15 markers, four assists and four steals as Ateneo’s first five scored 10 points or more, the first since Far Eastern U’s starters did the trick back in 2009. Slaughter added 14 markers with 13 rebounds, while Long chipped in 14 and Emman Monfort and Nico Salva had 13 and 10, respectively.

UP, which absorbed its third straight setback for a 1-3 card overall, was led by Silungan, Jose Manuel and Michael Gamboa with eight apiece.

Forward Carlo Gomez was thrown out of the game for a punching foul on Salva’s groin with 2:40 left and Ateneo up, 70-54. Gomez faces likely suspension in their next outing. – Olmin Leyba