Ateneo Blue Eagles rip UP Fighting Maroons apart, sweep first round of UAAP Season 82

  • Sep 30, 2019
  • BASKETBALL
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The season may have changed but the result remained the same as the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles brought the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons back down to earth, 89-63, in the UAAP Season 82 men's basketball tournament on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ange Kouame proved to be the difference-maker in the game that was witnessed by over 19,000 people as he compiled an impressive stat-line of 19 points, 15 rebounds as well as an impressive seven blocks to lead the Eagles to a victory over the same team they vanquished in the finals last season.

Matt Nieto was just as lethal as he tallied 18 points, two boards, and two assists while three other players also reached double-figures in scoring to help Ateneo complete a 7-0 sweep of the first round.

Will Navarro added 14 points, six rebounds, and a block while Thirdy Ravena knocked in 13 points, three rebounds, and three assists. SJ Belangel scored 11.

The Blue Eagles came off the gates in the second half like a house on fire and uncorked a 10-1 run to turn their 35-31 halftime lead into a sizable 45-32 advantage.

Things just became worse for UP as head coach Bo Perasol got ejected at the 6:23 mark for a pair of technical fouls called on him for physically confronting a referee.

Ateneo then took full advantage of that incident and led by as much as 27 before cruising to the easy win.

Kobe Paras led UP with 15 points to go with four rebounds and two assists. Javi Gomez de Liano had 14 points and two boards while Jun Manzo got 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists. UP dropped to 5-2.

THE SCORES:

ATENEO  (89) Kouame 19, Ma. Nieto 18, Navarro 14, Ravena 13, Belangel 11, Tio 5, Wong 4, Go 3, Mamuyac 2, Andrade 0, Chiu 0, Credo 0, Daves 0, Maagdenberg 0, Mi. Nieto 0.

UP (63) Paras 15, Ja. Gomez de Liano 14, Manzo 12, Ju. Gomez de Liano 8, Akhuetie 6, Rivero 6, Webb 2, Gob 0, Jaboneta 0, Mantilla 0, Murrell 0, Prado 0, Spencer 0, Tungcab 0.

Quarters: 15-21, 35-31, 61-46, 89-63.