#FilOil: Ateneo knocks La Salle-Zobel out of the playoff race

SAN JUAN -- Ateneo put a quick end to La Salle-Zobel's playoff aspirations after grinding out an 80-68 win to wrap up another Monday action at the FilOil FlyingV Preseason Cup here at the FilOil FlyingV Centre.

The perennial rivals put on a showstopper of a game in Group A, but it was the Blue Eaglets who came out on top and knock the Jr. Archers out of the race in just their third game of action.

Coach Reggie Varilla saw his team on the back foot in the first-half, before turning things around in the second half to wrap up their campaign at 3-2

With Ateneo's win, it also formalized the semifinal cast in the high school division, with San Beda and Lyceum joining NU and Perpetual Help in Group B.

Center Jynno Ladimo paced the Blue Eaglets with 22 points and 7 rebounds, with Ian Espinosa had 19 points, none bigger than his last two triples that culminated a 10-0 blast to put away Zobel in the final four minutes.

Kean Baclaan top-scored for the third consecutive time for coach Boris Aldeguer, with the former SSC-R Staglet scoring 22 points on a 50% shooting from the field.

The scores:

Ateneo 80 -- Ladimo 22, Espinosa 19, Lopez 14 Jaymalin 13, Padrigao 4, Lazaro 4, Felix 2, Nieto 2, Pangilinan 0, De Ayre 0, Santos 0, Rubiato 0, Litang 0, Domangcas 0, Singson 0

La Salle-Zobel 68 -- Baclaan 22, Cudiamat 21, Macasaet 12, Dalisay 4, Villarin 4, Omer 2, Gaviola 2, Abdulla 1, Milan 0, Luna 0, Pareno 0, Marana 0

Quarter scores: 17-21, 29-34, 53-53, 80-68

(photo by FilOil FlyingV Sports)