Ateneo Edged San Beda To Get FMC Crown

The Ateneo Blue Eagles - Team Glory Be clamped down on the San Beda Red Lions - Team Behold  in the third quarter to come away with a 68-51 victory in the finals of the 11th Fr. Martin Division 2 Cup Saturday at the Trinity University of Asia gym.

Booming triples from Jerie Pingoy and Joma Adornado paved the way for the Blue Eagles as they clinched the senior division crown.

Adornado, Pingoy and Alfonso Gotladera scored 14, 12, and 11 points, respectively as the Blue Eagles clinched their first crown in the tournament.

They started to pull away after Adornado tied the game 28-all for the last time at the 8:29 mark of the third period. Pingoy and Adornado then fired from beyond the arc in the last 5:25, handing the Blue Eagles a 36-32 lead.

“It was defense,” said Ateneo coach Yuri Escueta. “Ever since, I have been reminding them about it. With defense, offense will follow. The players wanted it, they showed intensity in this game.”

With 6-foot-10 Nigerian center Tochukwu Ewenike patrolling the lanes, Ateneo eventually took a 42-33 spread with 3:37 to go.

Another triple, this time from Mikee Cabahug, found its mark with 2.8 seconds left in the third period that allowed Ateneo to build a double-digit lead, 50-39, entering the final quarter.

Cabahug drilled another trey with 3:18 remaining to hand the Blue Eagles their biggest lead of the game at 61-43.

Cameroonian cager Donald Tankoua fired 19 points for the Red Lions, while Alfred Sedilla had nine, and Jeremer Cabanag scored eight points.

Scores:

ATENEO 68 – Pingoy 14, Adornado 12, Gotladera 11, Ikeh 9, Cabahug 8, Branzuela 5, Ewenike 2, Basa 2, Gamboa 2, Cu 2, Ramos 2.

SAN BEDA 51 – Tankoua 19, Sedilla 9, Reyes 8, Cabanag 8, Sorella 3, Estrada 2.

Quarter-scores: 8-12, 28-25, 50-39, 68-51

source: ABS-CBN News

photo: Mon Rubio