Blue Eagles Prevailed Over Red Lions In Battle Of The Champs

In a battle that showcased the best of both collegiate worlds, the UAAP champions prevailed over the NCAA champions.

Graduating forward Nico Salva tallied a stat line of 16 points, six rebounds, and two assists, as he led a balanced Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagle attacks to subdue their NCAA counterparts, the San Beda College Red Lions, 66-49, in the last PCCL Final Four game, at FilOil Flying V Arena on Sunday.

With the win, Ateneo advances to the Finals, for a league-best sixth time, courtesy of a 2-1 record. While San Beda will have to content themselves with a battle for third place against the South Western University Cobras, Ateneo forged a rematch of the recently-concluded UAAP Finals, versus the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers.

Up by just two, 28-26, at the break, the Blue Eagles came out of halftime playing lockdown defense against the Red Lions. They allowed San Beda to score just five points in the third, while scoring 20 themselves for a 48-31 lead headed into the final quarter.

Baser “The Hammer” Amer tried to give his team an inkling of hope, scoring a string of seven straight points to bring San Beda within 10 early in the fourth, but the Blue Eagles drenched any competitive fire that the Mendiola-based squad had left by scoring 10 straight points of their own. With the Ateneo buffer back to 20, both sides sent in their reserves to close out the game.

Despite the blowout victory, the game was close in the first quarter, as both teams shook off the rust. San Beda had a hard time converting with their current frontline, missing Ola Adeogun. Kyle Pascual’s jumper was off, going 0-4 from within 15 feet early, while Jake Pascual was effectively contained by 7’0” giant Greg Slaughter.

The Red Lions held the lead early, even holding a six-point advantage after a lay-up by Caram, but the Blue Eagles managed to catch up after a jumper by Salva.

San Beda kept abreast in the second quarter, as Ateneo struggled to generate any flow in their offense. Ateneo built a five-point advantage in the second quarter after a hook shot by reserve center Justin Chua, but the lead was chased away and cut to two after a tip-in by Red Lion guard Ryusei Koga.

Nigerian center Ola Adeogun sat out the game, rehabbing an ankle injury that bothered him for the entire tourney.

Greg Slaughter notched a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Kiefer Ravena padded the stat sheet with eight points, seven rebounds and eight assists.

source: GMA News