Reigning back-to-back UAAP champion Ateneo bounced back from a Game One defeat for a resounding 90-63 rout of Far Eastern U yesterday to force a sudden death for the Philippine Collegiate Champions League crown at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Eagles worked on their vaunted pressing defense to take the sting out of the Tams in the early going of the contest then leaned on Nico Salva’s superb shooting to fashion out the easy victory.
Salva, tipped to take charge for Ateneo next year with the graduation of several key players, came away with a game-high 26 points, including 13 in the first half when the Eagles overcame a 15-17 deficit in the first quarter to seize a 42-33 lead at the turn.
The Loyola-based squad sustained its form at resumption, scoring in bunches in transition behind a stifling defense to virtually put the outcome beyond doubt at 69-49 entering the fourth quarter.
“We played much better defense this time. We didn’t even pay attention to our offense in preparing for this game,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black.
Salva’s awesome offense more than made up for the absence of Rabeh Al-Hussaini, who was sorely missed in the Eagles’ 70-75 loss to the Tams in the opener of the best-of-three series last Wednesday.
It was practically over as early in the third quarter when the Eagles turned a nine-point halftime lead into a huge 20-point advantage going into the final 10 minutes of play.
Salva then teamed up again with Eric Salamat, who finished with 20 points, as they went into a scoring spree in the fourth quarter.
“He (Salva) played a career game, I’m happy for him,” said Black.
The winner-take-all match is set Sunday, a day after Ateneo celebrates its 150th anniversary.
“It means we will not be celebrating much. We’ll be there but we will rest early for Sunday’s game,” said Black.
Aside from Al-Hussaini, Noy Baclao is also a doubtful starter in Game Three because of a previous commitment with the Philippine Patriots, who face off with the Brunei Barracudas in Brunei, in the ABL, also on Sunday.
With Smart Gilas Pilipinas veteran Aldrech Ramos taking charge, the Tams took control early but just couldn’t pull away, settling for a two-point edge after the first quarter.
A triple by Chris Sumalinog, a floater by Salva and a foul shot by Ryan Buenafe against a basket each by MC Vinluan and JR Cawaling of FEU tied the count at 21 early in the second period.
Then Salva and Salamat combined in a telling 17-0 run to power the Tams to a 38-21 lead.
FEU, behind Cawaling, fought back on a 12-4 blitz as it cut the deficit to nine at the break.
The scores:
Ateneo 90 – Salva 26, Salamat 20, Baclao 11, Sumalinog 8, Buenafe 6, Long 5, Reyes 5, Gonzaga 3, Chua 2, Austria 2, Monfort 2, Golla 0, Burke 0, de Chavez 0, Tiongson 0
FEU 63 – Cawaling 18, Ramos 12, Cervantes 12, Sanga 8, Vinluan 4, Exciminiano 2, Knuttel 2, Manalo 2, Garcia 2, Noundou 1, Guerrero 0
Quartercores:15-17; 42-33; 69-49: 90-63
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