WITH no less than NBA prospect Kai Sotto and PBA MVP Scottie Thompson.watching, Ateneo outlasted University of Perpetual Help, 88-80, to complete a four-
game sweep of Group A in the 2023 Bola.TV AsiaBasket Las Piñas Championship at the Villar Coliseum in Las Piñas City.

Kai Ballungay led the scoring parade for the Blue Eagles for the fourthvstraight game as he finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, and two assists.

Joseph Obasa and Mason Amos added 13 points each for Ateneo, which took control of the game early in the first quarter and never looked back from there.

Ateneo extended its lead to as high as 22, 46-24, midway through the second quarter before Perpetual Help managed to trim it to 16, 52-36, at halftime.

Perpetual Help tried to keep the game close in the third period to the delight 9f a big crowd that included the school’s top alumni, Sotto and Thompson, who are teammates with Gilas Pilipinas.

As the No. 1 team in Group A, the Eagles will take two days rest before returning on Thursday for the quarterfinals against the fourth seed of Group B.

Cyrus Nitura scatteted 24 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and two blocks for the Altas, who dropped back-to-back games after beginning their campaign with a win.

In other games, Uratex subdued College of St. Benilde, 97-93; Sanzar Pharmaceuticals toppled Letran, 82-80; and San Beda survived Pilipinas Aguilas, 93-88.

Mike Harry Nzeusseu made his presence felt with with 29 points, nine rebounds, one assist, and one steal, while Ola Adeogun added 19 points and nine rebounds for Uratex, wh8ch improved to 2-1 in Group A,

Will Gozum led St. Benilde with 19 points, five rebounds, and one assist.

The Blazers dropped to 0-3.

The scores:

First game
San Beda (93) – RC Calimag 26, Sajonia 15, Ri. Calimag 13, Peregrina 12, Lina 9, Dimaculangan 5, Songcuya 4, Tolentino 4, Alloso 3, Etulle 2, Lopez 0, Mundas 0, Teruel 0, Lecciones 0, Mina 0
Pilipinas Aguilas (88) – Enguio 21, Toba 18, Ramirez 18, Aviso 8, Bederi 5, Caldozo 5, Daez 4, Arciaga 4, G. Elorde 3, Labarda 2, A. Elorde 0, Bessala 0, Mahilum 0

Quarterscores: 27-14, 47-39, 73-66, 93-88.

Second game
Sanzar (82) – Odou 23, Torres 18, Kawamura 17, Kone 9, Ondoa 7, Famaranco 5, Calapine 3, L. Lanzar 0, Jolangcob 0, Villapando 0, Abaoag 0, Obuyes 0, Mailim 0 Letran (80) – Reyson 24, Javillonar 18, Monje 10, Santos 8, Tolentino 7, Go 5, Guarino 2, Fajardo 2, Bautista 2, Nunag 2, Galvez 0, Jumao-As 0, Morales 0.

Third game
Uratex (97)– Nzeusseu 29, Adeogun 19, Salamat 12, Gamalinda 12, Bragais 11, Gotladera 8, Pardo 3, Arboleda 2, Vidal 1, Gil 0, Rosagas 0, Mercado, Buyco 0 CSB (93(– Gozum 19, Corteza 17, Carlos 12, Nayve 10, Sangco 10, Cajucom 5, Turco 4, Oczon 3, Jalalon 2, Morales 2, Flores 0, Marasigan 0, Marcos 0, Serrano 0

Quarterscores: 29-27, 43-51, 72-73, 97-93

Fourth game
Ateneo (88) – Ballungay 19, Obasa 13, Amos 13, Espinosa 10, Tuano 8, Quitevis 8, Chiu 6, Garcia 4, Gamber 3, Credo 3, Nieto 1, Koon 0, Celis 0Perpetual Help (80) – Nitura 24, Razon 14, Pagaran 13, Omega 8, Boral 5, Roque 4, Abis 4, Barcuma 4, Sevilla 2, Gelsano 2, Ramirez 0, Nunez 0, Mascarinas 0.

Quarterscores: 30-16, 52-36, 76-63, 88-80.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya