BACK-TO-BACK champions Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles are slowly rounding into form as they took care of business in the fourth period to down the University of Sto. Tomas Growling Tigers, 68-56, in the 73rd UAAP basketball tournament yesterday at the Philsports Arena.
The victory was Ateneo’s second in a row after losing their opening day assignment last weekend and it pushed their record to 2-1 (win-loss), good for a tie for second place in the standings behind the undefeated Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws.
It was a tight game all throughout that saw 11 lead changes. But the Eagles showed the heart of a champion as they persevered and rallied behind the efforts of sophomore big man Justin Chua, who anchored a defensive stand that shut down the Tigers in the final half of the fourth period.
Chua scored 17 points, hauled down 11 rebounds, and made 4 blocks to power the Eagles and send the Tigers to their first loss of the tournament.
In the second game, the La Salle Green Archers carved out a masterful 82-63 win over last year’s runners-up, the University of the East Red Warriors.
The win was La Salle’s second win against a loss while UE suffered their second straight defeat. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio
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