UAAP: Eagles survive pesky Tamaraws

Al-Hussaini stars in battle of title faves

By Jasmine W. Payo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo's crack guards propped up the Blue Eagles early before the veterans finished off the pesky Far Eastern U Tamaraws with a 63-59 victory in the 72nd UAAP men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Eagles turned to Rabeh Al-Hussaini in the final stretch and the reigning MVP responded with a pair of key baskets that pushed the defending champions ahead for good at 61-54 from a 54-54 deadlock.

“It showed why everybody is picking FEU as the team to beat,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black. “We played well in the first half, but they came out with better intensity in the second half. Luckily we just kept our composure and kept our defense.”

Al-Hussaini finished with 18 points and eight rebounds and last year’s top rookie Ryan Buenafe contributed 10.

“We came into the game knowing we’re playing the toughest team, so this is a big win for us; a confidence booster,” added Black.

An Aldrech Ramos three-point play and a Reil Cervantes bucket from the low post moved the Tamaraws within 61-59 before a Buenafe free throw made it 62-59 with 13.6 seconds left.

The Tamaraws tried to forge an extra period, but rookie Ryan Roose Garcia’s triple try rimmed out at the buzzer.

The Eagles shot an impressive 50 percent in the first half, making 7-of-10 attempts from three-point range, as they built a commanding 40-29 advantage.

But with Ramos and Mark Barroca taking over after the break, the Tamaraws roared back with a 15-2 spurt to tie the game at 44.

While the Eagles leaned on their veterans, rookies came through for National University as the Bulldogs downed the error-prone University of the Philippines Maroons, 74-64, in the first game.

Joseph Hermosisima, a 5-foot-10 recruit from Davao, knocked in all of his 12 points from beyond the arc to help the Bulldogs turn an early 10-18 deficit into a 53-44 lead in the third period.

The Bulldogs held the Maroons scoreless in a four-minute stretch at the start of the fourth quarter to pull away by 26 points at 70-44.

“We knew their weaknesses and took advantage of that,” said coach Manny Dandan after his Bulldogs forced the Maroons to commit 37 turnovers.

Over at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan, Gwyne Capacio buried 29 points as La Salle Zobel stunned defending champion Ateneo, 80-56, at the start of high school action.

Capacio, the 6-3 son of FEU mentor Glenn, also had 11 rebounds and four blocks.

Earlier, the University of the East Pages blasted the UP Junior Maroons, 80-56.

The varsity scores:


First Game

NU 74—Hermosisima 12, Singh 10, Ponferrada 10, Malanday 10, Luy 9, Batac 9, Baloran 9, Terso 4, Manito 1, Roy 0, Magat 0, Fabula 0, Cabaluna 0.


UP 64—Padilla 11, Gomez 11, Reyes 9, Lopez 9, Co 9, Sison 4, Maniego 4, Hipolito 3, Reyes 2, Juruena 2, Gingerich 0, Gamboa 0, Astorga 0.
Quarters: 10-18, 36-29, 53-44, 74-64


Second Game

ATENEO 63—Al-Hussaini 18, Buenafe 10, Salva 9, Salamat 8, Monfort 8, Reyes 7, Long 3, Golla 0, Chua 0, Baclao 0, Austria 0.


FEU 59—Ramos 15, Barroca 12, Noundou 9, Garcia 8, Cervantes 6, Cawaling 4, Sanga 3, Knuttel 2, Exciminiano 0, Eguilos 0, Caluag 0.
Quarters: 17-11, 40-29, 50-47, 63-59