Ateneo rebounds, tops Adamson 69-66

It’s only their second match of Season 73, but the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles played it close yet again. Only this time, they were on the winning end.

The Eagles bounced back in a heart-stopping game last Thursday, July 15 at the Philsports Arena, 69-66, against another touted league top-contender the Adamson Falcons. The Eagles clawed their way through the Falcons’ defense and kept their cool in the endgame to hang on to their 13-season winning streak against Adamson.

Coach Norman Black subbed Ryan Buenafe for Nico Salva to complete the starting five together with Kirk Long, Eric Salamat, Frank Golla, and rookie JP Erram.

Senior point guard Emman Monfort grabbed a crucial rebound off a Falcon’s miss and drew a foul. He sank both free throws to give the Eagles a 67-64 lead with 25 seconds left in the fourth. Monfort sank two more charities to give his team the edge and their first win of the season.

But Monfort wouldn’t take all the credit for Ateneo’s first win. “It was a team effort and I’m super happy,” the senior point guard told goATENEO.com after the game.

And a team effort it was. Four Eagles scored in double digits to keep the Eagles up by as much as 10. An aggressive Long led the team with 12 points and brought the Eagles up 51-41 during the latter part of the third. Long turned a Monfort steal into a quick two points via a reverse layup.

After a rough start against FEU, team captain Salamat came out with 10 points, and three steals. Ateneo banked on Salamat’s steals, with 18 turnover points in the game. Salamat revved up the Eagles’ offensive engine from the get go with a three. The King Eagle treated the Blue and White Faithful to one of his trademark salutes after making another trey that put Ateneo up, 41-32, at the end of the first half.

Salva had another solid showing with a double-double. Salva picked up a lot of Ateneo’s misses with 11 rebounds and finished with 10 points. Salva was also a benefactor of one of Monfort’s three assists—an alleyoop at the seven minute mark of the second quarter started a good run for the Eagles.

The Eagles relied on Buenafe, who had 10 points and seven assists to move the ball to open men. The 2008 Rookie of the Year also got the Eagles going with a huge block at the 6:19 mark in the opening quarter.

The Falcons threatened to put the Eagles in a 0-2 position when momentum shifted after an Alex Nuyles slam dunk tied the game at 52 at the end of the third quarter.But the Eagles picked themselves up. The Eagles took risks strong to the basket, drawing fouls in the process, which put Adamson in the penalty. Ultimately, the Eagles won 69-66 from the freethrow line.

Ateneo fans are in for more surprises on Sunday, July 18 as the Eagles battle it out with the University of Sto. Tomas Tigers, 2pm at the Philsports Arena. See you at the games!

Photos courtesy of Aaron Vicencio