Quick Fire: Ateneo Blue Eagles overpowers UE Red Warriors

(Photo Credit: Janine Torre, The GUIDON)

ADMU Blue Eagles def. UE Red Warriors 97-73

Notable Players:

Thirdy Ravena, ADMU (17 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block): Thirdy had an all around masterful game. He had it going on offense while also locking down UE’s top scoring threat Alvin Pasaol.

Jolo Mendoza, ADMU (13 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 11 MINUTES): Jolo had real quality minutes for the game. He didn’t miss a shot  in 4 attempts, 3 of those from 3pts.

Anton Asistio, ADMU (9 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists): Anton had it going for the first half of the game and had good facilitating through the game

Mark Maloles, UE (20 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal):  Mark Maloles was efficient tonight and had his best outing for this season.

Mark Olayon, UE (15 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals): Olayon continued his all-around contribution for UE as he steps up on both offense and defense

Alvin Pasaol, UE (8 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 1 block): Pasaol, though on a inefficient night, managed to stuff the statsheet with his all around performance. His inefficiency is mainly due to Ateneo’s defense.

Quick Analysis:

- The game started out close even by the end of the first quarter. It wasn’t until Ateneo made a run in the 2^nd quarter to push their lead to double digits and they never looked back.  If there were key significant things for this game, it would be Ateneo’s execution, mainly on both offense and defense, and UE’s lack of reinforcements.

- For this game, what got really exposed is UE’s lack of bench production, or lack of materials to be exact. Ateneo had 50 bench points, this game compared to UE’s 23. To put it into perspective, UE had 50 starter points, same as Ateneo’s bench. UE also clearly lacked a big man to hold down their paint, where Ateneo capitalized. It wasn’t just Ateneo’s big men who dominated but also their guards, because there were no shot blocking presence felt whatsoever. Ateneo managed to score 54 points in the paint, their season high.

- Ateneo clearly had a game plan and had great execution for both ends of the floor. Their defense limited UE’s best scoring threat, Pasaol, to single digits. His lowest of the season. They also held UE down to just 18-17-17 in the 1^st 3 quarters. UE ended with 73 points, but if it wasn’t for the little relaxing and complacency of ADMU in the garbage time, they sure would have been held UE to less than 70 points.

- Ateneo’s offense on the other hand got it going from start to finish. All the players were unselfish and just followed the game plan. Coach Tab had a lot of ball screens, cut to the baskets, and even some “nakaw” plays, and the players just follow and execute up to the last option. They had their season high in points (97), shot 53.5% in the field, had 26 assists, and 54 points in the paint. This is one of the most unselfish teams we’ve seen in recent collegiate basketball history.  Anyone who says otherwise, probably have never seen them play.