Ateneo holds off FEU in opener

c/o UAAP

Ateneo de Manila held on to secure their opening victory for the 85th season of the UAAP, defeating Far Eastern University, 79-70 on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

A 14-5 run in the final period allowed the Blue Eagles to take a 69-55 lead with just over six minutes left, powered by buckets from Forthsky Padrigao and BJ Andrade.

The Tamaraws would manage to whittle the deficit down to 70-75 with 68 seconds left on a Patrick Sleat drive, but that is the closest they could get against last season's losing finalists, with Padrigao nailing a three with 38.5 seconds left to establish an eight-point lead.

The sophomore guard would finish with nineteen points, six rebounds, and seven assists. Andrade would net fifteen points.

Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin shared with the media after the game, "Scrappy (win) for sure which is nothing new for the first UAAP game of the season I think that's the standard line for most coaches. I think we have big players who make big shots which is not really the formula the one I like. Nonetheless, it's excellent to have players who have the toughness to take those shots."

Dave Ildefonso and Ange Kouame also contributed double-doubles with fourteen points and twelve rebounds and twelve points and fourteen rebounds, respectively.

LJ Gonzales led the Tamaraws with nineteen points on five three-pointers, while Sleat waxed hot in the second half, scoring fifteen of his seventeen points in the second half.

Ateneo seeks back-to-back wins as they face National University at 630pm on Wednesday, with FEU going up against neighbors University of the East at 11am.

The Scores:

ATENEO 79 -- Padrigao 19, Andrade 15, Ildefonso 14, Kouame 12, Koon 11, Ballungay 3, Daves 2, Chiu 2, Lazaro 1, Gomez 0, Garcia 0, Quitevis 0.

FEU 70 -- Gonzales 19, Sleat 17, Sajonia 10, Anonuevo 9, Torres 5, Tchuente 3, Alforque 3, Tempra 2, Sandagon 2, Gravera 0, Celzo 0, Guibao 0, Bagunu 0.

Quarters: 24-16, 30-36, 55-50, 79-70.