MANILA, Philippines – Defending back-to-back champion Ateneo de Manila soared mightily once more as the Blue Eaglets ruthlessly pecked the listless Far Eastern University (FEU)-FERN Baby Tamaraws to submission on Monday for an 82-56 walkover victory that solidified their hold of the top spot in the 73rd UAAP Juniors basketball tournament at the San Juan Arena.

Kiefer Ravena began the fireworks as usual but it was Ateneo’s shock troopers who finished the Baby Tams off with a 33-point bench scoring rampage to claim their third straight win in as many outings.

Ravena fired 11 of his game-high 20 points in the opening quarter where the Eaglets posted their first double-digit lead in the contest at 29-13.

Ateneo parlayed that early offensive drive into a commanding 45-27 halftime advantage as Ravena and big man Von Pessumal punished FEU’s lethargic defense with a 13-4 second-quarter onslaught that set the tone of the impending rout in motion.

Despite giving the 6-foot-1 Ravena and his fellow starters a much deserved breather for the entire second half, Ateneo continued to hold sway with its second unit confounding the Baby Tams on all fours.

The game was practically over at the 3:48 mark of the third when the reserve-powered Eaglets coasted to their biggest lead at 61-29 on a Josh Gadia triple.

Charles Dumrique backstopped Ravena with 11 points, while Pessumal, Paolo Romero and Jay Sacluti added 8 apiece.

Austin Fabian tallied 12 markers to pace FEU which absorbed its second loss in 3 games.

Earlier, the National University (NU) Bullpups continued their impressive run with a 54-51 nipping of the Adamson University Baby Falcons.

Joining NU in the winner’s circle are the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tiger Cubs and the University of the East (UE) Junior Warriors who prevailed over the De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers (59-47) and the University of the Philippines Integrated School Junior Maroons (88-58) in the second and third games, respectively.

For more UAAP, visit www.UAAPsports.com

The Scores:

1st game

NU 54 – Estoce 19, Lara 10, Banquiao 8, Parungao 6, Meneses 5, Tansingco 4, Atangan 2, Rivero 0, Carta 0, Caparas 0.
ADU 51 – Villondo 14, Manlangit 8\9, Mendoza 8, Saludo 7, Hermoso 6, Soriano 3, Solomon 2, Llaunderes 2, Quipse 0, Quinlog 0, Polican 0, Margallo 0, Umengan 0, Lamco 0, Domingo 0.
Quarterscores: 10-15, 30-23, 42-35, 54-51.

2nd game

UST – Sarcia 17, Corre 13, Cabauatan 12, Mison 8, Ferrer 5, Ilarde 4, Salas 0, Lazaro 0, Florentin 0, Cabural 0, Gooh 0.
DLSZ – Capacio 18, Reyes 11, Torres 5, Subido 4, Tempongko 3, Roxas 3, Calugcug 2, Torres 1, Salvador 0, Monteiro 0.
Quarterscores: 18-5, 36-22, 50-25, 59-47.

3rd game

UE 88 – De Leon 23, Gutierrez 16, Magpantay 15, Bernabe 13, Coligado 8, Lapada 4, Pajarillaga 3, Santiago 0, Diswe 0, Ablaza 0, Liwag 0, Duray 0, Rodriguez 0, Malamug 0.
UP 58 – Cinco 21, Ancheta 9, General 6, Villaluna 5, Quejada 5, Abenojar 4, Gregorio 4, Nacpil 3, Rodriguez 1, Lopez 0, Lina 0.
Quarterscores: 36-16, 54-26, 65-43, 88-68.

4th game

ADMU 82 – Ravena 20, Dumrique 11, Sacluti 8, Romero 8, Pessumal 8, Lim 6, Gadia 6, Tenorio 6, Puno 3, Vitangcol 2, Javelosa 2, Gamboa 2, Suarez 0, Mercado 0, Austria 0.
FEU-FERN 56 – Fabian 12, Sia 8, Tanoy 6, Pearson 6, Dimdam 6, Custodio 5, Carino 5, Pangalangan 2, Palacio 2, Lumahan 2, Estacio 0, San Jose 0, Manuel 0, Lelig 0, Paulino 0.
Quarterscores: 29-16, 45-27, 67-41, 82-56.