MANILA - The Ateneo Blue Eagles shrugged off a listless start to bulldoze their way to a 75-47 win over the National University (NU) Bulldogs during Saturday’s action in the 72nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men's basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.
 
The Blue Eagles sized up the Bulldogs in the first quarter, trailing by four points before uncorking a 15-0 run.
 
Ateneo held NU to just four points in the second quarter, entering the second half with an 18-point lead, 30-12. The gap even widened to a season-high 39, 69-30, in the 6:10 mark of the payoff period.
 
It was the second game that the Bulldogs only scored four in a period. NU managed just four points in the first quarter against Ateneo’s arch-rival De la Salle last last Thrusday.
 
Ateneo also forced NU to commit 18 of its 23 turnovers in the first half. 
 
“The second team gave us a lift in the second quarter. Their 'defense' created offense for us,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black.
 
Emman Monfort and Nico Salva led a spirited effort by Ateneo’s bench with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
 
The Blue Eagles recorded season-highs in fastbreak markers (22) and points off turnovers (23).
 
NU, meanwhile, recorded the lowest output at the half with 12 points and the lowest output after three quarters with 23 since the computerization of the UAAP game statistics.
 
The 47 points scored by NU was one-point shy of the tournament’s lowest output by any team. The La Salle Green Archers scored only 46 points in its season-opener against the University of the East Red Warriors.
 
The win gave Ateneo a much-needed boost going into their August 9 showdown with their arch-rival La Salle.
 
Both teams also gave tribute to former President Cory Aquino who passed away early Saturday morning. Ateneo wore black ribbons on their jerseys while NU had yellow ribbons. By Alder T. Amo
 
The Scores:
 
ADMU 75 – Monfort 12, Salamat 10, Al-Hussaini 10, Salva 8, Reyes 5, Buenafe 5, Austria 5, Long 4, Sumalinog 2, Gonzaga 2, Chua 2, Burke 2, Tiongson 0, Golla 0, De Chavez 0.
 
NU 47- Baloran 17, Ponferrada 8, Luy 7, Terso 5, Malanday 3, Fabula 3, Hermosisima 2, Cabaluna 2, Tungcul 2, Singh 2, Manito 0, Magat 0, Batac 0.
 
Quarters: 8-8, 30-12, 55-23, 75-47.

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