Former UV star Slaughter scores 23, leads Ateneo to victory in opening day of UAAP
Former University of the Visayas star slotman Greg Slaughter led the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles to a 55-51 victory over the scrappy Adamson Soaring Falcons yesterday at the start of the 74th UAAP basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.
Slaughter, a two-time Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. MVP, had a rousing debut in the UAAP as he scored 23 points and defended the middle with ferocity, coming up with a game-saving block in the waning seconds of the match. The 7-footer also had eight rebounds, two assists to with his two blocked shots.
“I was a little bit nervous but once I got on the court, it was just basketball and I’m happy I had my teammates and coaching staff with me the whole way,” said Slaughter after the match.
The Eagles were down by seven, 44-51, with 6:58 left in the game after leading by as many as 11 in the first period.
After Slaughter accidentally tipped the ball into Adamson’s basket for that seven-point Falcons lead, he came back to the other side of the floor and completed a three-point play off a nice hook shot.
After a gritty layup by Nico Salva, Slaughter added two free throws to tie the game at 51 with 2:15 left.
Article continues after this advertisementKirk Long completed Ateneo’s comeback as his fastbreak layup attempt was counted after Adamson’s Rodney Brondial was called for goaltending, for a 53-51 lead.
Article continues after this advertisementSlaughter completed his impressive all-around performance with a block on the driving Lester Alvarez that preserved their slim two-point lead. Emman Monfort tfinished the game off with two free-throws after he came up with a steal off a botched Adamson play.
The loss by the Falcons was their 29th straight to the Eagles. The last time Adamson won was on Sept. 18, 1997.
