Blue Eagles soar to third straight win

THE MUCH-HYPED encounter between two of the UAAP’s most high-profile rookies turned out to be a dud as the reigning champions Ateneo Blue Eagles spanked the National University Bulldogs, 86-62, in the 74th UAAP basketball tournament yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Focus was clearly on Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena and NU’s Bobby Ray Parks, but the spotlight shifted to the Blue Eagles’ impeccable shooting and the Bulldog’s struggles from the very start which paved the way for the defending champions’ third win in a row.

Ateneo led by 32 points after the third quarter, 69-32, after a barrage of three-pointers. Kirk Long and Juami Tiongson each had two while Emman Monfort had one in that searing stretch, which practically buried the Bulldogs. In addition, the Blue Eagles scored 29 points off 22 turnovers to post their seventh consecutive victory over NU. In all of those matches, Ateneo won by an average of 21 points per game.

Rookies Greg Slaughter and Kiefer Ravena and veterans Nico Salva, Kirk Long and Eman Monfort led the Blue Eagles’ first half onslaught against the Bulldogs that set the tone for the rest of the game.

Ateneo’s win overshadowed the anticipated showdown between Ravena and Parks.

Ravena had 13 points, three rebounds and three steals, solid numbers for the former two-time juniors finals MVP.

On the other hand, Parks top-scored with 20 points, but struggled for most of the game. He had only eight points after the third quarter, when the outcome was no longer in doubt, and shot just 1-of-5 from the field for three points in the first half as Kirk Long gave him a lot of trouble on the offensive.

Slaughter, formerly of the Univesity of the Visayas, led Ateneo with 15 points.  Correspondent Jonas Panerio