UNSCATHED defending champion Ateneo shredded Santo Tomas into pieces with a 101-51 annihilation to make it 36 wins in a row in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 84 on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Already seeded in the Final Four as early as Tuesday, the high-flying Blue Eagles conquered greater heights this time in a gargantuan 50-point win that further solidified their place on top with a 10-0 card.
Raffy Verano fired 18 markers to lead six players in double figures for the three-time reigning titlist, which scored the largest winning margin in the UAAP since it started the computerization of stats in 2003. It surpassed La Salle’s 43-point drubbing of Santo Tomas, 99-56, in 2016.
It’s also the third highest output for Ateneo under the watch of mentor Tab Baldwin after tallying identical 102 points twice against the same team in 2017 and 2018.
Backstopping Verano were SJ Belangel (16), Geo Chiu (14), Josh Lazaro (12), Dave Ildefonso (11) and Ange Kouame (10) as the four-peat seeking Ateneo bolstered its bid for an automatic finals ticket with only four games to go.
“The difference in the score line has a reflection that our coaching staff really asked for a 40-minute performance. We haven’t given that 40-minute performance yet and today, we came in pretty close to that,” said Mr. Baldwin, whose wards raced to a 22-8 start until leading by as many as 53 points.
Later, Xyrus Torres hit the game-winning trey as Far Eastern University (FEU) completed a comeback and snatched a big win against National U, 59-57, to gain a piece of fourth spot.
Mr. Torres finished with 16 points, Emman Ojuola had an 11-11 double to go with two steals and two blocks for the Tamaraws, who tied the Bulldogs at No. 4 with similar 4-6 cards.
“We’re chasing NU (National University) so we really needed this win. We did not give up especially in the second half,” said coach Olsen Racela as FEU erased a huge 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to avenge its 73-68 loss in the first round.
John Lloyd Clemente banged in 13 markers in the costly collapse of the Bulldogs as they fell short in solidifying hold of No. 4 seed entering the homestretch of the crucial second round.
Nic Cabañero, meanwhile, was the lone bright spot with 18 points for the Growling Tigers, who missed out on keeping a three-way tie at fourth place with now a 3-7 card.
The Scores:
First Game
Ateneo 101 – Verano 18, Belangel 16, Chiu 14, Lazaro 12, Ildefonso 11, Kouame 10, Koon 9, Andrade 6, Padrigao 5, Mamuyac 0, Tio 0, Gomez 0, Daves 0.
UST 51 – Cabanero 18, Manaytay 9, Fontanilla 8, Manalang 7, Concepcion 5, Yongco 2, Santos 2, Ando 0, Herrera 0, Gomez de Liano 0, Garing 0, Mantua 0, Pangilinan 0.
Quarterscores: 22-8, 46-21, 80-36, 101-51.
Second Game
FEU 59 – Torres 16, Ojuola 11, Sandagon 10, Gonzales 7, Tempra 4, Sleat 3, Abarrientos 3, Bienes 2, Alforque 2, Li 1, Celzo 0, Sajonia 0.
NU 57 – Clemente 13, Ildefonso 9, Joson 8, Minerva 6, Malonzo 5, Felicilda 5, Torres 3, Figueroa 2, Gaye 2, Mahinay 2, Manansala 2, Yu 0, Enriquez 0.
Quarterscores: 14-15, 22-33, 40-49, 59-57.