The Blue Eagles are back on track.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles accomplished two important things on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum when they defeated the UST Growling Tigers, 67-59. First, they snapped a three-game losing streak. Second, they kept their Final Four hopes alive.
The Katipunan-based squad is now 5-6 in the standings, playing cat and mouse with the Adamson Soaring Falcons and the UE Red Warriors for the fourth spot.
To keep the cellar-dwelling Tigers at bay, Ateno’s Kai Ballungay posted 15 points and 14 rebounds while Chris Koon chipped in 12 markers, six boards, and three assists. Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin, however, wasn’t exactly thrilled with his squad’s performance.
While their defense was quite solid, the decorated tactician underscored his ward’s measly 35.7% field goal shooting.
“Generally speaking, the essence of our defense was pretty good,” Baldwin said in post-game presser.
“The other end of the floor, we just didn’t shoot the ball well. I thought we generated a lot of good shots (but) the more we missed, the more UST was determined to stick to the zone,” he added.
The Tiger’s zone defense dared Ateneo to beat them from the outside and it could’ve worked if not for the Blue Eagles’ board work, spearheaded by rookie Rap Celis.
“The saving grace was really our offensive rebounding. Raffy got a chance to get out there and gave us nine offensive rebounds, which is pretty extraordinary,” Coach Tab stressed.
All in all, the defending champs collected 23 repossessions, five more than UST’s. Celis ended up with eight markers and a total of 11 rebounds.
The Blue Eagles will need more of Celis’ hustle on November 11 as they face Adamson in a showdown with serious Final Four implications.
(CF)