Finding themselves grounded in Round 1, the Ateneo Blue Eagles are seeking for answers when they take on the NU Bulldogs in UAAP Season 87.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles are on the hunt for a much-needed second win, as they face the NU Bulldogs in a UAAP Season 87 Round 1 eliminations matchup on October 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Both teams are struggling with identical 1-5 records, and Ateneo, in particular, is searching for answers as they look to close out Round 1 on a positive note.
Ateneo is coming off a tough loss to UE, marking the Red Warriors' first victory over the Blue Eagles since November 2015.
It was a bitter defeat for the Katipunan squad, which is looking to find consistency and regain their winning ways after a difficult start to the season.
One bright spot for the Blue Eagles has been Shawn Tuano. He has been a consistent performer, ranking sixth in the league in scoring with 12.17 points per game.
Tuano’s ability to score efficiently is underscored by his 50.91% field goal accuracy, ranking him third in the league. He is also second in two-point field goals made, with an average of 4.17.
Ateneo’s strength lies in its perimeter game, ranking third in the league in perimeter points and third in steals with 7.33 per game.
The Blue Eagles have solid contributors in Jared Bahay, Chris Koon, and Kris Porter, who all rank in the top 10 for three-point field goals made.
Bahay and Koon are also key playmakers, figuring in the top 10 for assists, but they’ll need to minimize mistakes, as both also rank in the top 10 for assists-to-turnover ratio.
However, Ateneo has several areas to address.
The Blue Eagles lead the league in turnovers with 11.33 per game, and their rebounding struggles have hurt their ability to score inside, as they rank last when it comes to the boards. They are also second to the last in points in the paint.
Additionally, Ateneo has struggled defensively, allowing the second-most points in the league.
The Katipunan squad though does not have recent history on its side, losing both Season 86 elimination games against NU.
Even with their chances of returning to the Final Four looking slim this season, the Blue Eagles hope to end Round 1 on a high note and gain momentum for the second half of the season.
[Editor's note: This article was generated by a member of the One Sports Digital team using AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]