Ateneo Gives NU It's First Loss In UAAP Season 75 Men's Basketball: Defending Champs Rose Up After A Tough Loss Against UST

It's better to experience a tough loss earlier, than to experience it later when the stakes are higher.

The Defending champs immediately bounced back after a tough loss against the UST Growling Tigers as they defeated the NU Bulldogs in a very convincing fashion last Sunday at the SM MOA Arena. The Blue Eagles led all throughout the game and they dominated all the game's aspects such as scoring, rebounding, turnover points, and field goal percentages. 89-65 was the final score in favor of the Blue Eagles.

Right from the get go, Ateneo was on fire. The defense of NU can't solve the offensive sets of the Blue Eagles as almost all the players that coach Norman Black fielded on the court were able to score against the defense of NU. That kind of trend continued until the final buzzer. The Blue Eagles exhibited a nice ball movement that led to a well balanced team scoring.

Ateneo won all the quarters of this game: 28-17; 55-34; 72-54.; and 89-65, which is a total opposite of what happened in their game against UST wherein their performance dwindled down in the 2nd half, eventually losing to the Tigers.

This time, in their game against the NU Bulldogs, Nico Salva, Kiefer Ravena and the rest of the Blue Eagles made sure that they will not collapse in the 2nd Half and that they will win the ball game no matter what. Nico and Kiefer led the scoring for the Blue Eagles. Nico registered 21 points while Kiefer notched 17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Their Big Men also did a job as Greg Slaughter had 14 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists while Justin Chua scored 12 points in just 14 minutes of playing time.

The Blue Eagles exhibited a well balanced scoring in this game while for the Bulldogs, it was only Bobby Ray Parks who scored consistently. He had 22 points in this game. Javillonar and the rest of the NU Bulldogs failed to help Parks in scoring. No wonder the Blue Eagles dominated this game down to the final buzzer.

After the game, Nico Salva admitted to the media that they had several mistakes in their game against UST and that they have to wake up and play the Ateneo Brand of Basketball- A lot of teamwork and defense.

Some Stats:

Ateneo De Manila Blue Eagles (ADMU): 89 – Salva 21, Ravena, 17, Slaughter 14, Chua 12, Gonzaga 9, Tiongson 8, Elorde 3, Buenafe 3, Erram 2, Porter 0, Pessumal 0, Capacio 0.

National University Bulldogs(NU): 65 – Parks 22, Mbe 14, Villamor 10, Ignacio 6, Rono 5, De Guzman 2, Betayene 2, Alolino 2, Khobuntin 1, Javillonar 1, Rosario 0, Neypes 0, Labing-isa 0.

Scoring per quarter: 28-17, 55-34, 72-54, 89-65.