Article Courtesy of yahoo.ph
Game Thursday (Araneta Coliseum)
3:30 p.m. - UE vs FEU
Defending champion Ateneo mauled underdog University of Santo Tomas, 81-64, at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday to claim the first finals berth in the 72nd UAAP basketball tournament.
Role players Jai Reyes and Ryan Buenafe came through with impressive performances in the absence of forward Nico Salva to turn the game into a mismatch midway into the second half and give the Blue Eagles a second straight finals appearance.
''I challenged Jai (Reyes) about four games ago and he's been shooting the basketball well,'' Ateneo coach Norman Black bared. ''Ryan (Buenafe) stepped up big time both offensively and also defensively with Nico (Salva) out.''
Salva missed the game to serve a one-game suspension for hitting Far Eastern University's Jens Knuttel in their last game with the Tamaraws.
Reyes shot 7-of-13 from the field for 17 points and added eight rebounds while Buenafe put on the finishing touches in the second half with 15 points as the Loyola-based squad moved a step closer to a fifth title since joining the league in 1978.
The best-of-three titular series start on Sunday with Ateneo facing either Far Eastern University or University of the East which will play a knockout match on Thursday. The Warriors forced a rubber match after dismantling the Tamaraws, 84-74, last Saturday.
''They are two very good teams. The other one (UE) is on a roll then the other (FEU) is struggling because of some internal problems but we think both teams will be dangerous opponents,'' Black said.
The last time Ateneo went to the finals in consecutive years was from 2001-2003, winning the title in 2002.
Nonoy Baclao, who had 13 points, six rebounds and three blocks; Eric Salamat and Kirk Long were also instrumental in forcing UST to commit 22 turnovers leading to 23 fastbreak points.
Worse, the Tigers' shooting fell miserably as they bungled 50-of-69 shots for a measly 27.5 percent clip - the lowest since 2003 - while limiting Most Valuable Player Dylan Ababou to just 6-of-19 shooting despite a 19-point effort in his final collegiate game.
''Kahit anong gawin namin, hindi kami maka-execute. Siguro yung pressure pumunta sa mga bata,'' UST coach Pido Jarencio lamented. ''Kahit papaano blessing na 'tong dumating sa Final Four pero yung performance na ini-expect ko sa kanila, hindi ko nakuha ngayon.
ATENEO
81 - Reyes 17, Buenafe 15, Al-Hussaini 14, Baclao 13, Salamat 6, Long 6, Chua 6, Sumalinog 2, Austria 2, Monfort 0, Gonzaga 0, Golla 0.
UST
64 - Ababou 19, Mirza 14, Teng 10, Bautista 9, Fortuna 7, Afuang 4, Camus 1, Maliksi 0, Aytona 0.
Quarters: 22-16, 40-31, 63-44, 81-64.
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