Men’s basketball defending champion Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles posted its first win, a 56-54 squeaker, against Cebu-based University of San Jose Recoletos as the 17th Sandugo-University Games opened at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City yesterday.
With Kiefer Ravena and Juan Miguel Tiongson in the starting five, the Eagles cruised to a 17-8 first quarter lead as USJR missed most of their field goals in the opening minutes.
Fixing up some loopholes in their offense, the Recoletos team bounced back to outscore the Eagles, 18-9, in the second quarter to tie the score at halftime, 26-all.
Feeling the pressure, the Blue Eagles doubled their effort in the third quarter and came up with 20 points while limiting USJR to 12 points for a 46-38 lead going in to the payoff period.
Undaunted, USJR continued to hound Ateneo, challenged every shot and got their break when Ravena picked up his fourth personal foul with 2:13 left in the game with the Blue Eagles up 54-51.
A three-point shot from a Recoletos’ sniper tied the game at 54-all with two minutes left in the game to threaten Ateneo’s lofty standing in the tournament.
The UAAP champs, however, kept their composure and were bailed out of trouble by Gwyne Capacio whose jumper game Ateneo a two-point lead with 54.8 second remaining.
The pesky Recolectos squad had the chance to send the game into overtime but failed to convert several attempts as the time expires.
Capacio led the Blue Eagles with 12 points while Ravena and Juan Nicolas Elorde finished with 11 points each.
The defending champions will face Holy Cross of Davao College at 2 p.m. today at Bacolod Tay Tung High School Po Hang Gym.
At the West Negros University Gym, UAAP 75th Season runner-up University of Sto. Tomas Growling Tigers stamped their class over John B. Lacson Memorial University, 97-70, while NOPSSCEA defending champion WNU Mustangs bowed to Southwestern University, 62-82.
Despite their recent victory in the PCCL regional championship recently, Mustangs head coach Troy Sarabia said his players have limited time to practice as they have to prepare for their final exam last week.
He also gave credit to the SWU for playing well, citing their height advantage against the Mustangs.
Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod Eagles men’s basketball squad also dropped its first assignment against Hercor College (Capiz), 77-91.
USLS STINGERS WIN
Meanwhile, host University of St. La Salle won all their games yesterday with the Lady Stingers leading the way with a three-straight set win against De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, 25-15, 25-19, and 25-15 at the USLS Covered College Covered Court.
The USLS men’s basketball team also registered their first victory in the tournament with a 61-55 decision against Ateneo de Davao University, while the Stingers men’s volleyball squad dominated St. Louis University, 25-8, 25-13, and 25-12.
In search of another UniGames football crown, NOPSSCEA back-to-back champion USLS booters blanked St. Benilde, 7-0, at the North Point LRY football pitch in Talisay, with three goals from Joel Bedia, two from Ralph Layumas, and one each from Angelo Bahoyan, and Adrian Dolino.
At the UNO-R Covered Court, host Lady Rams bowed to the Ateneo Lady Eagles in women’s volleyball, 26-16, 25-22, and 25-15 in their first game yesterday, but bounced back in the afternoon against University of the Philippines-Diliman with a win after four sets.* with a report from Lisa Gapac
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