William Navarro unloaded 20 points for the Philippines-Ateneo Blue Eagles, who smothered Lithuania, 98-65, yesterday in the 40th William Jones Cup in New Taipei City.
Big men, Angelo Kouame had 19 points, while Thirdy Ravena added 14 for the Blue Eagles, who picked their third straight win.
The Blue Eagles moved up in the standings with their 4-2 win-loss card, putting them in the running for a podium finish. They are now in fourth, behind Canada (6-0), Iran (4-1) and South Korea (4-1.)
They meet Chinese Taipei (3-2) on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Iran (4-1) on Sunday at 5 p.m.
With Kouame Mike Nieto joining hands for for 14 of the team’s 21 second-quarter points, the Blue Eagles had little trouble coasting to a 43-28 lead at halftime.
They took a 30-point lead following a wide open triple from Isaac Go, 66-34.
In limiting Lithuania to only 6, the Blue Eagles wrapped up the third with a 27-point edge, 73-46.
Zygimantas Jocys was the only Lithuanian in double-digits with 20 points.
The scores:
Ateneo (98) – Navarro 20, Kouame 19, Ravena 14, Nieto, Mi. 10, Go 10, Asistio 8, White 6, Black 4, Tio 3, Nieto, Mi. 3, Daves 1, Wong 0.
Lithuania (65) – Jocys 20, Motuzas 9, Norkus 9, Neimantas 8, Rimsa 7, Sabecka 7, Paulauskas 5, Vazalis 0.
Quarter scores: 22-17, 43-28, 73-46, 98-65.