Dave Ildefonso and Tyler Tio banged in 17 points apiece as the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles bucked a late rally and repulsed the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 79-70, Tuesday in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Tamaraws were able to cut down the Blue Eagles’ 26-point edge in the fourth with a 9-0 run capped by Emman Ojoula’s basket, which allowed them to stay within range, 66-72, with four minutes to go.
But Ildefonso’s trey and SJ Belangel’s driving shot allowed the Blue Eagles to remain in control, 77-68, at the three-minute mark.
“When you are dealing with Olsen (Racela) and his team (FEU), they don’t give and they just change tactics. They figure things out,” said Blue Eagles’ coach Tab Baldwin.
It was Tio’s third-quarter attack which keyed the Blue Eagles’ second consecutive win for the season, allowing Ateneo to stretch its winning streak to 28 matches.
The Blue Eagles have remained unbeaten for the last three years, after building a 10-game winning streak since their first round loss to the Tams in Season 81.
The prolific Tio knocked in all of his 17 points in the third quarter, including back-to-back threes that stretched Ateneo’s edge to 21, 63-42, with less than three minutes left in the period.
Earlier, Jerom Lastimosa showed the way for the Adamson Falcons, who pulled off an 82-66 crushing of University of the East and spoiled the coaching debut of Jack Santiago.
“The good thing about it is that slowly the things we emphasized on, medyo na-co-correct at gumaganda,” said Adamson head coach Nash Racela, who replaced Franz Pumaren.
