THE Ateneo Blue Eagles have a shot to boost their stock in the Final Four semifinals.
But with domestic issues and police detention distracting one its players, Nigerian big man Chibueze Ikeh, the Eagles are struggling to remain focused going into their Sunday afternoon showdown with the La Salle Green Archers.
“We are happy with our situation. But it needs to be done (getting the Final Four incentive),” said Blue Eagles coach Bo Perasol moments after they prevailed over the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 74-65, and earned the third Final Four slot in the 76th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Eagles now have a shot at a twice-to-beat incentive after the University of the East caught the University of Santo Tomas Growling on its bad day, posting a 91-77 victory, also Wednesday.
With the loss, UST fell to a 9-4 win-slate.
Ateneo’s chance to earn the no. 2 seeding will come if they hurdle their last two assignments against La Salle and University of the East.
The Blue Eagles are set to clash with the Green Archers at 4 p.m. this Sunday.
With their 8-4 record, the Blue Eagles joined Far Eastern University and UST in the semis, taking the no. 3 seeding in the Final Four.
But hours later after their win, policemen came to the Big Dome and arrested Ikeh for violating Republic Act 9262, a law penalizing violence against women and their children.
The 6’9” Ikeh spent the night at the Quezon City Police District’s criminal investigation and detection unit’s detention facility at Camp Karingal and was released after a P24,000 bail was posted.
Ateneo Athletics Director Emmanuel Fernandez told sportswriters, who witnessed Ikeh’s apprehension as he was whisked away to Camp Karingal, that the issue is “a private matter and has nothing to do with Ateneo basketball and the UAAP.”