Dave Ildefonso and Raffy Verano combined for 37 points as reigning champion Ateneo denied University of the Philippines a late comeback, 90-81, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 84 men's basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena Saturday, March 26.
Ildefonso fired 19 points on a 7-of-14 shooting powered with six rebounds, one assist, and one steal and Verano posted 18 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal for Ateneo.
Ange Kouame had a monster double-double performance with 11 points, 13 rebounds, one steal, and one block while SJ Belangel chalked up 10 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
UP used a late fourth quarter surge and saw its 19-point halftime deficit trim down to seven, 85-78, courtesy of CJ Cansino and Zavier Lucero.
But Belangel came through with a huge three-pointer and another basket to ice the game, 90-79, with still two minutes left in the payoff period.
"We need to respond better… but I guess it's better to learn those lessons during a win," said Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin.
Cansino, former University of Santo Tomas standout, led all scorers and hammered down 21 points with five rebounds and three steals, and big man Malick Diouf added 15 points, nine rebounds, two blocks, and one steal for UP.
The Fighting Maroons also leaned on rookie Carl Tamayo with a double-double performance of 13 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, and one block and Ricci Rivero, who had 11 points, three rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
Ateneo sparked a 15-2 run in the third quarter all thanks to the joint efforts of Ildefonso, Verano, and Kouame as the Blue Eagles made a comfortable 18-point lead, 61-43.
CJ Cansino, the man of hour for UP, stopped the bleeding for the Fighting Maroons as he fired a corner triple off a Lucero dish, 61-46.
But Cansino's effort alone wasn't enough to halt Ateneo's rally as former Blue Eaglet Ildefonso and Kouame easily responded with back-to-back baskets halfway the third period en route to Ateneo's biggest lead at 19, 65-49.
The scores:
Ateneo (90) -- Ildefonso 19, Verano 18, Kouame 11, Belangel 10, Mamuyac 9, Mendoza 6, Tio 5, Chiu 4, Daves 4, Koon 2, Lazaro 2, Andrade 0, Mallilin 0, Gomez 0.
UP (81) -- Cansino 21, Diouf 15, Tamayo 13, Rivero 11, Fortea 4, Cagulangan 4, Spencer 4, Lucero 2, Catapusan 2, Abadiano 2, Webb 2, Alarcon 0.
Quarter scores: 26-18, 46-35, 71-54, 90-81