Months after tragic Aurora camp, Ateneo returns with a victory in Pinoyliga tiff
At A Glance
- The Ateneo men's basketball team returned to action months after its tragic Aurora training camp with a 71-60 triumph over Our Lady of Fatima in the Pinoyliga Cup opener at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City Sunday, Aug. 16.
(Ateneo Blue Eagles)
The Ateneo men’s basketball team returned to action months after its tragic Aurora training camp with a 71-60 triumph over Our Lady of Fatima in the Pinoyliga Cup opener at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City Sunday, Aug. 16.
Guided by new head coach Louie Alas together with his son Kieffer, the Blue Eagles stepped on the hardcourt with a superb outing in the annual tournament that featured some of the top collegiate teams across the country.
This would be the first time that Ateneo played in a competition after begging off from several pre-season competitions after two of its members in Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili tragically passed away due to asphyxia by drowning during their team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora last June 8.
It resulted in the UAAP’s decision to perpetually ban resigned coach Tab Baldwin and hand several suspensions to the other staff present in the incident, including team manager Epok Quimpo.
The Katipunan-based squad advances to the next round where it faces the victor between College of St. Benilde or San Pedro College of Business Administration and College.
“They are sooo back!” the team wrote on its social media post.
One-and-done recruit Travis Roberts turned heads with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Alas backed him up with 12 points along with five rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Waki Espina and Jared Bahay chipped in nine and seven points, respectively, while Ian Espinosa, Grayson Rogers, and Jaym Leal added six points each.
Mamadou Torre starred for OLFU after posting 21 points, four rebounds, one steal, and two blocks, while Keith Belangco uncorked 12 points which all went down the drain.