In a dominating performance, the Ateneo Blue Eaggles regained their winning form with a resounding victory over UST Growling Tigers with a final score of 97-77, in the UAAP Season 86 Men's Basketball Tournament held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.
With this much-needed win, Ateneo's record now stands at 3-3, and they are looking to build momentum as the season progresses.
Key players stepped up for Ateneo in this commanding victory. Chris Koon led the scoring charge with an impressive 21 points while contributing six rebounds and five assists.
Kai Ballungay added 17 points along with seven rebounds and three assists. Joseph Obasa was another standout performer, registering 17 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks, providing a strong inside presence.
Mason Amos chipped in 15 points to further bolster Ateneo's offensive firepower.
On the other side, UST continues to struggle, extending their longest-ever losing streak in school history to 19 straight games. The Growling Tigers are still in search of their first victory in the tournament, with a winless record of 0-6.
Nic Cabanero and Christian Manaytay continued to lead the way for UST, with Cabanero delivering a game-high 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting. He also showcased his versatility with seven rebounds and four assists.
Manaytay was equally instrumental, contributing 17 points and securing seven rebounds in losing effort.
Ateneo's strong showing in this game suggests that they are determined to climb the team standings and compete at a high level as the season unfolds. Meanwhile, UST faces the challenge of breaking their losing streak and turning their season around.
The Scores:
Ateneo 97 – Koon 21, Ballungay 17, Obasa 17, Amos 15, Espinosa 6, Chiu 6, Gomez 5, Brown 3, Celis 3, Lazaro 2, Credo 2, Quitevis 0, Bongo 0, Tuano 0, Nieto 0, Gamber 0.
UST 77 – Cabañero 21, Manaytay 17, Pangilinan 11, Crisostomo 8, Duremdes 7, Laure 5, Manalang 5, Calum 3, Moore 0, Lazarte 0, Llemit 0, Gesalem 0.
