The Ateneo de
Manila High School Blue Eaglets started their Season 76 redemptive campaign
losing to projected championship rival NU last Wednesday, but they were able to
bounce back against a much-improved UE five just yesterday.
NU BULLPUPS over AHS BLUE EAGLETS, 79-72
Two of the top three players in the Juniors Division of Season 76 dueled
in their first meeting of the season, with Hubert Cani and his Bullpups coming
out on top, 79-72.
Cani, a former RP-Youth player, finished with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and
6 assists to lead NU, which is being tagged as one of the favorites to take
home the Juniors crown this year. Cani scored 19 of his 24 markers in the
second and third periods when the Bullpups tried to pull away from Ateneo. NU
eventually built a 20-point bubble early in the fourth quarter.
The Ateneans, however, refused to just roll over and perish. A 26-8 rally
midway in the payoff period enabled the Eaglets to claw their way within just
two points, 72-70, with under 30 ticks remaining. Thirdy Ravena, Jme Escaler,
Jolo Mendoza, and the Nieto twins were the conspirators in Ateneo’s last stand,
but they fell short of the W as Cani, Mark Dyke, and Carlos Lopena hit their
freebies to ice the contest.
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| Thirdy Ravena hoists a teardrop over the NU D. |
Ravena, the Season 76 Juniors MVP favorite, led the Loyola quintet with
27 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals while shooting 50% from the
field. The rest of coach Joe Silva’s boys struggled, however, as Matt Nieto was
the only other Eaglets to finish in double-figures with 10 markers.
NU was clearly the more dominant
team, going +6 in rebounds, +4 in assists, and shooting better from the field
and the charity stripe. Ateneo played great defense, forcing 23 NU turnovers,
but they shot themselves in the foot by missing all but one of their threes and
shooting just 46% from the line.
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| Hubert Cani gets some pointers from Bullpups coach Jeff Napa. |
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| Mark Dyke of NU tries to thwart the drive of Ateneo's Thirdy Ravena. |
Scores:
NU
79 – Cani 24, Cauilan
15, Dyke 13, Lopena 10, Go 8, Battad 4, Mosqueda 3, Grealy 2, Lapiz 0, Claveria
0, Catillo 0, Bautista 0.
AdMU
65 – Ravena 27, Nieto
Ma. 10, Nieto Mi. 9, Mendoza 7, Escaler 5, Ramos 4, Salandanan 3, Jose 3,
Magpoc 2, Black 2, Mamuyac 0, Joson L. 0, Joson G. 0, Calilung 0.
QS:
18-14, 41-25, 58-42, 79-72.
Notable
Performers:
Hubert Cani (NU) – 24pts, 7rebs, 6asts
Thirdy Ravena (AHS) – 27pts, 11rebs,
3asts, 2stls
Mark Dyke (NU) – 13pts, 11rebs, 3blks
AHS BLUE EAGLETS over UE JUNIOR
WARRIORS, 71-64
Ateneo, despite struggling to score in the final 3 minutes, dominated
play against UE on its way to win number one, 71-64.
An 11-1 spurt early in the fourth quarter proved to be the telling blow
as coach Joe Silva’s wards bounced back from their opening day defeat at the
hands of NU. Once again, graduating player Thirdy Ravena was the main man with
16 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, while junior big man Mike Nieto netted 13
points on top of 12 boards.
They combined with Matt Nieto, Aaron Black, and Miguel Calilung in the
decisive fourth period run that created a bit separation against the pesky
Junior Warriors, 65-52, with 6 minutes left. Ateneo played keep-away from then
on as UE struggled with its offense.
Magic Marata and Reymar Caduyac were the bright spots for the Reds here.
Marata pumped in 20 points to go along with 10 rebounds, while Caduyac
registered a dozen markers to go along with 9 ribbies.
Jme Escaler and Matt, Mike’s twin brother, each tossed in 11 points for
Ateneo, which is now at 1-1.
 |
| Matt Nieto has taken the playmaking cudgels for Season 76. |
Scores:
AHS
71 – Ravena 16, Nieto
Mi 13, Nieto Ma 11, Escaler 11, Mendoza J 8, Black 6, Magpoc 3, Calilung 3,
Salandanan 0, Riego de Dios 0, Ramos 0, Mendoza M 0, Mamuyac 0, Joson E 0,
Joson T 0, Jose 0
UE
64 – Marata 20,
Caduyac 12, Antonio 6, Altamirano 6, Gutierres 5, Del Rosario 5, Briones 4,
Mohamad 3, Ceralde 3, Contomo 0
QS:
20-13, 37-30, 54-49, 71-64
Notable
Performers:
Thirdy Ravena (AHS) – 16pts, 7rebs,
4asts, 1stl, 1blk
Mike Nieto (AHS) – 13pts, 12rebs, 1ast,
1blk
Magic Marata (UE) – 20pts, 10rebs, 1blk
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