Buenafe fires season-high in rivalry game
The guy was almost forgotten. And if talked about, he often receives painful ridicules: Slowpoke, overweight, Buena-fat. Nevertheless, Ryan Buenafe has proven himself to be a game-changer.
That was reaffirmed today, as the 2010 finals most valuable player poured a season-high to lift defending four-peat champions Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles past archrivals De La Salle Green Archers, 77-67, in the second Ateneo-La Salle duel in Season 75 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“May kailangan akong patunayan,” Buenafe said in the post game interview. “At iyon ay ang halaga ko sa team at sa liga.”
Pouring nine first quarter points off two triples, Buenafe led an Ateneo onslaught to erect a 17-5 lead, which was enough capital to put the Blue Eagles in front for the rest of the game.
The Green Archers though trimmed the double-digit lead to as much as five in the second quarter as point guard Almond Vosotros fired three triples in the quarter. The Archers likewise played airtight defense, allowing only ten second quarter points for the Eagles.
La Salle trimmed the lead further to two, 43-45, in the early stages of the third quarter as seldom-used guard Jarelan Tampus scored six quick points.
Then it was Buenafe’s turn to take over the game for the Eagles as the senior forward scored heavily inside and torched Jeron Teng’s defense with his patented hangtime layups. The Eagles retained their double-digit lead to end the period at 57-46.
Ateneo closed the game with Buenafe and power forward Nico Salva taking over as the duo scored a combined 13 points in the quarter. Meanwhile, La Salle went exclusively to Teng as the super rookie scored nine points, all from individual plays.
Buenafe led the Eagles with 24 points and eight rebounds while Ravena and Salva added 18 and 12 points, respectively. Teng led the Archers with 22 points while Vosotros added 20.
“Buenafe’s performance showed that the team has balance,” Ateneo coach Norman Black commented. “This win reestablished ourself as the best team in the league.”
With four games left in their schedule, the Blue Eagles hold the number one spot with a 9-1 record while the Green Archers are demoted to a precarious tie of fourth and fifth place with the National University Bulldogs at 6-4.
In the first game, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers spoiled Jericho Cruz’s career game, escaping past the Adamson Falcons, 83-79.
Jeric Teng, playing with a strained MCL, returned to his usual form with 22 points to counter Cruz’s career-high 33 points.
Photos by Justin De Jesus
