Five-time defending champs Ateneo in 0-2 hole entering Sunday’s rivalry match

During their current reign at the summit of the UAAP’s men’s basketball mountain, Ateneo has never started off a season on a shaky record.

But with a less-heralded lineup bitten by the injury bug under head coach Bo Perasol, the once-invincible Loyola Heights five have ventured into unfamiliar waters.

Despite forcing an extra five minutes in a match they trailed all throughout, the Blue Eagles fell to a rejuvenated Far Eastern University on Wednesday via a 79-75 count, barely days before their much-anticipated match against archrivals De La Salle University.

Terrence Romeo backed his stellar opening day performance by posting a well-rounded output of 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Fellow backcourt partners RR Garcia and Mike Tolomia posted 13 and 16 points respectively.

“Ang effect sa kanya (ng praise nung last game is) he wasn’t looking to shoot the ball (early in the game). That’s part of maturity (he needs to develop) on his end,” said Far Eastern University head coach Nash Racela following Romeo’s all around play in the first two games of the tournament.

Leading by as much as 11 heading into the final 9:28 of the match, the Blue Eagles put up a spirited 15-4 charge led by swingman Ryan Buenafe to knot the game 59-all.

Down by four within the two minute warning, rookie Chris Newsome converted clutch points down the stretch, including two free throws with 10.7 ticks left, to send the game to overtime.

But with the game tied with less than 30 seconds left in the extra session, Roger Pogoy cleaned up RR Garcia’s miss to put the Tamaraws up for good, 77-75. Romeo, on his part, ended the match with four consecutive points from the foul line and two great defensive stops that vanquished the blue shirts.

“Expected na. Ateneo is a strong team. Kung third game namin sila, baka nayari kami,” noted Racela about the feisty run made by their protagonists in the post-game presser.

“Give them time to adjust. Wala si Kiefer (Ravena).”

Ateneo played their second straight game without Ravena, who was sidelined due to an ankle injury that left his status unknown as of writing. In his place, Buenafe led the charge with 29 points, 15 rebounds and three steals. Newsome posted 17 points and seven rebounds.

With the loss, the Blue Eagles have suffered their first 0-2 start since 2003. Also, the team has never suffered back-to-back losses in their five seasons that they wound up winning the men’s basketball championship.

Short rotation lifts Green Archers to victory over Fighting Maroons

Hours before Ateneo slumped to their second loss, the Taft Avenue arrow-slingers vented their ire over their opening day loss onto their archrivals’ neighbors along Katipunan Avenue.

Led by sophomore swingman Jeron Teng, De La Salle University completed the highest point production in the league during the last four years in their 96-84 rout of University of the Philippines.

Teng, who had seen his performance dip during the summer leagues and in their first outing on opening day, put up 20 points, four assists and two steals on the stat sheets. Lefty forward Jason Perkins added 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Almond Vosotros put up 15 points on a sizzling 3-for-4 shooting from downtown during the first half alone.

“We’re still getting used to the new system under Coach Juno (Sauler),” noted Jeron Teng following the contest. “Thankfully we got this win to get our confidence back coming to (the) Ateneo game. Sana madala namin ito sa next game.”

Ex-Green Archer Joseph Marata put up 21 points, launching a 5-for-12 onslaught from three-point land, together with six rebounds and three assists. Backcourt tandem Kyles Lao and Henry Asilum stepped up and posted 18 and 12 points apiece in a losing cause.

The Fighting Maroons have not won against the Green Archers since their second round encounter during Season 72.

BOX SCORES
First game
DE LA SALLE (96): Teng 20, Perkins 20, Vosotros 15, N. Torres 14, T. Torres 14, de la Paz 7, Van Opstal 6, Bolick 0
UP (84): Marata 21, Lao 18, Asilum 12, Suarez 9, Ball 8, Soyud 5, Pascual 3, Ligad 3, Gallarza 3, Desiderio 2, Wong 0, Amar 0
QUARTERS: 24-19, 48-44, 75-67, 96-84

Second game
FAR EASTERN (79): Romeo 21, Tolomia 16, Garcia 13, Pogoy 8, Hargrove 8, Cruz 5, Mendoza 4, Jose 2, Belo 2, Sentcheu 0
ATENEO (75): Buenafe 29, Newsome 17, Elorde 9, Tiongson 7, Pessumal 6, Erram 4, Capacio 3, Murphy 0, Golla 0, Babilonia 0, Asistio 0
QUARTERS: 18-14, 33-31, 53-44, 66-66, 79-75 (OT)