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Ateneo standout rookies Kristian Porter and Jared Bahay lead the way at crunch time as the struggling Blue Eagles hand the NU Bulldogs yet another crushing setback to start the UAAP Season 87 second round
MANILA, Philippines – For the fourth time in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, the NU Bulldogs found themselves on the losing end of a single-possession game as the Ateneo Blue Eagles eked out a 70-68 escape to start their second round at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, October 13.
With its second win in the bag, the struggling Ateneo program snapped a three-game slide and forged a triple tie with NU and the FEU Tamaraws at sixth place with identical 2-6 records.
As the Eagles missed forwards Josh Lazaro and Kyle Ong, burly rookie big man Kristian Porter towed the winning cause with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks — all team-highs — while fellow standout freshman Jared Bahay scored 12 with 6 boards and 5 assists.
“Well, it was enough, you know. It was enough to get us over the finish line,” said Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin. “I know for the players that it’s been a tough first half of the season, and they’ve stuck together.”
“I’ve got to give them credit for that because I think I’ve tried to put a lot of pressure on them because I know that there’s so much we’re going to take out of this season, particularly these young guys like this.”
It was a game of threatening runs from buzzer to buzzer, as NU rebounded from a 13-point second quarter deficit, 19-32, to eventually come within a point in the fourth, 61-62, on the heels of back-to-back Steve Nash Enriquez triples with 3:31 left in regulation.
The Bulldogs, however, were again unable to capitalize on the cusp of taking a late lead, as Porter pushed Ateneo back up 3, 68-65, with a bully-ball layup inside at the 27-second mark, before Ian Espinosa created a two-bucket cushion off a split free throw line trip, 69-65, next possession.
Although Jolo Manansala banked home a desperation three with 5.1 seconds left, 68-69, before Espinosa left the door open with another split charity trip, 70-68, NU again suffered right at the very end, as Manansala’s follow-up triple off a timeout clanked off as time expired.
Jake Figueroa paced yet another crushing loss with a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Manansala scattered 12 points, 7 boards, and 2 assists.
The Scores
Ateneo 70 – Porter 14, Bahay 12, Koon 10, Bongo 9, Tuano 8, Quitevis 5, Edu 5, Espinosa 4, Espina 2, Balogun 1, Gamber 0, Reyes 0.
NU 68 – Figueroa 15, Manansala 12, Enriquez 8, Jumamoy 8, Yu 6, Palacielo 5, Padrones 4, Santiago 4, Garcia 3, Francisco 3, Tulabut 0, Perciano 0, Lim 0, Dela Cruz 0, Parks 0.
Quarters: 15-13, 35-31, 50-45, 70-68.
– Rappler.com
