![]() |
Kiefer Ravena struggled from the field but still finished with 15 markers thanks to a good clip from the freethrow line. Dennis Jerome Acosta/Dugout Philippines |
QUEZON CITY--The aftereffects of the arrest to center Chibueze Ikeh was somewhat evident in Ateneo early into its UAAP match-up against La Salle.
But once the Blue Eagles left their dugout after their halftime discussion, they turned up the heat against the Green Archers.
Ateneo banked on a third quarter explosion to down La Salle, 73-62, on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Eagles, who trailed by as much as ten at the end of the first quarter, outscored the Archers, 23-9, in the third to turn a 30-35 halftime deficit to a 53-44 lead.
Ateneo withstood a gallant stand from La Salle in the fourth quarter and got a boost in its bid to get a playoff for a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.
Von Pessumal led the Blue Eagles, who are now a game and a half behind the FEU Tamaraws for first place and a full game back of the UST Growling Tigers for second, with 17 points, six rebounds, and one block.
Kiefer Ravena struggled from the field but still finished with 15 markers thanks to a good clip from the free throw line.
Ikeh, who posted a PHP 24 thousand bail following his detention late Wednesday night for a case filed by a certain woman to get the go-signal to play, came off the bench and contributed four points, seven rebounds, and two blocks.
Prince Rivero led the Green Archers, who are now on a three-game losing streak and nearing a possible relegation, with 16 points, nine rebounds, and two assists in a game where Jeron Teng fouled out with less than three minutes left. The loss pulled them down to fifth place behind the NU Bulldogs, who beat the UP Fighting Maroons in earlier action.
Box Scores:
Ateneo 73-Pessumal 17, Ravena 15, Black 13, Wong 10, Ma. Nieto 6, Gotladera 5, Ikeh 4, Go 2, Capacio 1, Babilonia 0, Cani 0, V. Tolentino 0, A. Tolentino 0
La Salle 62-Rivero 16, Teng 11, Perkins 8, Torralba 8, Muyang 6, Torres 6, Caracut 5, Go 2, Navarro 0, Tratter 0
Quarterscores: 13-23, 30-35, 53-44, 73-62
Follow the writer on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno