Thirdy Ravena led Ateneo to another 20pt blowout win in a mincemeat of State U. |
By Kevin Estrada
QUEZON CITY -- Not even close.
Sending a very clear message to the rest of the league, Ateneo clawed UP in the first Battle of Katipunan on Wednesday night at the Big Dome.
Tab Baldwin's Blue Eagles dominated their northern counterparts in a wire-to-wire 92-71 win to go 2-0 into the young season.
Coming from a last-gasp win over UST, the Fighting Maroons dropped to 1-1 as the never led in the entire game.
Tyler Tio came out tonight on his UAAP debut, scoring 14 points on a perfect 6/6 clip from the field.
Ateneo started the game with an 8-0 run, but UP responded to even the opening quarter at 16.
However, Isaac Go and Jolo Mendoza responded with back to back triples to put Ateneo up by six.
The Blue Eagles then continued the onslaught in the second quarter, putting a 14-point edge before settling for a 44-36 lead heading into the break.
Ateneo then turned to the free throw line to make it 62-51 after three.
Then Tio torched the nets of Cubao in the payoff period, firing in eight straight points, including back-to-back threes for a 70-51 lead with 8:37 left to play
The boys in blue then continued the onslaught, having their largest gap at 80-56 with five minutes left to coast to their second win in as many games.
THE SCORES:
Ateneo 92-Ravena 16, Tio 14, Ikeh 9, Black 9, Matt Nieto 7, Verano 7, Asistio 7, Go 6, Mike Nieto 5, Porter 4, Mendoza 3, Mamuyac 2, Malilin 2, Tolentino 1
UP 71-Ju. Gomez de Liaño 16, Manzo 14, Lim 10, Desiderio 9, Ja. Gomez de Liaño 6, Prado 6, Webb 3, Romero 3, Romero 2, Quattara 2, Lao 2
Quarterscores: 22-16, 44-36, 62-51, 92-71
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