Konting tambling na lang, kompleto na ang first-round sweep sa Ateneo.

Naitala ng defending back-to-back champion ang ika-anim na sunod na panalo nang paluhurin ang University of the East Warriors, 85-68, kahapon sa UAAP Season 82 Men’s Basketball Tournament sa Mall of Asia Arena.

Nagsalansan si Ange Kouame ng 16 puntos, 12 rebounds, tatlong blocks, at dalawang assists para pangunahan ang Blue Eagles sa malaking panalo na nagpatatag sa kanilang kampanya na walisin ang first round elimination.

'Pikon daw?' UAAP fan na nag-dirty finger, agaw-eksena sa San Juan Arena!

Nagbigay dina ng panalo nang dagdag na kumpiyansa para sa pakikipagtuos sa mas pinalakas na University of the Philippines, na pinamumunuan ni Kobe Paras, para sa rematch ng nakalipa sna championship match sa Linggo sa Araneta Coliseum.

Naghabol ang Ateneo sa 35-32 sa second frame bago sumagitsit sa 23-5 run para makontrol ang laro sa 57-40 tampok ang three-pointer ni Adrian Wong.

“I was pretty happy with the third quarter. Ultimately, we got the win,” pahayag ni coach Tab Baldwin.

“They took notes watching us play. They used some counters on some of our defensive plays, particularly in the first half and I was a little bit annoyed with the team. We shouldn’t need timeouts and we shouldn’t need halftime to fix those things.

“We should anticipate them, we should expect that. For whatever reason, our first half was something we need to learn on,” aniya.

Nagambag si Thirdy Ravena ng 15 puntos atr tumipa si Wong ng 11 puntos.

Nanguna si Rey Suerte sa UE (1-5) na may 15 puntos.

Nauna rito, natuldukan ng National University ang five-game losing skid sa 61-39 panalo kontra Far Eastern University.

Determinado sa kanyang misyon na bigyan ng panalo ang Bulldogs sinimulan ni Dave Ildefonso ang ratsada para sa 16-4 panimula.

Tumapos si Ildefonso na may 20 puntos at 8 rebounds para sa unang panalo ng Bulldogs matapos ang limang kabiguan.

“We could have easily been 5-1 or 4-2 at this point, but we stayed the course and we were gifted with a win,” pahayag ni NU coach Jamike Jarin.

Iskor:

NU (61) -- D. Ildefonso 20, Oczon 9, S. Ildefonso 8, Gaye 7, Clemente 6, Gallego 3, Joson 3, Yu 3, Mosqueda 2, Diputado 0, Galinato 0, Malonzo 0, Mangayao 0, Minerva 0, Rangel 0, Tibayan 0.

FEU (39) -- Ebona 17, Stockton 7, Nunag 5, Gonzales 4, Bienes 2, Comboy 2, Tempra 2, Alforque 0, Bayquin 0, Cani 0, Celzo 0, Mantua 0, Tchuente 0, Torres 0, Tuffin 0.

Quarterscores: 14-6, 37-13, 47-24, 61-39.

(Ikalawang Laro)

ADMU (85) -- Kouame 16, Ravena 15, Wong 11, Navarro 9, Belangel 6, Go 6, Mamuyac 6, Tio 5, Maagdenberg 4, Chiu 3, Ma. Nieto 2, Mi. Nieto 2, Andrade 0, Credo 0, Daves 0, Mallillin 0.

UE (68) -- Suerte 15, Conner 9, Tolentino 9, Diakhite 8, Abanto 6, Cruz 6, Camacho 5, Mendoza 5, Pagsanjan 5, Antiporda 0, Beltran 0.