Altas deny Ateneo as UP books q'finals Filoil slot

Altas deny Ateneo as UP books q'finals Filoil slot

by rick olivares

With a chance to send the game into overtime, Ateneo rookie Tyler Tio missed the second of three free throws with no time left to hand the win to the Perpetual Help Altas, 60-59, and deny the Blue Eagles an outright semifinals berth in the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup.

The Altas led for much of the game holding off Ateneo that suffered through a poor shooting and error-filled game. The Blue Eagles only came alive in the last period when they hit five consecutive three-pointed to wipe out a 48-36 third period deficit and take the lead, 53-50 on the last of Mike Nieto’s three triples.

In the face of renewed Ateneo fervor, the Altas didn’t capitulate as Prince Eze and Flash Sadiwa scored five unanswered points of their own, 55-53. Both sides traded scores and after a Chibueze Ikeh bucket for Ateneo (he missed the and-one) to level the match at 57-all, Sadiwa, the fifth year swingman, scored a bucket and split his charities. With almost no time left on the game clock, Altas guard Robert Clement fouled Tio in the act of shooting a three. Tio only made two of three to send the Altas to their third win in nine outings.

After their stirring triumph over La Salle last Sunday and their close encounter with Jose Rizal University last Monday, the Blue Eagles came out firing blanks and looking listless until their fourth quarter awakening.

With the loss, Ateneo now has to defeat pace-setting San Beda on Friday to qualify for the quarterfinals. Should they go on to lose that match as well, La Salle will qualify for the second round of the tourney.

Prince Eze had his way inside the lane against Ateneo’s feeble big men to score 18 points while Sadiwa backed him up with 17 points. Mike Nieto was the sole Atenean in double figures with 14 points as his team connected only on 17 of 55 field goal attempts.

It was sweet revenge for the Altas who were bounced in the quarterfinals of last year’s Premier Cup by Ateneo. Now, with the Blue Eagles teetering on the brink of elimination and their rivals entering by the backdoor, the Altas might have had their revenge.

In the day’s other big game, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons squeaked into the quarterfinals with a 59-56 win over National University. Jun Manzo drained a triple with less than 20 seconds left to lift UP that was without stalwarts Diego Dario, Paul Desiderio, and Juan Gomez Di Liaño who are all out with either injuries or other commitments.

It is UP’s first trip back to the quarterfinals after last making it in 2009 where they were bounced by San Sebastian in the round of eight.

Noah Webb led UP with 17 points while NU’s Dave Wilson Yu was likewise the only other player to score in double figures with 16 markers.

The final day for the elimination round of the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup is this Friday while the quarterfinals tips off next Wednesday.