UAAP Season 74 Eliminations, Round 1: Ateneo-Adamson Game Results

Ateneo overcame a seven-point 4^th quarter deficit and won by four through good old-fashioned defense. I'll take it.

Blue Eagles squeeze past Falcons; Tams score
By Jasmine W. Payo
INQUIRER.net

MANILA—Ateneo coach Norman Black had said this just might be the toughest season yet for the Blue Eagles.

And the Eagles felt exactly that right in their maiden game as the three-time champions rallied to slip past the tenacious Adamson Falcons, 55-51, yesterday in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Eagles held the Falcons scoreless in the final seven minutes of the game that also saw the sensational debut of the controversial Greg Slaughter.

Full story…

How about that Greg Slaughter, huh? In 31 minutes the Blue Eagle center tallied 23 points (9-14 FG, 5-10 FT), 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 6 turnovers (ugh), including this monstrous jam:

I am Slaughter, hear me roar.
[Photo credit: Diana Moraleda for Inboundpass.]

If anyone's still wondering why some of the other UAAP teams were hell-bent on disqualifying the Ateneo big man from playing this year, there's the answer. Slaughter just turned in a performance that will give opponents sleepless nights.

Meanwhile, Ateneo's other blue-chip rookie Kiefer Ravena went scoreless (he missed his only field goal attempt and did not go to the charity stripe) and had 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 turnover in 14 minutes. It wasn't the UAAP debut Blue Eagle fans expected, but it's alright. Ravena will have his own breakthrough game soon enough. If it comes at La Salle's expense this Saturday, even better.

[Hat tip to PBFantasy.com for the stats.]