By: Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Always ready and hungry, the defending champions proved once again why they’re at the pedestal.
With the NU Bulldogs still winless in the UAAP Season 82 Men’s basketball, the Ateneo Blue Eagles made sure the former’s first win didn’t come at their expense.
The defending champions blew the Bulldogs out, 71-50, in another astonishing display of basketball.
The Tab Balwin led team orchestrated their offense easily as the Bulldogs seemed loose on the defensive end and provided little resistance on isolation plays.
The Blue Eagle defense also fazed NU, locking down the paint to deter any drives to the rim as Angelo Kouame posted 7 swats and 2 steals, to go along with another double-double performance of 15 points and 13 rebounds.
It was all Ateneo from start to finish as they displayed consistent defensive tenacity that anchored their confidence on the offensive end.
Gian Mamuyac, more known to be a defensive stopper, shot the lights out for Ateneo as he sank 4 of his 6 attempts from the field.
Former Ateneo stalwarts Dave and Shaun Ildefonso led the Bulldogs, scoring 10 and 9 respectively and were limited by Ateneo’s pressure defense.
With the win, Ateneo remains unbeaten while the Bulldogs continue their losing skid, 0-5.
