By Vivem Soriano
Eagle News Service
The Ateneo Blue Eagles remain unbeaten and on top of the UAAP standings after a 96-82 come-from-behind win over the UP Fighting Maroons at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
The Maroons started the game strong, finishing the 1st quarter up by a point 23-22.
The good run continued for the Maroons in the 2nd quarter with team captain Paul Desiderio leading the charge with 13 first half points.
UP led Ateneo 48-42 at the halftime break.
UP super rookie Juan Gomez de Liano then scored 6 straight points to start the 3rd quarter, pushing UP to its biggest lead of 12.
But Ateneo mounted a furious rally, cutting the lead down to one by the end of the 3rd quarter, 64-63.
The Blue Eagles then seemed cruising to a win when they mounted an 11-point lead, 79-68, with 7 minutes left in the game.
But it was UP’s turn to mount a comeback.
The Maroons raced to an 11-0 run to tie the ballgame at 79-79 with less than 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter.
But turnovers and fatigue overcame the Maroons as it was all Ateneo from that point on.
The Blue Eagles erected another double-digit lead to put away the pesky UP squad for good.
The win keeps Ateneo’s quest for an outright finals berth alive.
A team which sweeps and wins all games in the UAAP is awarded an automatic finals spot.
For UP, meanwhile, the road for its first Final Four appearance since 1997 now stands on shaky ground.
First, the Maroons, now tied with NU at 5-8, must win their last game against the NU Bulldogs.
The winner of that game on Saturday will then need the help of the Adamson Falcons—who are already locked in at 3rd in the standings and assured of a Final Four spot— to beat the FEU Tamaraws—who are currently sitting with a 6-7 card—to force a playoff for the last postseason spot.
Matt Nieto was the leading scorer for Ateneo with 19. Isaac Go and Gian Mamuyac each scored 13 while Thirdy Ravena and Vince Tolentino added 10 points apiece.
Rookie Gomez de Liano led the UP Fighting Maroons with 21 points. Team captain Desiderio had 16 while point guard Jun Manzo added 13 points.
