Dave Ildefonso Impresses in Ateneo Win Versus UP 90-81

Dave Ildefonso Impresses in Ateneo Win Versus UP 90-81

Dave Ildefonso was making plays, scoring and hustling for Ateneo while naturalized import Angelo Kouame was the anchor at the paint, Rafael Verano the postman and SJ Belangel hit the big shots when UP was making a comeback late in the 4th quarter. The Blue Eagles and the Fighting Maroons started like a house on fire attacking the basket at every oppurtunity on one-one-one and fastbreak plays. Ateneo's hot shooting from the outside earned them a 13-3 lead in the first quarter. The gap ballooned to 20-5 with the Maroons making turnovers while the Eagles get easy points by passing the ball around. CJ Cansino provided the scoring and hustle UP needed as they cut the lead to 26-18 at the end of first quarter. The second quarter saw the game slowed down as both teams opted to use picks or screens. However we didn't see that much of plays like pick and rolls, pick and pops or pick and passes. Diouf came to play in the second quarter but Ateneo kept them at bay 46-35 at halftime. In the third quarter, Ateneo was still pushing the ball hard pouncing on the poor transition defense by UP. It was here the Blue Eagles posted the biggest margin at 71-53. The Fighting Maroons threatened to come back at 85-78 with two and a half minutes remaining so Ateneo has to send back Kouame into the game. Belangel took charge, scoring a wide open 3 and a deuce to frustrate Cansino and Carl Tamayo who had an off-day. Game ends at 90-81. Ildefonso leads all scorers for Ateneo with 19 points. Verano 18, Kuoame 11, Belangel 10 and three more with 5 points or more. Cansino tops the scoring for UP with 21 followed by Diouf with 15, Tamayo 13 and Ricci Rivero 11 who had a relatively quiet game.