Eagle Rally Falls Short Versus FEU

In the end, it was a case of too little, too late. After being down by as much as 26 points to FEU in the third period, Ateneo stormed back to slice the lead to a precarious nine points with a little over one minute left in the final canto. Unfortunately, that was the closest that the Blue Eagles could get and the Far Eastern University Tamaraws held on for a 65-54 win. FEU thus joined idle UP with a clean 3-0 mark as Ateneo tied archrivals La Salle at 1-2.

Coach Norman Black tried to shake up the Ateneo starting lineup once more by inserting rookie Eman Nazareno in place of Doug Kramer in the frontcourt. But FEU, ever cool and methodical coolly carved up the Eagles to end the first quarter with a 21-13 edge. Clogging the lanes to prevent any drives and using excellent perimeter defense, the Morayta-based cagers began to punish Ateneo for their carelessness. After scoring 22 points versus UST, J.C. Intal was held scoreless in the first half by FEU. Further compounding Ateneo's woes was a severely sprained ankle by Magnum Membrere with under 26 seconds remaining in the half. FEU led at the break 32-19 led by R.J. Rizada's 9 points and reigning UAAP MVP Arwind Santos' 8 markers.

The second half proved to be even worse for the Katipunan quintet as turnovers and sloppy ballhandling proved to be Ateneo's undoing. Mark Isip joined the scoring parade for FEU, scoring on a lay-up and a three-point play to increase the lead to 38-19. J.C. Intal scored his first point of the game from the free throw stripe, but was held to a grand total of 3 points for the entire contest thanks to the defense of Santos and the rest of the Tams. FEU seemed to be toying with Ateneo, pulling up for triples left and right, bringing to mind how La Salle ripped the Blue Eagles apart on opening day.

The biggest lead of the game came off a triple by Jeff Chan, pegging the score at FEU 54, Ateneo 28 with less than two minutes left in the third quarter. Totally outrebounded, outhustled, outmuscled, the Blue Eagles looked like a team that was ready to pack it in as FEU ended the third up 55-31. FEU's vaunted fastbreak attack helped keep Ateneo at bay up to that point.

Something happened as the final period opened though. L.A. Tenorio hit back-to-back triples to slice the lead to 59-41. Doug Kramer began powering his way to the hoop, and even rookie Zion Laterre joined the scoring parade and brought the deficit down to 59-45. Rizada then hit a jumper and a lay-up before Tenorio hit another outside bomb to end his scoring for the evening with 18 markers. Laterre then hit a surprising triple with two minutes remaining in the game before a crucial traveling violation was called on Tenorio.

With 1:11 left on the game clock, Kramer got an offensive rebound, made a lay-up, and converted the three-point play to bring the Eagles as close as they ever were at 63-54, giving hope to the Ateneo gallery. However, it was all for naught thanks to a jumper from R.B. Mangahas and a subsequent steal off the Eagles. Final score had FEU up 65-54, led by Arwind Santos' 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Despite the loss, the Blue Eagles showed that they would not give up without a fight against arguably the best team in the UAAP. Although turnovers were once again their downfall, Ateneo showed enough character and heart that maybe, just maybe, FEU will have to be more wary of the Eagles in Round 2. Next up for Ateneo, a game versus the winless (and hungry) NU Bulldogs on Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym.