We Love L.A.! Tenorio's 25 Masterful in Ateneo's VICTORY

Ie Love L.A.! Tenorio's 25 Keys Ateneo's 69-66 Win over FEU




Oh hell yeah. Finally returning to the form that won them seven straight games, the Ateneo Blue Eagles clawed and fought their way to a thrilling 69-66 victory over the league-leading Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the Araneta Coliseum. Co-captain L.A. Tenorio led the charge, scoring 23 of his 25 points in the second half, going four out of seven from beyond the three-point arc. With an awesome display of firepower, plus exceptional defense anchored by Japeth Aguilar, the Blue Eagles gained a measure of revenge over FEU's blowout win over them in the first round.

With Ford Arao joined by Bajjie del Rosario on the sidelines, and a pair of unimpressive games versus UST and NU, the pressure was on Ateneo to prove themselves worthy of a Final Four berth. This game was also important to Coach Norman Black's charges to see if they could measure up to a Tamaraw squad that had been running roughshod over the rest of the UAAP, and humiliated the Eagles in their previous encounter.

The game began as a defensive struggle. Macky Escalona was attacked by FEU's Jeff Chan via post-ups and moves inside the shaded lane, giving "E-Mac" two quick fouls in the first quarter. J.C. Intal, still groping for form, was also limited, a theme that would recur throughout the evening. With reigning MVP Arwind Santos content to shoot from the outside, both teams played sloppy basketball, each side committing four turnovers in the period. Magnum Membrere's triple as time ran out saw the Eagles trailing 14-16 after one.

The second period saw much of the same action as the first; a defensive struggle where FEU would establish a lead, only to see Ateneo climb back behind hustle and an inspired Blue and White gallery. Tenorio managed only two points in the half: a dipsy-do drive that kept the Eagles close at 24-26. Halftime score had the Tamaraws leading, 28-26.



On the first play of the third quarter, Intal stole an FEU pass but was fouled by Santos before he could get into the open court. This left "the Baby Rocket" hobbling a bit, and he would not be the same for the remainder of the game. The second half also saw FEU Coach Bert Flores finally pair up his dominant big man combo of Santos and Mark Isip for the first time. It immediately paid dividends when Isip's jumper lifted FEU to an early 30-26 lead. From there, the Hail Mary squad would go on a sizzling tear. Beginning with a nifty pass by Escalona to Aguilar, and capped with key defensive stops resulting in Tamaraw misses, Ateneo would go on a 14-0 blast and snatch the lead 32-30 at the 5:33 mark of the third.



Ken Barracoso filled in admirably for Intal, driving to the hoop, blocking a shot, and getting open on the fastbreak during the run. With 3:09 left in the period, the fireworks would begin. Santos' shot a triple that had FEU trailing behind Ateneo 38-33. Tenorio would answer with his own trifecta, before FEU's RB Mangahas and Santos would hit back-to-back threes for a slim 41-39 Ateneo edge. Another three-pointer from Tenorio turned the Ateneo crowd delirious as they cherished a 44-39 lead. Santos would then miss his own try from beyond the arc, Martin Quimson got one of two free throws, and Mangahas had a lay-up as Ateneo led 45-41. Tenorio would end the scoring in the quarter via a slashing drive as Ateneo found themselves in the driver's seat 47-41.

That explosive 21-point period was something Coach Norman Black knew might not be enough. After all, FEU didn't get to the top of the standings for nothing. Tenorio kept his hot hand going to start the fourth thanks to a booming triple. Lefty RJ Rizada then connected on a right-handed lay-in, only to be answered by Tenorio through a left-handed shot of his own as Ateneo led 52-43. The Blue Eagles got their biggest lead of the game when, after receiving a pass on the break, Aguilar powered over Isip and got a foul in the process. The lead then stood at ten points, 55-45. Just as Tenorio was rested by Coach Norman, FEU mounted their run.



Arwind lived up to his nickname of "The Whirlwind" by being all over the court. Hitting a triple, grabbing rebounds, stealing the ball, and converting on lay-ups to keep FEU close. However, Santos would be in for a rude awakening when, on a fastbreak and looking to get even closer, Arwind drove to the basket… only to see his shot erased by the long-limbed Japeth Aguilar. As the Ateneo crowd roared its approval, Santos would find himself driving again just a few minutes later. Now aware of Aguilar's presence, Santos went in soft, and Aguilar sent him home again.

Still, FEU was finally able to tie the game at 55-55 when Jonas Villanueva stole the ball off Tenorio and converted on a fastbreak. Ateneo had gone scoreless for eight minutes, allowing FEU the opportunity to tie, when L.A. found Doug Kramer underneath the hoop to end the drought. After a free throw by FEU's Adolfo, Isip would score on a baseline jumper over Aguilar to finally regain the lead for the Morayta-based quintet, 58-57.



Later, Isip converted on two free throws to give FEU a 60-59 edge. That's when Tenorio shot his fourth and final three-pointer of the evening, lifting the Blue Eagles up 62-60. The Tamaraws lost their top big man afterwards when Isip caught his fifth foul on a moving pick. In the time left, they would not be the same team. Macky Escalona scored one of two free throws for a 63-60 Ateneo lead, which was followed by consecutive misses by Jeff Chan and Santos from long distance. Tenorio then hit a runner that went off the backboard and gave the Eagles a luxurious 65-60 score. When Ken Barracoso broke free on a long inbound play and went all the way for a 67-60 lead, the Ateneo gallery knew the win was assured. Inconsequential triples from the Tamaraws resulted in a final score of Ateneo 69- FEU 66.

Tenorio was simply put, magnificent, in the second half. He didn't just shoot three-pointers at random, he also drove hard to the hoop, embarrassing FEU defenders in the way. Engaging in a superstar match-up with Santos, L.A. was showered with the deafening cheers from the fans clad in blue and white, particularly the chant of "M-V-P! M-V-P!" In handing the league-leaders just their second loss of Season 68, Ateneo didn't just prove that they too can slay the mighty Tamaraws, they also inched closer to a possible twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.



The Blue Eagles didn't have far to look when seeking their next opponent. Seated behind the Ateneo bench was the predator known as Franz Pumaren, and he took in the action with his De La Salle Green Archers. The match between archrivals Ateneo and La Salle now looms on Thursday. Let's get it on!

Box Scores:

ATENEO 69 -- Tenorio 25, Aguilar 10, Escalona 8, Barracoso 8, Intal 5, Membrere 4, Kramer 4, Quimson 3, Laterre 2, Reyes 0.

FEU 60 -- Santos 19, Rizada 12, Mangahas 9, Isip 9, Chan 6, Fernandez 3, Barcellano 3, Villanueva 2, Flores 2, Adolfo 1, Dela Cruz 0.

Quarter scores: 14-16, 26-28, 47-41, 69-66


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With cold fury.




That is the manner by which Ateneo de Manila University – and LA Tenorio in particular – dealt with Far Eastern University after the Blue Eagles clawed pass the Tamaraws en route to a 69-66 win in the second round of elimination of the men’s basketball tournament of the 68th University Athletic Association of the Philippines at the Big Dome.

Tenorio finished with 25 points on a 4 out of 7 shooting from behind the arc to lead the Eagles in pulling off the upset versus the current league leader. Tenorio also collared five rebounds.



Tenorio, hardly a factor in the first two quarters, caught fire in the third quarter and started torching the Tams from behind the arc and around the paint until there is nothing left of Far Eastern U but a smoldering second loss in their win-loss card.

Tenorio unloaded his entire repertoire of shots – from running bank shots to step back three point shots – to avenge the first round loss of the Eagles in the hands of the Tamaraws.

Tenorio sank his first three point shot – and just his third field goal – in the 2:02 mark of the third canto that opened the floodgates of three pointers in the second half.


Arvee Mangahas and Arwind Santos retaliated with a three point shot each to trim the lead to two, 39-41, but Tenorio is just getting started, unloading another one from behind the arc followed by a bucket with two seconds left in the third quarter to push the lead up to six going into the final quarter.

Tenorio again found his target from the three-point zone after opening the fourth period with another trey to up the lead at nine, 50-41.



Santos led an FEU counter offensive to stage a 12-2 run to even the game at 55-all, just the fourth deadlock of the game but Tenorio’s fourth trey of the night followed by a runner ignited an 8-0 spurt in the final 1:58 of the game that put the Tams away for good.

The Eagles now tote a 10-3 win-loss slate and is still in the hunt for the number two seat in the Final Four.




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Eagles claw Tams;
By Joey Villar
The Philippine Star 09/12/2005

Ateneo, behind LA Tenorio’s second-half explosion, thwarted fancied Far Eastern University, 69-66, yesterday to join idle University of the East in second place in the 68th UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

The prolific Tenorio was actually shackled in the first two quarters by FEU’s stifling defense but the Ateneo gunner cut loose in the final half to fire all but two of his top-scoring 25 points to power the Eagles to the victory.

That binge included four triples as Ateneo recorded its 10th victory in 13 games to gain a crack at No. 2 and the twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four phase. The Eagles gun for the incentive against their archrivals La Salle Archers on Thursday.

"LA wheeled us to victory. Some of his shots were spectacular. The captain took over," said Ateneo coach Norman Black, who also drew a superb game from sophomore center Japeth Aguilar.

The 6’7" Aguilar, son of former PBA player Peter Aguilar, tossed in 10 points, plucked eight rebounds, came through with key blocks, including two against top MVP candidate Arwind Santos in the fourth quarter, and intimidated the rest of the Tams inside the shaded lane.

"I haven’t seen any Filipino player block shots like that since Ramon Fernandez," added Black.

Santos led the Tams with 19 points but couldn’t make the shots down the stretch, no thanks to the long-limbed Aguilar’s unforgiving defense.

It was FEU’s second defeat against 11 wins.

Upset by the recent board decision ordering a replay of its controversial second round game against University of the East, defending champion La Salle vented its ire on Adamson as it scored a 100-70 rout to remain in the hunt for a twice-to-beat advantage.

All 13 players fielded in by coach Franz Pumaren scored at least one point for La Salle with Ryan Arana leading the attack with 17 as the Archers notched their eighth win against four losses.

"I guess the players vented their frustration (on the Falcons)," said Pumaren, referring to the recent UAAP board ruling ordering a re-match of the La Salle-UE on Sept. 18 at the Araneta Coliseum.

"It was a soft decision," said Pumaren. "Weighing the merit of our case, I don’t see any reason why they denied us."

The Falcons, tipped to make the semifinals in the pre-season, finished the tournament a disappointing second to last with a 3-11 (win-loss) slate.




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