ISANG araw bago sila umalis patungong Greece para magsanay, nagbaon pa ng isang titulo ang reigning UAAP men’s basketball champion Ateneo matapos gapiin ang Far Eastern University, 70-58 sa finals ng 2018 SMART City Hoops 25-Under Summer Classi nitong Miyerkules ng hapon sa West Greenhills gym.
Nanguna para sa balanseng opensa ng Blue Eagles si Thirdy Ravena, matapos magtala ng 12 puntos at anim na rebounds.
Sinundan siya ng kapwa Gilas Cadet na si Isaac Go at Ivorian student-athlete na si Angelo Kouame na kapwa tumapos na may siyam na puntos.
Sa kabila ng pagiging pisikal ng laro na nagsimula sa second quarter, hindi natinag ang Blue Eagles sa pangunguna na rin ng mga beterano nilang players.
“We got enough veterans on this team that is why we stayed composed. Fortunately, in the second half, we settled down and we got away with the win,” pahayag ni Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin.
“We’re just searching for better play. We only had three full practices since May 1 and a couple of abbreviated practices. We had a two-week break because of Finals and another because of Baler. Everything else is just games,” aniya.
“We’re really suffering right now. And it’s the same thing with Greece but that’s the way it is,” ayon sa American mentor tungkol sa kanilang 14-day camp sa Greece.
Nanguna naman sa losing cause ng Tamaraws si Arvin Tolentino na may team-high 16 puntos bukod pa sa anim na rebounds kasunod si Jasper Parker na nagdagdag ng 12 puntos.
Mas itataas ng Ateneo ang kanilang paghahanda para sa kanilang title-retention bid sa UAAP sa kanilang gagawing pagsasanay sa bansang Greece.
Ayon kay coach Tad Balwin, kakalabanin nila ang Greek under-21 national team ng dalawang beses.
“To be complemented with that level of games will be tremendous for us. I think there’s gonna be a lot of lessons learned in that game,” sambit ni Baldwin.
-Marivic Awitan
