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“Sometimes you just have to win ugly. The most important thing is you win,” said Ateneo Coach Norman Black after prevailing over the Adamson Falcons in overtime, 69-63 in the opening weekend of the UAAP ’70 at the Cuneta Astrodome yesterday.

Adamson had a great start and sparked a 12-0 run over the Eagles in the first 4 minutes of the starting quarter. Roel Hugnatan and Patrick Cabahug helped carry the lead until the end of the first quarter, 22-11.

In the 2nd quarter, both team were foul-happy, picking up 5 offensive fouls, 3 of them coming from Adamson. With less than 5 minutes in the quarter, Hugnatan already had 3 fouls but Coach Bogs Adornado refused to take him out.

After a perimeter shot by Jobe Nkemakolam and a 3-point basket from Jai Reyes, the Eagles cut the lead down to four, 22-18. Huganatan tried to keep Ateneo at bay but a basket from Chris Tiu from behind the arc and another field goal from Jai Reyes made it a 3-point ball game. Cabahug’s basket ended the first half, 30-25, for the Falcons.

Ford Arao pushed on for the struggling Blue Eagles scoring 8 out of the 18 third quarter points. A lay-up from a Arao and 3/3 FTs from Tiu tied the game at 30 with 8:35 minutes to play in the 3rd quarter.

Arao’s 2/2 FTs gave Ateneo its first taste of the lead, 36-35. Back to back baskets by Arao and another conversion from Baclao with two minutes to play handed the Falcons a 6-point 3rd quarter deficit, 43-37. The Falcons only scored a total of 7 points in the 3rd quarter.

In the 4th quarter, Cabahug took charge of the game, scoring a hefty 10 points including two 3-pointers plus a buzzer beater that sent the game into overtime, 53-53.

In overtime, Arao surprises everyone with 10 points our of Ateneo’s 16. Tireless worker Hugnatan missed every attepmt while Cabahug could only make 5 points in the extension period. Salamat’s last four FTs and Canuday’s 1 of 2 from the line concluded the game for the Katipunan-based boys.

Meanwhile, Coach Norman thinks it’s better to have games like this one as early as possible. “Obviously we have a lot of things to do.”

Individual scores:

Ateneo

Arao-20, Reyes-11, Tiu-9, Nkemakolam-8, Salamat-6, Monfort-5, Al-Hussaini-5, Laterre-3, Baclao-2, Baldos-2, Barracoso-0.

Adamson

Cabahug-28, Hugnatan-14, Canuday-8, Yambot-5, Gonzalgo-4, Colina-2, Alvarez-2, Olalia-0, Canada-0, Margallo-0, Santos-0, Gorospe-0.

Quarter Scores:

11-22, 14-8, 15-7, 10-16, 16-10 (OT)

Tags: FIBA

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