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Without fellow schools La Salle and University of the East, Ateneo De Manila promised to dominate the current Flying V National Collegiate Champions Cup.

The Blue Eagles, winner of the 2002 UAAP title, scored a lopsided 78-51 victory over San Sebastian College - Recoletos to win their opening game at their own gym.

“Everybody wanted to win in the first place,� said Ateneo mentor Norman Black, retaining his post as head coach despite several rumors of his ouster. “This is a knockout game so we have to play tough every game.�

Asked if there’s something special about this win, he said: “We need to prove ourselves that we belong to a highly competitive league. Aside from that, La Salle and UE are not competing so we should show more pride for our league.�

Ateneo Kenneth Barracoso made 13 points, sizzled for the Blue Eagles early as he fired three straight baskets to give them an insurmountable 20-4 lead. Ateneo closed the first quarter ahead, 26-8.

“We are in good condition and I think our opponent is not,� said Barracoso, who also had two triples. “I’m hoping I can do better than this when we meet JRU.�

The Blue Eagles will take on the Heavy Bombers next fresh from their victory over West Negros College.

Ateneo, with a huge first quarter advantage, pounded San Sebastian in the shaded lane led by Rabeh Al-Hussaini’s 6 points and help the Blue Eagles outscore the Golden Stags in the second quarter, 18-16, for a big 44-24 halftime lead.

The 6-foot-8 Al-Hussaini, paced Ateneo with 18 points and 7 rebounds, out-muscled the Golden Stags’ big men especially 6-foot-7 Jason Ballesteros and Francis De Leon.

Ateneo had its biggest lead when Eric Salamat, a former High School player from San Sebastian, piled up 12 points, 5 assists and 5 steals and scored on a three-point play for a 56-29 count with 3:14 minutes left in the third quarter.

San Sebastian, had no players scoring in double-figures and could not find a way to trim the gap.

Mike Baldos contributed 10 points and Clifford Arao had 8. Nonoy Baclao hauled down 9 rebounds also for Ateneo.

The Blue Eagles benefited from the 21 turnovers of the Golden Stags and had 33 turnover points. SSC-R only got 5 points from Ateneo’s 13 turnovers.
Ateneo shot 33-out-of-74 (45%) against SSC-R’s 19-out-of-60 (32%) total field goal percentage.

Philippine Basketball League campaigners Jim Viray and Jimbo Aquino combined for only 18 points for the Golden Stags.

Ateneo played good defense althroughout, out-rebounding (47-41) and out-hustling (steals 10-3) SSC-R.

The Blue Eagles also had more assists than the Golden Stags, 21-5.

Individual Scores:

Ateneo 78: Al-Hussaini 18, Barracoso 13, Salamat 12, Baldos 10, Arao 8, Escueta 7, Long 6, Baclao 4, Austria 0, Reyes 0.

SSC-R 51: Viray 9, Aquino 9, Bulawan 7, Ballesteros 6, Juan 6, Delgado 5, De Leon 5, Raymundo 2, Saquillo 2, Najorda 0.

Quarter scores: 26-8, 44-24, 62-35, 78-51

Tags: Ateneo, blue-eagles, CCL, CCL-2007, Golden-Stags, News, Norman-Black, Paul-Gonzalgo, San-Sebastian

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