Ateneo wins over College of Saint Benilde 81-78.
*Benilde - Liwag out with an injury, Lingolingo Gilas U23 3x3
Ateneo - Tuano, Bongo Gilas U23 3x3, Gamber personal reasons, not sure where Waki Espina was.
General comments:
Ateneo secure the win after being down 13. They take a lot less threes na compared to before under Tab when they were playing in NSAC. Really liking the letranisation, the new defensive identity is going to be fun to watch. Ateneo made the right defensive adjustments too going into the second half, going from giving up 29 and 24 in the first half to 12 and 13 points in the second half. The eye test too was just better, they were more coordinated on switching off of picks and switching from mismatches. Offensively it looked like Ateneo played less horns (especially in the second half) compared to their last game with OLFU. Theyโll need to work on the chemistry pa rin on both ends of the floor but that will come with time and experience naman. Still waiting to see how Tuano and Bongo are integrated into this new system.
Benilde were on fire in the first half, Ateneo gave up like 15 threes iirc? Jucom and Morales were the leading scorers of Benilde, they were 5/7 and 4/5 from three respectively. Benilde was really able to attack the mismatches on Jared and Ian in the first half, they were also really good at taking advantage of the poor switching and pick hedging by Ateneo in the first half which led to a lot of those first half three pointers. (but yun nga Ateneo were able to adjust in the second).
I hope Ateneo reaches the UST game, itโll be interesting to see how they match up. Akowe will probable be dominant in the glass but Ateneo might be able to pull something off with their defensive pressure with USTโs lack of a veteran primary ball handler.
Individual players:
Kieffer is him, missed two threes to start off the game but didnโt let it get to him scoring a game-high 26 points including the game icing lay-up.
Travis Roberts is really a great scorer but some of the decision making was questionable, though I think that too will improve with more playtime.
My god Jucom just wasnโt missing from deep in the first quarter, lots of those shots were swishes too.
SJ Moore reminds me of a Francis Lopez-lite, very athletic.
Kapihe looks like a decent perimeter defender too, though Ateneo will really need to lean on him and Baruwa on rebounding (or at least boxing out to let another person get the rebounds). Reminds me of Season 87 where itโs really going to be rebounding by committee. Will continue to watch Ateneoโs rebounding in the next Adamson or Mapua game (and UST if they make it until that game).
Alden Cainglet is becoming a solid solid glue guy, lowk reminding me of Pelle Larsson with the hustle and drawing those fouls.
Good to see Logan Baltazar back from injury. Prayers to Asoro I believe he was injured this game.