Ateneo 46, Adamson 62
-Before the game, the Blue Eagles were up above, not having experienced any defeat yet in the UAAP. They faced the Soaring Falcons bringing with them a huge 29-win streak against them. But after forty grueling minutes of basketball where everyone saw, for the first time, the Blue Eagles struggling to take the lead without any promise of a miracle, Season 74's postseason will be in the usual Final Four format, as the Falcons prevented win number thirty by dealing Ateneo its worst loss since Game 2 of the Finals match against the UE Red Warriors way back Season 72.
-The Falcons were in fact successful in shutting down the first three offensive options for the Blue Eagles. Greg Slaughter, Kiefer Ravena, and Nico Salva were generally tamed during the whole game. Slaughter was cleanly harrassed every time he has the ball, which leads to bad shots from the inside. Ravena, on the other hand, was able to at least make a run for the Blue Eagles during the early first half, but was denied good looks. And for Salva? He was not able to get into his groove and find his usual sweet spots. And worse, no one was really able to take the reins as everyone fired blanks.
-The Blue Eagles, for the whole game, were left out cold save for a few runs that could have saved the game. On the other hand, the Falcons, especially Alex Nuyles and Lester Alvarez, had hot hands the rest of the game. At a point when everyone was hoping that the law of averages catches up with them, what happened instead was a continuous bombing of treys and outside shots, with some stabs and putbacks to increase the lead from 3 to 19 in the third quarter, and keep them at a very safe distance in the final canto. Like what was said during the past games, there will be days like these.
-Worse, Ateneo's best weapon, their unstoppable defense, was nowhere to be found in this game. It seemed like everyone was trying to catch up with Adamson's ball movement and shooting, together with mix ups and bad match ups. If there is something that the Blue Eagles need to improve on if ever they meet The Falcons again in the Finals, they should learn how to defend and keep the Falcons' streaky shooters out of their comfort zones, secure the paint, crash the boards, and most especially, provide fastbreak opportunities.
-The crucial point of this game was the third canto, where the Blue Eagles were taken aback at a time when they were supposed to turn the tables and take the lead during the game. Usually, the third quarter is when the Blue Eagles dominate and initiate big runs that render the final quarter into a mere formality. But in this game, what happened was the other way around. Leading by 3 entering into the second half, the Soaring Falcons wasted no time and possession, and in ten minutes, the Blue Eagles found themselves trailing by 19. Unfortunately, no big blue miracle occurred in the fourth, as the Falcons handled the lead very well, keeping it out of reach until the final buzzer.
-With this shocking loss, it's time for the Blue Eagles to keep their feet in the ground and start coming up with new strategies to deal with the Falcons effectively. But as far as we can remember, the Blue Eagles get even more dangerous when perched on a tree top and waiting for another prey. Will they be able to rise once again and return to their explosive selves? But against who? Will it still be the Falcons, or the hungry Tigers and Tamaraws who also want to take another chance to steal this season away from the dominant Blue Eagles? The answers to these questions will emerge once the Final Four begins.
Scores:
Adamson 62 – Nuyles 21, Alvarez 14, Camson 6, Manyara 4, Brondial 4, Lozada 4, Colina 4, Etrone 3, Cañada 2, Cabrera 0
Ateneo 46 – Slaughter 10, Ravena 9, Long 9, Gonzaga 7, Salva 5, Monfort 4, Chua 2, Tiongson 0, Golla 0, Austria 0
Quarter scoring: 14-8, 27-24, 50-31, 62-46
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