Ateneo forces do-or-die against UP for UAAP Season 85 crown

The UAAP Season 85 men's basketball tournament is not yet over.

Ateneo de Manila University forced a do-or-die Game 3 after taking down University of the Philippines, 65-55, on Wednesday in Game 2 of the Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

In front of a crowd of 20,616, the Katipunan-based Ateneo squad led in double digits, 57-44, at the end of the third period.

Ateneo led by 15, 59-44, early in the fourth period before the Diliman-based squad cut their deficit to nine, 63-54, after a Terrence Fortea triple past the halfway mark. An Ange Kouame basket gave the Blue Eagles a 65-54 lead with 3:21 left before both teams were held scoreless, with only a split from Carl Tamayo breaking the ice for UP.

For Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin, the scenario in Game 2 is what they were expecting for the finals.

"Everybody saw what sports fighting is about tonight," Ateneo head coach Baldwin said. "That’s the kind of game that we sort kind of expect in the finals."

The blue-and-white led at the half, 41-33, after Ateneo limited UP to 14 points in the second frame.

Kouame registered 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Kai Ballungay had 15 points in the Ateneo win. 

Meanwhile, Tamayo led UP with 15 points, while JD Cagulangan listed 11 points in the UP loss.

Game 3 of the Finals will be played on Monday.

The scores:

Ateneo 65 - Kouame 19, Ballungay 15, Padrigao 11, Daves 6, Chiu 6, Ildefonso 3, Gomez 2, Lazaro 2, Koon 1, Quitevis 0, Andrade 0.

UP 55 - Tamayo 15, Cagulangan 11, Fortea 9, Lucero 6, Alarcon 5, Abadiano 4, Diouf 2, Galinato 2, Spencer 1, Gonzales 0, Calimag 0, Lina 0.

Quarters: 20-19, 41-33, 57-44, 65-55.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News