Hot-shooting Blue Eagles claw Tigers for solo UAAP lead

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo coach Norman Black likened his shooters like Emman Monfort, Eric Salamat and Ryan Buenafe to manna from heaven. "They are blessings to the team," said Black after the Blue Eagles clawed the UST Growling Tigers with a 93-77 win on Sunday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. "These players help lift the pressure out of Rabeh (Al-Hussaini, Ateneo’s prized slotman)," added Black, whose wards posted their third straight win in the UAAP Season 72 men's basketball tournament. And against the gritty Tigers, the three shooters took the cudgels for Al Hussaini who was utilized by Black sparingly because of foul trouble. The hot-shooting trio kept the Blue Eagles competitive despite their top center playing for only 21 minutes. "I have to seat out Rabeh because he was in foul trouble early in the match, but my shooters were a blessing in disguise, especially now that Chris Tiu is out of the team," explained Black referring to his top player when they bagged the title last year. "Last year the defense was somehow pointed on Rabeh and Chris, this year the other teams will have to put extra effort guarding my shooters and my big man," Black noted. Monfort, a 20-year-old find from Iloilo who sat out last year and played for the Eagles' team B, finished with a career-high 20 points, 18 of which he earned from beyond the arc. Monfort and Salamat did the damage for the Blue Eagles in the first three quarters. Afterwards, Buenafe took over and teamed up with Juami Tiongson and Nico Salva as the Eagles completed the romp and gave UST its first defeat in three matches. "Nagbunga na ang aking pagsisikap," said Monfort after leading all Ateneo scorers. "I played for team B last year and it was a learning experience. Ngayon handa na ako dito sa team A." And with Monfort and his teammates sinking 11 of their 24 attempts from beyond the arc, the Eagles seized a 78-56 lead midway into the last quarter of the game they dominated all throughout. It was only early in the first quarter that the Growling Tigers were able to keep up with the Eagles. Black said Monfort opted to play in Ateneo's team B in order to hone his skills as a point guard. "There was no question that he is a shooter, but he needed to train his skills as a point guard," Black noted. Black was glad that the Eagles’ scoring was not limited to his top players, adding that they still have to intensify their offense to address some of the flaws. "Defensively, we have no problems but we have to focus on some aspects regarding our offense," Black said. That defense was instrumental in forcing the Tigers to 27 turnovers, which Ateneo converted into 16 points. - GMANews.TV