Eagles Clip Falcons For 26th Time

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) – The Ateneo Blue Eagles avoided what could have been a 0-2 start as they came back to nip Adamson Falcons, 69-66, Thursday in the UAAP Season 73 at the Philsports Arena.

It was the 26th straight victory of the Eagles against the Falcons since 1997.

With top guard Eric Salamat unable to finish the game with an aggravated injury, back-up Emman Monfort came off the bench to rescue the Eagles from an impending defeat.

Monfort, the smallest man on the court, proved to be the biggest thorn in the Falcons’ side as he grabbed 2 crucial rebounds and scored the Eagles’ last 6 points at the stripes to complete the comeback.

The 5-foot-7 Monfort played the hero’s role to the hilt, touching off the Eagles’ rally with a huge rebound off an Adamson miss with 27.9 ticks left.

Monfort then went on to convert 6 consecutive free throws with the last 2 sealing the game after Alex Nuyles’ jumper in the last 11.5 seconds kept the Falcons within 66-67.

Staring down at 57-63 deficit midway through the 4th period, the Eagles slowly clawed back on Ryan Buenafe’s 5-point binge.

Kirk Long’s split in the final 44 seconds tied the game at 63-all, and then Monfort took over from there.

“All heart. Gusto ko talaga manalo. Kahit ano (gagawin ko) basta manalo,” Monfort said of his effort down the stretch.

The Eagles, who led 41-32, at the half, allowed the Falcons to come back in the pivotal 3rd quarter when Salamat and Nico Salva went to the bench with knee injuries sustained in separate collision incidents.

Salva, who scored 8 points in the first half, returned but was a non-factor down the stretch scoring only a basket. Salamat also came back but immediately returned to the bench grimacing in pain.

“We have to take care of that (Salamat’s injury). We can’t afford to sit down our best player in the end game,” Ateneo coach Norman Black said.

American Kirk Long top-scored for the Eagles with 12 points with Salva, Salamat and Buenafe each finishing with 10 points apiece.

“We came here into the season thinking that we’re facing the top two teams in our first two games. A split is not that bad,” Black assessed. “The Falcons matched up well with us as they have experienced point guards and they got size.”

Alex Nuyles paced the Falcons with 18 points in an array of spectacular shots, including a dunk that tied the game at 52-all towards the end of the third quarter.

The Scores:

ADMU 69 – Long 22, Salva 10, Salamat 10, Buenafe 10, Monfort 8, Escueta 7, Dela Cruz 3, Golla 3, Erram 2, Tiongson 2, Austria 2, Gonzaga 0.

ADU 66 – Nuyles 18, Alvarez 17, Colina 9, Manyara 7, Canada 5, Stinnet 3, Cabrera 3, Lozada 2, Camson 2. Monteclaro 0. Galinato 0.

Quarters: 17-13, 41-32, 52-52, 69-66.

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