Games on Saturday
(Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. – Ateneo vs NU
4 p.m. – FEU vs UP

Defending champion Ateneo de Manila bounced back from an embarrassing defeat last Sunday by beating Adamson, 61-51, to regain the solo lead in the 72nd UAAP basketball tournament on Thursday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Visibly shaken by their setback to lowly University of the Philippines, the Eagles started poorly and needed the late-game heroics of Jai Reyes and Eric Salamat to withstand the determined challenge of the Falcons.

"This was a very difficult win because were coming off a loss to supposedly the weakest team in the league so it was not just a physical part but also a mental part for us," said Ateneo head coach Norman Black.

The lefty Salamat led the Loyola-based dribblers with 16 points and five assists while Reyes added 10 points, including a backbreaking triple with 1:37 to go for a 58-49 advantage.

Their efforts made up for the sluggish showing of reigning MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini, who only finished with only six points on just 3-of-13 shooting.

Ateneo extended its winning streak over Adamson to 24 games with the Falcons' last win coming back on Sept. 18, 1997 when the Falcons won 54-52 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

In the first game, La Salle put its defensive intensity to another level to down National University, 68-48, for its third straight win since dropping its first two games.

Working behind their vaunted full court press, the Green Archers forced the hapless Bulldogs to just 28 points in the first three quarters.

“This is probably the first time this season that we started hard. I think we were able to dictate the tempo right from the opening half,” La Salle coach Franz Pumaren said.

The scores:
LA SALLE 68 – Marata 12, Atkins 11, Webb 6, Co 6, Andrada 6, Banal 5, Mangahas 4, Malabes 4, Bringas 4, Villanueva 3, Bagatsing 3, Mendoza 2, Barua 2, Tolentino 0, Manguera 0, Ferdinand 0.
NU 48 – Ponferrada 23, Baloran 10, Manito 5, Cabaluna 4, Singh 2, Luy 2, Terso 1, Batac 1, Tungcul 0, Roy 0, Malanday 0, Magat 0, Hermosisima 0, Donahue 0.
Quarters: 17-4, 36-20, 57-28, 68-48

Second Game
Ateneo 61 - Salamat 16, Reyes 10, Chua 8, Al-Hussaini 6, Monfort 5, Buenafe 5, Baclao 4, Austria 4, Long 3, Salva 0.
Adamson 51 - Colina 11, Canuday 11, Canada 8, Alvarez 8, Nuyles 7, Santos 3, Margallo 3, Lozada 0, Galinato 0, Camson 0, Cabrera 0.
Quarters: 16-15; 28-22; 47-39; 61-51.