National University’s Jewel Ponferrada makes a layup against Atenean defenders during their UAAAAP game on Saturday. Ateneo won, 75-47. (BOB DUNGO JR.)

Games Sunday (Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. UE vs Adamson
4 p.m. UST vs La Salle

Defending champion Ateneo de Manila extended the woes of winless National University, cruising to an easy 75-47 win on Saturday in the 72nd UAAP basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

After starting slow, the Blue Eagles sizzled in the last three quarters to stretch their winning record to 5-1. They now have won two straight matches after getting shocked by University of the Philippines last Sunday.

"I hope the team has learned a lesson from our loss to UP that even when our offense struggles, if we play defense, we can still win and I think that's what we did," said Ateneo coach Norman Black.

Leading by as many as 39 points in the second half, the Blue Eagles sent a strong message to the La Salle Green Archers who they meet on August 9.

Black, however, is not taking the Archers lightly.

"They look good," Black said of La Salle. "I think their energy is back. La Salle is a young but very good team."

Eman Monfort sank three treys to lead Ateneo with 12 points along with five rebounds and four assists while Eric Salamat and last year's Most Valuable Player Rabeh Al-Hussaini chipped in 10 points.

After shooting 3-of-13 against Adamson last Thursday, Al-Hussaini scored all of his points in the second quarter that helped the Blue Eagles pull away, 30-12, at halftime.

The game set two records as Ateneo forced NU to score the lowest first-half output since the league adopted the use of four 10-minute periods in 2001. It was also the Blue Eagles' largest win over the Bulldogs since an 83-51 rout on July 24, 2005.

Before the game started, the league paid tribute to the late former President Corazon Aquino with a minute of silence. The teams showed up with dark and yellow ribbons in her honor.

In the second game, Far Eastern University, playing minus big man Reil Cervantes, derailed the comeback bid of University of the Philippines for a 77-65 win to claim solo second in the team standings.

The Tamaraws survived from a spirited run by the Fighting Maroons from 18 points down behind rookie Ryan Roose Garcia and JR Cawaling with 15 and 14 points, respectively, to seal their fourth win in five games.

But FEU head coach Glenn Capacio was disappointed with the way his team playing nonchalant in the payoff period when UP pulled within six points with barely two minutes left to play.

"May tendency kami na kapag lumalamang akala nila smooth sailing na eh alam naman natin ang UP di yan bibitaw," said Capacio.

First Game
Ateneo 75 — Monfort 12, Al-Hussaini 10, Salamat 10, Salva 8, Baclao 8, Reyes 5, Buenafe 5, Austria 5, Buenafe 5, Long 4, Sumalinog 2, Gonzaga 2, Chua 2, Burke 2, Tiongson 0, Golla 0, de Chavez 0.
NU 47 — Baloran 17, Ponferrada 8, Luy 7, Terso 5, Malanday 3, Fabula 3, Hermosisima 2, Cabaluna 2, Tungcul 0, Singh 0, Manito 0, Magat 0, Batac 0.
Quarters: 8-8, 30-12, 55-23, 75-47.

Second Game
FEU 77 — Garcia 15, Cawaling 14, Noundou 14, Ramos 9, Barroca 9, Knuttel 5, Tanuan 4, Sanga 4, Eguilos 2, Caluag 1, Exciminiano 0.
UP 65 — Padilla 15, Reyes Ma. 14, Lopez 13, Sison 8, Gomez 8, Braganza 5, Co 2, Reyes Mi. 0, Maniego 0, Juruena 0, Gamboa 0, de Asis 0.
Quarters: 20-15, 41-26, 59-44, 77-65.