Andrade saves Blue Eagles in Israel

BJ Andrade drilled a timely triple with under a minute left to help lift Ateneo de Manila University past Israel Division 2 team Ramat HaSharon, 73-69, in a tune-up game in Tel Aviv early Sunday (Manila time).

With the match tied at 69, Andrade found the bottom of the net with a long bomb in the last 41 seconds to put the Blue Eagles ahead.

The Israelis failed to convert in their possession as Sean Quitevis iced the game with his split free throws in the final 12.8 ticks for Ateneo, which is on a two-game swing in Israel as part of its preparation to reclaim the University Athletic Association of the Philippines title.

Dave Ildefonso paced the Katipunan-based squad with 27 points highlighted by five three-pointers including a completed four-point play with 3:33 left in the third quarter that gave Ateneo a 54-44 lead. Forthsky Padrigao supplied 10 points while Josh Lazaro got nine points of his own.

Andrade, Ange Kouame and Joseph Obasa both tallied six markers each as well.

The Blue Eagles will take on Elitzur Eito Ashkelon on 5 September at 9 p.m. (Manila time).