US school rips Ateneo

Defending champion Ateneo de Manila will be going home without a medal after Radford University of the United States scored a 77-68 win Sunday in their battle for third place in the World University Basketball Series at the Yoyogi Second Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.

It was a heartbreaking ending for the reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines champion after bowing to the Highlanders, who play Division 1 basketball in the US National Collegiate Athletic Association.

After downing the All-Japan Under 22 squad, 70-69, last Thursday in a friendly, they defeated University of Sydney, 88-50.

But they slammed into a wall when they got dumped by Hakuoh University, 78-53.

Mason Amos, Paul Garcia and Kai Balungay banner the squad that is being coached by former Gilas Pilipinas strategist Tab Baldwin.