SPORTS
UAAP Season 85 finals: Ateneo frustrates UP’s title defense, 75-68
The Blue Eagles made sure there won’t be a repeat of their heartbreaking loss to the Fighting Maroons in Season 84 last May
Ateneo de Manila University claimed its 12th UAAP title, dethroning defending champion University of the Philippines, 75-68, in Game 3 of Season 85 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum late Monday, 19 December.
The Blue Eagles made sure there won't be a repeat of their heartbreaking loss to the Fighting Maroons in Season 84 last May. As the Maroons closed in, 67-70, with 12.3 seconds remaining, BJ Andrade calmly sank two free throws for the coup de grace.
Finals MVP Ange Kouame delivered a monster performance in his final season with Ateneo, pumping in 19 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
James Spencer's 14 markers and two boards for UP wasn't enough to make it a back-to-back title reign.
The scores:
ATENEO (75) — Kouame 19, Padrigao 12, Gomez 12, Andrade 10, Ballungay 4, Koon 4, Daves 4, Chiu 4, Quitevis 4, Ildefonso 2, Lazaro 0.
UP (68) — Spencer 14, Alarcon 12, Galinato 12, Tamayo 11, Cagulangan 9, Diouf 7, Gonzales 2, Lucero 1, Abadiano 0, Fortea 0, Lina 0.
QUARTERS: 30-14, 47-32, 60-52, 75-68.