UAAP Season 71: Ateneo Beats UE, 64-58

Posted on July 13, 2008
Filed Under Sports, UAAP, etc | Viewed 344 times

Three hours before the Ateneo-UE games at the Philsports Arena, I had a photo shot with who would turn out to be today’s Best Player of the Game—Rabah al-Hussaini. Today he scored 18 points, and grabbed 17 rebounds.

It was one of the best games so far this season. On half time, UE grabbed the lead from the Ateneo, leading by 2 points. At the end of the third quarter, it was a tie, and up to the early part of the fourth quarter, it was still no one’s game, with UE tying scores with Ateneo and at some point in time leading by a few points. Al-Hussaini was clearly Ateneo’s star player shooting straight 8 points at one time. Rookie Ryan Buenafe also did a surprise by scoring 4 points with al-Hussaini’s 4 points during the critical moments when Ateneo and UE were tied at 51 points, building a 9 point cushion, at 63-52 less than 3 minutes from the end of the game. Again, there was no question about Chris Tiu’s performance, with 11 points.

UE’s Elmer Espiritu had 11 points and 9 rebounds. It’s UE’s first loss in the eliminations.

Congratulations, Ateneo!