Ateneo clinches twice-to-beat bonus (7:13 p.m.)

MANILA – The twice-to-beat advantage nearly slipped out Ateneo de Manila on Sunday but the three-peat seeking squad went steadier in the dying seconds to enlist an 81-77 victory against University of Santo Tomas.

With complacency finally catching up on the Blue Eagles, the Growling Tigers went on a shooting rampage in the middle of the payoff period to nearly erased Ateneo ‘s 19-point advantage, 68-49, at the end of the third canto to a four-point game, 76-72, with 1:42 left.

But the Ateneans proved they were hungry for the win as diminutive guard Eman Monfort bombed a trey to inch ahead at 79-72 and underscore the seesaw ride between 2006 rivals in the La Salle-less championship match.

“It’s good that we get the twice-to-beat bonus but it’s not a guarantee for us to make it to the championship. We have to try our best to enter the Finals by winning one of the two games in the semifinal round,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black.

Clark Bautista fired his fourth and UST’s 13th triple to make a scare at 80-77, coupled by Nico Salva’s turnover to change the tide in favor the Tigers in a little bit.

However, things went bitter for UST when Melo Afuang missed a shot while Fortuna was sent out of the game due to foul troubles.

American Kirk Long split his charities to list the game’s final score, a sad 46th birthday gift for one-time UAAP champion mentor Pido Jarencio, whose wards dropped their ninth game in thirteen starts.

Ateneo upped their record to 10-3. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)