BASKETBALL: Ateneo scores Pinoyliga win after return from Aurora drowning incident

MANILA – Ateneo De Manila University took one significant step forward after a team tragedy when it beat Our Lady of Fatima, 71-60, in the Pinoyliga Cup at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City on Sunday morning.

Ateneo will play the winner of the Monday game between San Pedro College of Business Administration and College of St. Benilde in the next round.

Playing for the first time since June 6 and after the Aurora province teambuilding on June 8 when rookie Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili drowned, the Blue Eagles showed signs of rust against the upset-seeking Phoenix.

However, Ateneo pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring Fatima 21-8 in the first eight minutes of the payoff period for a 71-55 cushion.

"We just praise God for allowing us to play," interim coach Louie Alas said.

One-and-done player Travis Roberts led Ateneo with 17 points on 6 of 11 shooting and seven rebounds.

Kieffer Alas added 12 points, going 5-for-5 from inside the arc, two rebounds and one assist.

Mamadou Toure led the Phoenix with 21 points on 5-for-8 field goals and 11-for-17 free throws, four rebounds, two blocks, and one steal.

The succeeding games saw National Collegiate Athletic Association teams Mapua and Perpetual Help blasting their opponents.

The Cardinals clobbered the Diliman College Blue Dragons 82-55 behind a perfect game from Yam Concepcion, who went 7-for-7 from the field for 15 points with 13 rebounds, four assists and one steal.

Perpetual Help, on the other hand, unveiled a new scoring threat in Ralph Caugiran, who had 13 points on 5-of-8 field goals in an 89-52 rout of UBIX Colleges.

In the later matches, Manila Central University escaped Enderun, 77-74, and San Pablo Colleges whipped Cordillera Career Development College, 80-55. (PNA)