Recap of last week's UAAP 74 hoops

Ateneo Blue Eagles rookie Kiefer Ravena pulls up for a jumper against FEU's Aldrech Ramos.
Ateneo defeated FEU 69-49 last Sunday.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

The race to the final four is getting closer and a few teams aim to bounce back from their losses. As the second round of UAAP 74 basketball looms, let's take a look back at last week's games that made heads turn:

Thursday, August 4

Game 1: UP upset FEU 76-63

A lot of College hoops fans expected FEU to get an easy win over UP -- or so they thought. It seems that the Tamaraws perhaps underestimated the Fighting Maroons and it cost them. Mike Silungan and the rest of the Maroons clawed their way to victory as they pulled off an upset over Final Four contender FEU Tams.

Four Maroons were in double figures -- Manuel Jose chalked up 20 points, Mike Silungan had 16 points while Anjelo Montecastro and big man Ifeanyi Mbah both scored 14 points.

RR Garcia was the high point man for the Tams with 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Game 2: Ateneo roll past UST 66-53

The Ateneo Blue Eagles managed to keep their unblemished record as they defeated the UST Growling Tigers for another W. Rookie Keifer Ravena dropped 18 points, 5 boards, 6 assists and 1 steal for the Blue Eagles. His teammate Nico Salva was 1 rebound shy of a double-double with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block.

UST point guard Jeric Fortune scored 18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 dimes and 1 steal.

Saturday, August 6

Game 1: UE score first W over National U 72-71

It was yet another epic game in the UAAP. The NU Bulldogs failed to knot the score in the 4th quarter as Bobby Ray Parks Jr. missed a couple clutch foul shots to escape an upset. It was Shej Sumang's plays that made the different and scored their first W.

UE's Paul Zamar had 20 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal while the hero Shej Sumang chipped in with 10 points, grabbed 4 boards, dropped 6 dimes and stolen the ball twice.

Rookie swingman Bobby Ray Parks chalked up 23 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist and 1 block for the Bulldogs.

Game 2: Adamson defeat La Salle 66-58

There was no hesitation whatsoever for the Adamson Soaring Falcons in putting an end to La Salle's win streak. They dominated the game despite the Green Archers late come back.

Lester Alvarez lead the Falcons with 18 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.

Norbert Torres scored 14 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in a losing effort for the Gang Green.

Sunday, August 7

Game 1: UST clobber UP 68-49

Fresh from their biggest win against FEU on Thursday, the UP Fighting Maroons were looking to another W on their list. On the other side of the fence, the UST Growling Tigers needed a win to stay in the hunt for the Final Four. In the end, UP was overwhelmed by UST's firepower that completely ended their brief win streak.

Jeric Fortuna once again lead the Tigers and was 1 rebound short of a double-double feat with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 2 dimes.

The Maroons' Anjelo Montecastro had 9 points, 3 rebounds and 1 steal.

Game 2: Ateneo destroy FEU 69-49

The FEU Tamaraws wanted to bounce back from their loss to UP. The good news was, the Maroons lost to UST. And the bad news, they have to contend with the undefeated Ateneo Blue Eagles to secure a spot in the Final Four.

The game was seesaw battle the entire time but things got a little testy in the 2nd half. In the end, the Blue Eagles remain unbeaten having swept round 1 of the tournament with a 7-0 record.

Ateneo's prized rook Kiefer Ravena almost had a double-double performance chalking up 19 points, 9 rebounds, dropped 2 dimes and 1 steal.

RR Garcia had 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist and 1 blocked shot for the FEU Tamaraws.