Ateneo Blue Eagles crowned Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup Champions

The Ateneo Blue Eagles were crowned champions of the second season of the Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup on Thursday, June 29. The Blue Eagles completed a tournament sweep after defeating fellow UAAP squad, National University Bulldogs, 65-63, at the Villar Coliseum in Las Pinas.

Ian Espinosa and Kainoa Ballungay started off the scoring run for the Blue Eagles with Andrew Bongo, Joseph Obasa, Joshua Lazaro, and Raffy Celis contributing to the first quarter output of Ateneo to keep them ahead, 20-18.  

Despite losing the lead early in the second quarter, the Blue Eagles dusted themselves off and regained the lead over the Bulldogs via baskets by Jason Credo and Lebron Nieto. NU tried to get close but Ateneo was able to hold on to the lead, 38-24, heading into halftime.

The third quarter action kept everyone at the edge of their seats with both teams trying to wrest the lead off each other. The Eagles started the final quarter down by 1, 48-49, but a free throw by Jared Brown tied the game. Celis once again tied the game at 51 and a three-pointer by Brown gave the Eagles the lead with 7:38 left in the game. But the Bulldogs would not backdown, taking back the lead via a Paul Francisco trey, 56-57.

At the last 2-minute mark, NU’s Jolo Manansala sank a three pointer to give them a single point lead, 62-63, but Mason Amos was able to answer with his own three point shot off an Espinosa assist to give the Blue Eagles a 65-63 lead. The Ateneo squad then foiled the attempts of the Bulldogs to stay unbeaten in the tournament and to win their first pre-season championship.

Player of the Game Kainoa Ballungay was also awarded Finals MVP. He finished with 9 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 2 steals, and 1 assist.

The Pinoyliga championship comes after the Blue Eagles routed the Colegio San Juan de Letran Knights, 90-85, in an SBP Invitational game yesterday, June 28, at the Araneta Coliseum.