As expected, Ateneo de Manila drubbed the University of the Philippines, 73-58, Thursday, Sept. 1, in Season 74 UAAP men's basketball game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.Seven-foot Greg Slaughter bullied the UP Fighting Maroons frontline, scoring 18 points and pulling down a career-high 18 rebounds as the Ateneo Blue Eagles streaked to their 12th straight win, a step closer to a historic sweep.
"It's a challenge keeping the guys up every game," Coach Norman Black told reporters. "But we are in a journey and when you are in a journey, you do not get bored."
Lethargic first half
Struggling to buy a basket in a lethargic first half, the Loyola-based squad dropped a 22-4 bomb bridging the second and third quarters to turn the tables around.
UP, with nothing to lose after being eliminated from the Final Four, controlled the first two periods behind Mike Silungan and Mark Juruena as the Maroons took a 28-22 lead midway through the second canto.
But Slaughter and veteran forward Nico Salva conspired in the game-changing run with the rookie posting 13 points in that stretch and Salva pouring in 10.
The senior finished with 16 markers, six boards, three assists and two blocks while reserve Justin Chua helped out with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Padding the lead
Ateneo padded its lead and pulled away in the fourth quarter, holding UP without a field goal for almost seven minutes as the Katipunan five continued to flaunt their dominance a little more than a week before their much-awaited showdown with Adamson University.
Seeking a fourth straight title, Ateneo demolished the Maroons in rebounding, collecting 58 caroms to UP's mere 33 even as it committed a season-worst 22 turnovers.
But the Eagles pounded the shaded area and scored 42 points in the paint while limiting the Maroons to only 28.
Mike Silungan had 16 points and eight rebounds for UP while Mark Juruena probably had his finest game for the Maroons with 12 markers, four boards and two blocks.
The Maroons were, as usual, anemic from downtown, draining only three of 19 shots (15.8%).
The scores
Ateneo (73): Slaughter 18, Salva 16, Chua 11, Ravena 7, Tiongson 5, Long 5, Austria 4, Gonzaga 3, Erram 2, Monfort 2, Pessumal 0, Capacio 0, Sumalinog 0
UP (58): Silungan 16, Juruena 12, Maniego 7, Romero 6, Montecastro 4, Gamboa 4, Mbah 3, Wierzba 2, Gomez 2, Manuel 1, Gingerich 1, Pascual 0
Quarters: 15-14, 32-28, 52-45, 73-58
For the third straight day, Pacquiao worked out a sweat at the Planet Jupiter Gym in Makati, a sign that the pound-for-pound king is not taking Marquez lightly.
Marquez just turned 38 last week but Pacquiao expects a vibrant fighter when they collide at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The late-afternoon workout was terrific, according to the fighter’s aide Joe Ramos, who was present when his boss trained beginning Tuesday until Thursday.
“The atmosphere inside the gym was conducive for training,” said Ramos. “There were no curious onlookers unlike in the past when just about everyone watched from the sidelines.”
The formal training camp will not happen until mid-September when Pacquiao and his crew travel to Baguio City with Freddie Roach.
But the mere fact that Pacquiao has decided to flex his muscles is an indication he wants to put on a great show and convince everyone that he has Marquez’s number, and not the other way around.
In May 2004, Pacquiao floored Marquez thrice in the first round but Marquez rebounded and forged a split draw, an outcome Marquez said was not just.
In the rematch in March 2008, Pacquiao escaped with a 12-round split decision, leaving Marquez in a state of shock.
Meanwhile, Marquez is arriving Thursday morning from Los Angeles.
Joining Marquez are his trainer Nacho Beristain and two key members of his entourage, Dr. Plutarco Gatica and Raul De Anda.
Before leaving the US, Marquez expressed his excitement over the trip to the Philippines, telling a Manila-based fight scribe that he is looking forward to the visit.
Team Marquez actually came all the way from Mexico City and it was only in Los Angeles where Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank met with them to catch the Philippine Airlines flight bound for Manila.
Arum will be joined by Spanish-speaking publicist Ricardo Jimenez and PR man non-pareil, Fred Sternburg.
Aside from Team Marquez, also joining the festivities in the country are Zanfer Promotions head Fernando Beltran and his right-hand man Juan Carlos Torres.
Marquez’s itinerary is going to be tight and he will only get to fly out of Manila for New York on Monday morning, 12 hours after the departure of Team Pacquiao and the Top Rank cast.
MANILA, Philippines -- Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez has started training in the Philippines for his November fight against Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.
Fans snapped pictures of Marquez jogging in a downtown Manila park only hours after he arrived from Los Angeles on Thursday. His third matchup with Pacquiao in what already has been an epic series is set for Nov. 12 in Las Vegas. Marquez said he's preparing mentally and working on his speed and power.
The Mexican told reporters he's friends with Pacquiao outside the ring and "inside the ring he's a great fighter." The two are scheduled to hold a joint news conference Saturday.
