By the numbers: Ateneo’s methodical destruction of Adamson

MANILA, Philippines – The Ateneo Blue Eagles continue on their unstoppable warpath back to the UAAP finals, stopping the streaking Adamson Soaring Falcons dead in their tracks with a 71-59 pounding. Quarter after quarter, the Battle of the Birds remained a one-sided affair as Katipunan mercilessly clamped down on San Marcelino.

In terms of statistics, we’ve run down just how dominant Ateneo was this Saturday night, as they always have been on most nights. 

0 – number of Ateneo’s losses in Season 80

Perhaps the most telling number of all is Ateneo’s record, which now stands at an unblemished 8 wins and 0 losses. No team has yet found an answer to the Eagles’ dominance, and with the way Coach Tab Baldwin runs his team, perhaps fans (or haters) will be waiting a little while more before the loss column finally changes, if it changes at all.

1 ­– Adamson team threes

The Falcons launched 18 attempts from 3-point range and only made one, for a grand total of 5.56% shooting from deep.

After burying the FEU Tamaraws in their previous game with 10 made threes in 21 attempts, Adamson was completely shut down by Ateneo this time around, with only Jerie Pingoy sinking a lone trey in his 5 attempts from downtown.

Incidentally, one represents Papi Sarr, the lone Falcon to break double-digit points, as well as lead point guard Rob Manalang’s total score (0/6 field goals, 1/2 free-throws).

5 – Adamson team assists

Not only did Ateneo choke the perimeter area for Adamson, they choked their offensive rhythm altogether, as the frustrated Falcons only made 10 points off 5 measly assists. They are now the not-so-proud record holders of Season 80’s lowest total team assists, breaking the 8 assists set by UP in the first round against… Ateneo.

And speaking of UP…

59 – League-low team total points for Adamson

Had Ateneo not replaced their entire starting lineup in the final few minutes with rarely-used bench players, Adamson would have been the season record-holder of a pair of lows in one game: team assists and total team points. Nevertheless, the final 9-0 run by the Falcons in garbage time still just tied them with UP, who set their team-low against FEU, at the bottom of the points heap.

Perhaps Ateneo is getting bored with merely just winning. Now they’re flat-out embarrassing their opposition. With 6 more games left, Ateneo still has a lot of time to send a clear message that this time, they won’t settle for finals runner-up. – Rappler.com