Ateneo’s Ian Espinosa throughout a sport in opposition to UST in UAAP Season 87.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet
MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo guards Sean Quitevis and Ian Espinosa performed spoilers in College of Santo Tomas’ first-ever residence sport as they put the ending touches within the Blue Eagles’ win on the Quadricentennial Pavilion on Saturday.
Holding a precarious two-point lead with 16 seconds left, Quitevis made a vital steal, studying Forthsky Padrigao’s inbound cross to Nic Cabañero and scoring a breakaway layup earlier than Espinosa’s break up free throws sealed Ateneo’s 67-64 victory for the crew’s first profitable streak within the UAAP Season 87 males’s basketball event.
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“Truthfully, [my crucial play] was nothing particular. It’s simply we’re attempting to do our job and we attempt to keep disciplined, do our job and it went our favor,” stated Quitevis, who scored his two factors with 11 seconds left — however it turned out to be the sport’s most essential discipline objective.
READ: UAAP: Ateneo will get streak going with win on UST residence turf
Sean Quitevis and Ian Espinosa after overcoming UST. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/8SNdHJgwx5
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) October 19, 2024
Quitevis, who additionally had three steals, three rebounds, and two assists, handled their away sport identical to another sport.
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“Whether or not it’s a house or away court docket, a basketball court docket is a basketball court docket. The rim is 10 toes, the free throw line is 15 toes, the court docket is 94 toes… It’s what we play day by day so we’re simply excited to be right here,” Quitevis stated.
“I’m not too nervous about my efficiency. I care about how our crew performs. Clearly, there are issues to enhance. We have been simply excited to come back out and play UST on their residence court docket. Not a number of gamers get this chance to play in another person’s homecourt so coach Tab [Baldwin] simply wished to ensure our crew’s vitality is up there with UST and we wished to take the struggle to them,” he added.
Ateneo’s Sean Quitevis and Ian Espinosa throughout a win over UST in UAAP Season 87.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet
Espinosa, who delivered 11 factors, six rebounds, and two assists, agreed with Quitevis because the Blue Eagles caught to their objective regardless of the large assist acquired by the Tigers from the UST trustworthy.
“Nag-focus lang kami sa mako-control namin, hindi yung sa di namin mako-control. Stick lang kami sa gameplan ni coach Tab. Kahit na mag-run yung UST alam namin maganda yung crowd nila so kailangan naming mag-stay collectively,” Espinosa stated.
READ: UAAP: Forthsky Padrigao rues UST residence loss to Ateneo
Ateneo bolstered its Ultimate 4 hopes with a 3-6 report, rising to the sixth place behind UST and Adamson. Espinosa careworn that their rookie-laden squad ought to already make the required changes after a lackluster first spherical.
“Transferring on second spherical wala nang rookies, rookies. So alam na namin yung expertise ng sport. Getting into second spherical dapat alam na paano maging composed kasi figuring out nung first spherical nawawala kami sa mga essential na conditions,” stated Espinosa. “It’s win however there’s loads to enhance, particularly on our free throws, we missed 10. On the defensive rebound, they outworked us. Transferring ahead, prepared to arrange for Adamson.”
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Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin lauded Quitevis and Espinosa for enjoying their hearts out and displaying guts of their go to to UST’s lair.
“They’re actual warriors. They’re guys that play each possession with their coronary heart. Generally I want they wouldn’t. Generally I want they might use their head a bit extra,” Baldwin stated. “However we will by no means query their coronary heart. I’d quite say that a couple of participant of mine than to say he’s a extremely mental participant. Generally the smarter participant is less complicated to teach, however the harder man is at all times a blessing.”
