MANILA, Philippines -- Ateneo de Manila University protected its homecourt at the Blue Eagle Gym Saturday with a 75-72 win over Far Eastern University to snap its 3-game skid in the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball tournament.
The Blue Eagles led by nine at 68-59 with 3:36 left but the Tamaraws chipped away the cushion and pulled within one, 72-73, after a Jorick Baustita trey with 14 seconds remaining.
Kieffer Alas drained his free throws to make it a 3-point lead for Ateneo with 3.7 seconds left with FEU still having a shot to send the game to overtime with a triple.
Janrey Pasaol inexplicably opted for a 2-point floater, though, sealing the win for the Blue Eagles even if it went through.
Avenging its first round loss to FEU, Ateneo improved to 4-4 and dragged the former to the same record.
The Blue Eagles, the Tamaraws, the UST Growling Tigers, and the defending champs De La Salle Green Archers are in a 4-way tie from third to seventh places as of posting time.
