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Minus Tiu, Ateneo deals with Lyceum easily in PCCL cage tourney
Written by staff   
Tuesday, 25 November 2008 03:15

Chris TiuMANILA, Philippines - No Chris Tiu? No problem.

Rabeh al-Hussaini scored 10 of his game-high 19 points in a pivotal third quarter and the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles used a 19-5 breakaway in the same period to beat the Lyceum of the Philippines-Manila Pirates 77-56 in the first round of the Philippine Collegiate Championship League basketball tournament on Monday at The Arena in San Juan.

More than two months removed from their UAAP championship, the Eagles began slowly, finding themselves tied at 34 early in the second half.

But al-Hussaini keyed a scorching run that put Ateneo ahead 53-39 at the end of the third quarter and for good.

The Eagles were minus Tiu who decided not to play in the tournament. Tiu played out his final year as an Eagle this season. And by the looks of it, Ateneo was nowhere near lost without the team's acknowledged heart and soul.

"It is an opportunity for the other players to step up," Ateneo coach Norman Black said.

"We expected a hard ballgame," Black added. "Besides, we have respect for all teams. We do not expect to blow out any team."

Filling in Tiu's shoes were Eric Salamat who had 16 points and four steals and Jai Reyes who finished with 12 points.

Ateneo faces the winner of the Mapua-Manuel L. Quezon U match in the next round.

Point-guard Joseph Abaya, Lyceum's lone double-digit scorer, finished with 16 points. - GMANews.TV
 
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