Divine Adili returned from a three-game absence to power Ateneo de Manila University’s fourth-quarter surge and eliminate the University of the East, 78-74, in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Wednesday.
The Nigerian center, who has been nursing back issues, delivered 15 points—10 of which came in the final frame where the Blue Eagles erased a seven-point deficit—along with 13 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block.
More importantly, Adili’s return helped Ateneo snap a turbulent five-game losing streak after starting the season with four consecutive wins. The victory lifted the Blue Eagles to an even 5-5 record, tying the Adamson Soaring Falcons at fifth place.
“Regarding Divine, having him back, I don’t think we can overemphasize how important that is. We’ve been a team that, if you study the stats, really struggled around the basket this year… it’s pretty evident that when Divine is out there, it changes the dynamic for the team, and we got more out of him today than we expected,” said Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin.
It was Ateneo’s first win in exactly one month since defeating archrival De La Salle, 81-74, on October 5. The victory serves as a crucial springboard for the Blue Eagles as they prepare for their second-round clash with the Green Archers on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
UE led by as many as 11 points, 63-52, in the third quarter and entered the final period still ahead, 64-57, but Ateneo was determined to end its slump.
Behind Adili’s steady presence, the Blue Eagles reclaimed the lead on his layup with 3:46 left, 72-71. However, John Abate quickly responded for the Red Warriors with an and-one play to restore a 74-72 advantage with 2:15 remaining.
That turned out to be UE’s final basket of the game, as Ateneo sealed the win from the free throw line. Ian Espinosa and Adili combined to sink six of ten free throws in the last 1:42 to complete the comeback.
“I feel really excited to be back. I’ve been itching to get back, and I got the opportunity today. I’m just going to keep looking to get 100 percent healthy, do my rehab, and control what I can control,” said Adili, who has been dealing with a back injury since the start of the season.
Kymani Ladi also made his presence felt with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Espinosa chipped in 13 markers.
The win also marked Ateneo’s 16th straight triumph over UE, a streak that dates back to the second round of Season 87. The Red Warriors remain winless at 0-10 this season.
Precious Momowei led UE with another monster performance of 19 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal. Abate contributed 18 points, six assists, and four rebounds.
Wello Lingolingo, returning from a three-game suspension, tallied 19 points, five rebounds, and four assists but struggled with his shooting, going just 6-of-21 from the field—including several crucial misses down the stretch.
UE will continue to chase its first win on Saturday when it faces the University of the Philippines at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The Scores:
Ateneo (78) – Ladi 16, Adili 15, Espinosa 13, Escobar 11, Tuano 9, Espina 7, Lazaro 4, Bongo 3, Bahay 0, Lazo 0, Fjellvang 0.
UE (74) – Momowei 19, Lingolingo 19, Abate 18, Despi 8, Datumalim 6, Robles 2, Cruz-Dumont 2, Caoile 0, Lagat 0, Malaga 0.
Quarterscores: 18-21, 39-40, 57-64, 78-74.
