TOKYO, Japan – Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) was crowned the first champion of the World University Basketball Series (WUBS) at the Yoyogi National Stadium Second Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.

This after Ateneo got the better of Tokai University of Japan, 68-59, on Thursday, August 11.
The Blue Eagles held a precarious 43-41 lead at the end of the third period of their game versus the Seagulls but the Blue Eagles proved powerful enough to overcome their Japanese foes and sweep the four-team pocket tournament which serves as part of their preparation for the upcoming University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season.

AdMU’s victory came despite Tokai being more efficient from the line, shooting at 73 percent (16-for-22) as compared to Ateneo’s 48 percent (11-for-23), thanks to the Blue Eagles’ better shooting from the field which logged in at 35.5percent over the Seagulls’ 26 percent.

The Blue Eagles also out-rebounded the Japanese, 40-31, and passed the ball more effectively with 16 assists.

Dave Ildefonso led the Ateneo’s crowning win with 14 points and six rebounds. While Josh Lazaro, Forth Padrigao, BJ Andrade, and Paul Garcia combined 32 markers with eight for each.

The Blue Eagles were without their star center Ange Kouame, who is still nursing a partial ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear and meniscal sprain.

In the opening game, they demolished Universitas Pelita Harapan of Indonesia by 86 points and followed it by a come-from-behind win over the National Chengchi University of Chinese Taipei.