After a shocking 84-83 loss to the UP Maroons last week that ended their 39-game winning streak, the Blue Eagles shifted their focus to a comfortable win against the Tamaraws as they now await their next title challenger on Sunday, May 8.

BJ Andrade earned the Player of the Game honors with a game-high 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting in just 20 minutes, while SJ Belangel kept the Tamaraws at bay with his 14 points in the second half.

Team captain Gian Mamuyac, who was held scoreless against UP, chipped in 12 points while  Ange Kouame flaunts an all-around game of nine points, 18 rebounds, eight assists, and five blocks.

The Blue Eagles started off strong and carried the momentum in the second quarter, racking a 22-8 run to turn a close 22-21 lead into a 15-point gap, 42-29, with 2:28 remaining.

That lead stretched to 23 points, 63-41, late in the third before FEU rallied and trimmed the lead down to 13, 56-69, early in the final frame, but was not enough for a comeback attempt.

RJ Abarrientos top-scored FEU with 16 points, five rebounds, and two steals, Emmanuel Ojuola, in his last game for the Tamaraws, added 13 points and 14 rebounds, while graduating forward Brandrey Bienes also had 13 points.

The scores:

Ateneo 85 – Andrade 16, Belangel 14, Mamuyac 12, Ildefonso 11, Kouame 9, Daves 9, Lazaro 4, Verano 3, Koon 3, Chiu 2, Tio 2, Padrigao 0.

FEU 72 – Abarrientos 16, Ojuola 13, Bienes 13, Gonzales 9, Sleat 6, Alforque 5, Tempra 4, Torres 3, Celzo 2, Sajonia 1, Coquia 0.

Quarters: 16-16, 49-33, 65-48, 85-72.