Ateneo guard Ian Espinosa against UST’s defenders. Photo from UAAP Media.

MANILA (UPDATED) — Ateneo de Manila University won its second straight game in the second round of the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament.

The Blue Eagles denied University of Santo Tomas a home victory, 67-64, during their Saturday afternoon clash at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in España, Manila.

Andrew Bongo led ADMU with 14 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and an assist, while Ian Espinosa had 11 markers, six boards, and two dimes.

"I don't know when was the last time in the UAAP where you played a road game and it was a mystery to us why that happened," said Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin during the postgame presser. "It required us to gut it out, and I think it's one of the gutsiest wins we had in the past years."

Also helping the Blue Eagles in this win were their 17 offensive rebounds as well as only committing only eight turnovers throughout the contest, and these according to Espinosa, were a matter of them finally starting to figure things out after following a 1-6 showing in the second round.

"Moving on sa second round wala nang rookies-rookies," he said.

"Alam na namin yung experience ng game. Entering the second round, dapat alam na namin paano maging composed kasi knowing nung first round nawawala kami sa mga crucial na situations," explained the Best Player of the Game.

This showed especially in the end game as when UST was trailing 64-62 with only 16.6 seconds left in the game, the Ateneans forced Fourth Padrigao to a turnover.

Padrigao's supposed inbound pass to Nic Cabañero went to Sean Quitevis, and Ateneo's team captain went on to extend their lead to four, 66-62, with a breakaway fastbreak Kyle Paranada's lay-in down the middle cut their deficit to two, but that was the nearest that they could get as despite Espinosa's split from the foul line, UST was not even able to attempt a triple in hopes of sending the game to overtime.

Cabanero led all scorers with 18 markers but only shot 5-of-16 from the field, while Christian Manaytay and Padrigao followed him with 11 and eight, respectively.

Aside from absorbing their third straight loss, adding to the Pido Jarencio-coached squad's woes were their 18 turnovers as well as the 17-to-4 start of the Blue Eagles on their floor.

The Blue Eagles improved to 3-6, while the Tigers moved down to 4-6.

UST played the game without big man Mo Tounkara, who was suspended after incurring two technical fouls in their previous game against De La Salle University.

The Scores:

ATENEO 67

– Bongo 14, Espinosa 11, Koon 10, Tuano 10, Balogun 0, Bahay 8, Porter 3, Quitevis 2, Lazaro 0, Espina 0, Edu 0.

UST 64

– Cabanero 18, Manaytay 11, Padrigao 8, Estacio 8, Paranada 6, Laure 6, Crisostomo 5, Robinson 2, Llemit 0, Acido 0, Danting 0, Mahmood 0.

Quarters: 17-8, 33-25, 48-41, 67-64.