GAMES SUNDAY (September 3, 2011)
Araneta Coliseum
1:00pm – Far Eastern (7-4) vs. East (2-10)
3:00pm – De La Salle (4-7) vs. State U (2-10)

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The defending champions are knocking at the door of a history-defining season.

Ateneo de Manila University, now down to one game from sweeping the 74th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball elimination round, crushed National University by a count of 61-39 at the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.

The Katipunan-based team managed to hold down the Sampaloc-based Bulldogs to a measly eight points in the second and third period to spark the runaway bid and easily nab their 13th consecutive victory.

NU tried to rebound during final quarter, but the 21 point deficit after three quarters was too far and wide to allow for a hail mary resurgence.

Helping Ateneo clinch their continuing perfect run on the season were the usual suspects Kirk Long, Kiefer Ravena, Nico Salva and Greg Slaughter, who all scored double digits in the game.

Superbly playing Salva led the scoring department at 14 points, followed by Slaughter amassing 13 points and a team-leading 11 rebounds.

On the other hand, the Bulldogs recorded the lowest game output since statistics were computerized in 2003. Previous record was also held by NU after De La Salle defeated them, 60-40 in 2004.

Team leading scorer Bobby Ray Parks was closely kept at bay by Long, only contributing 10 points to the game. Fellow Bulldog Emmanuel Mbe also managed to snag a 10 point and 12 rebound output.

With the loss, compounded by a University of Santo Tomas win against Adamson, NU missed the bus to the Final Four for the 10th straight time.

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BOX SCORES
ATENEO (61): Salva 14, Slaughter 13, Ravena 12, Long 10, Gonzaga 6, Golla 4, Monfort 2, Tiongson 0, Sumalinog 0, Chua 0, Austria 0
NATIONAL (39): Parks 10, Mbe 10, Javillonar 9, Alolino 4, Ignacio 4, Neypes 2, Villamor 0, Roño 0, Celiz 0, Khobuntin 0, Terso 0
Quarters: 12-11, 26-19, 48-27, 61-39