Ateneo defeats UE 76-69, Obasa leads strong defense

Ateneo de Manila University secured a decisive win over the University of the East (UE) with a score of 76-69 in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday.

Joseph Obasa led Ateneo's defense with 16 points, eight rebounds, and six blocks, emphasizing that his performance was due to strong teamwork.

Ateneo forced UE into committing 13 turnovers and making only 30 successful shots out of 72 attempts, demonstrating their defensive prowess.

Head coach Tab Baldwin praised Jared Brown's two crucial triples in the fourth quarter and highlighted the team’s execution of their game plan despite needing more experience with a new roster.

Kai Ballungay contributed significantly with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, while Ateneo also outperformed UE in free throws (34 to 4).