Ateneo Blue Eagles Survived Inspired UE Red Warriors 80-73 UAAP Season 73 1st Round Eliminations

Defending Champions Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles faced an inspired University of the East Red Warriors before prevailing 80 - 73 to end the first round of eliminations of the ongoing UAAP Season 73 Senior's Mens basketball tournament.

Boosted by their first win, the UE Red Warriors kept the Defending champion in check even leading at the end of 3 quarters before succumbing to a superior ADMU line up in the end game.

With the likes of Acibar, Razon and Resopa contributing, apart from the expected production of Paul Lee, James Martinez & Raffy Reyes, the Red Warriors almost upset the three-peat seeking Eagles.

Eric Salamat opened the fourth quarter with two treys, before Monfort's own triple gave the lead to Ateneo 66 - 65.

The downfall of UE started when Sam Razon, playing the best game of his career yet as a Warrior, fouled out before giving UE its last taste of the lead after an end one play, 69 - 66.

With Paul Lee the only option, the Eagles just clamped on the main Red warrior and outscored UE, 14 - 4 the rest of the way to win the rematch of last year's finals. Eric Salamat paced the Eagles with 23 points

The win gave ADMU a 5 - 2 win-loss card to finish the first round tied in second place with Adamson University who earlier defeated DLSU.

With the loss, UE's hope of reaching Final Four grew slimmer. They would need at least 6 wins in the second round to even have a chance at the last final four seat. But they could draw motivation from this game that they almost upset the defending champions.