UAAP: Ateneo bags statement win in rout of UE

The Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles aced their first UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball test after crushing the University of the East Red Warriors, 101-74, on Sept. 16, 2026, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Despite an emotional start after the league offered a moment of silence for the tragic deaths of former Ateneans Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, the Blue Eagles were able to settle in quickly in the first quarter and immediately dominated UE with an inspired start.

Ateneo picked up momentum midway through the first frame, receiving huge buckets from Jared Bahay and Kieffer Alas that stretched the Blue Eagles’ lead to nine points, 25-16.

UE answered with a 7-0 burst, which led to a quick Ateneo emergency timeout, and that wake-up call from head coach Louie Alas was all that the Blue Eagles needed as they unleashed a demoralizing 16-1 run that pushed their advantage to 17 points at the half.

Grayson Rogers kicked off the massive run with a putback layup, followed by consecutive baskets from Travis Roberts, Ian Espinosa, Alas, and Bahay.

Despite UE going to a traditional 2-3 zone defense to force Ateneo to shoot from the 3-point line, the Blue Eagles made them pay with painful haymakers, extending their lead to as much as 38 points with an impressive shooting exhibition.

Alas once again led Ateneo’s third-quarter surge with an inside-outside offensive masterclass, schooling UE’s defense, which didn’t deploy a single double-team on him at the top of the key.

With Alas doing damage at will while running the pick-and-roll to perfection, UE failed to pick its poison as its loose defense allowed the star rookie to dictate the pace of the game.

The Red Warriors threw in the white towel with six minutes still remaining in regulation as head coach Chris Gavina pulled out all of his starters and could only watch the Blue Eagles outplay them in all facets of the game.

Alas led all scorers and introduced himself in the seniors’ division with a stellar 24-point output, backstopped by Bahay, who finished with 17 points on efficient 6-of-8 shooting from the field.

Both schools will return to action on Sept. 19, with Ateneo aiming for a 2-0 UAAP start against the UP Fighting Maroons while UE seeks to bounce back against the National University Bulldogs.