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Ikeh's big game of no surprise to Ateneo coaches, teammates

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/09/10/091016_ikeh.jpg"/><figcaption>Adamson&#x27;s Sean Manganti (1) and Keith Zaldiva (25) try to stop Ateneo center Chibueze Ikeh. Arvin Lim, ABS-CBN Sports.</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – Chibueze Ikeh&#x27;s monster game against Adamson University came as a shock to most UAAP observers and fans, but not to his teammates and coaches in the Ateneo Blue Eagles.Ikeh, who averaged only 5.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in UAAP Season 79, exploded for 18 points and 17 boards in the Blue Eagles&#x27; 85-65 over the Soaring Falcons on Saturday, giving them a superb start in the UAAP Season 80 tournament.He had 14 points and 13 boards in the first half alone, as the Blue Eagles surged to a 43-28 lead that they would never relinquish.&quot;We weren&#x27;t surprised that Ikeh played a good game,&quot; said Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga who did note that the Blue Eagles got quite lucky that Adamson center Papi Sarr did not play due to an injury.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2017/09/09/admu-gets-win-column-taking-advantage-sarr-less-adu-30733">READ: ADMU gets on win column by taking advantage of Sarr-less AdU</a></li></ul>Yet Sarr&#x27;s absence should not take away from what Ikeh did. The big man took control of the paint and gave Ateneo extra possessions, while providing a deterrent for Adamson&#x27;s guards. Twelve of his 17 rebounds came on the offensive end; Adamson, as a team, had only 13.Arespacochaga believes that practice simply paid off for Ikeh, whose best game in Season 79 was a 14-point, seven-rebound effort against the University of the Philippines. He had a grand total of 19 points and 18 rebounds in the Blue Eagles&#x27; four playoff games last year.&quot;He&#x27;s been playing well for us the past few weeks in practices,&quot; said the coach. &quot;He stepped up his game, so I guess within the team, it was not something new, what he was doing in the game.&quot;&quot;We&#x27;re happy that Ikeh was able to play the way that he&#x27;s been practicing,&quot; added Arespacochaga.Arespacochaga further revealed that Ikeh has been doing extra work with their assistant coaches, specifically Gene Afable, Ford Arao, and Alton Lister.&quot;He&#x27;s been putting in the work. That&#x27;s why we weren&#x27;t really surprised with the way that he played,&quot; he explained.Ikeh himself gives credit to his teammates for pushing him to get better.&quot;It&#x27;s been a tough process,&quot; Ikeh admitted. &quot;But we&#x27;ve been working hard with the team.&quot;&quot;They&#x27;ve been pushing me, because sometimes, I seem to slack off. But they&#x27;ve always been trying to tell me – &#x27;Hey, you can do it&#x27;,&quot; he added.And if Papi Sarr had played?&quot;If he was going to play, the coaches have a game plan,&quot; said Ikeh. &quot;We always stick to the game plan.&quot;For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com" target="_blank">Sports website.</a>

Chibueze Ikeh's monster game against Adamson University came as a shock to most UAAP observers and fans, but not to his teammates and coaches in the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

Chibueze Ikeh's monster game against Adamson University came as a shock to most UAAP observers and fans, but not to his teammates and coaches in the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

Ikeh's big game of no surprise to Ateneo coaches, teammates

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Ikeh's big game of no surprise to Ateneo coaches, teammates

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 10, 2017 11:00 AM PHT

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uaap season 80

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