In their three-game semifinals conquest against the San Beda Red Lions, the Ateneo Blue Eagles made sure of one thing – that they fought until the very end.
And it was highlighted in their Game Two semifinals win, where the defending champions only fielded in nine players. Still, the likes of Isaac Go and Tyler Tio did not allow the Blue Eagles to go down easily, leading Ateneo to a 74-62 win to force a rubber match last Thursday.
Then two days later, a complete Blue Eagles squad trounced the Red Lions, 62-56.
“Laking bagay nun na kumpleto kami. Hindi hingal kabayo sa game cause we’re complete,” admitted Thirdy Ravena, who played all three games in the semis series.
But there’s no rest for the weary, as the UAAP kings will vie for the PCCL National Championship against their CESAFI counterparts University of Visayas Green Lancers. And it will fall on a Monday – a school day.
Again, there will be a question lingering around the Blue Eagles. Will they field a complete lineup or not?
Whatever happens, though, the two-time UAAP Finals MVP will make sure that come the winner-take-all finale, the Blue Eagles will fight.
“Bahala na kung kumpleto. We’ll fight with what we have.
“Tulad ng sabi ni coach Tab [Baldwin], ‘We only need five on the court,'” declared Ravena.
“We don’t know anything about them,” Baldwin shared about the three-time, defending CESAFI champs.
“We got to try and play good basketball because that is another champion team.”
