During the regular season, the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles had FEU’s number.
The Blue Eagles were able to sweep the defending champions, their second round encounter a 74-59 win. For 28 minutes and 44 seconds Saturday afternoon, Ateneo was on their way of another win over FEU.
Displaying crisp ball movement and better hustle, the group of Thirdy Ravena, Aaron Black, Raffy Verano, and Chibueze Ikeh were able to build a 39-29 lead. The strong Ateneo run was highlighted by a tip-in from Ravena as he went high up in the sky over Raymar Jose.
However, in a game pitting two of the greatest minds in Philippine basketball, Racela made a crucial adjustment that proved to be the difference.
“They zoned me and Aaron [Black]. Siguro dapat in-anticipate na rin namin na gagawin nila yun kasi ayaw siguro nila kaming maka-penetrate,” Ravena said.
FEU switched from 3-2 and 1-3-1 zones that confused the young Blue Eagles, holding them scoreless for a good two minutes in the final frame.
“It actually depended on how they closed out on me,” Ravena shared about trying to expose FEU’s scheme. “Inisip ko na pag macloclose out short sila, maybe I could shoot the ball. If they close out too strong or too hard, aatakihin ko lang and kick out and see what happens.”
The tight FEU defense coupled by Monbert Arong’s late game explosion proved to be too much for the young Eagles, falling 61-62 to extend the series. The 20-year-old finished the game with 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting, six rebounds, and four assists.
Ravena admitted that the team had thought about finally closing out FEU during their third quarter run but the their late-game errors and shot-selection proved to be too costly.
“I’m not sure if it’s overconfidence pero inisip lang talaga namin na we could have had the game but we had a lot of mistakes coming in that quarter so… it happens,” he lamented.
“You can’t avoid it.”
But Ravena is not giving up just yet as he remains optimistic about his team’s chances entering Wednesday’s win-or-go-home tilt. And he vows that they will prepare for FEU’s zone.
“It’s not yet done. We have another game on Wednesday. It’s just the half. We don’t come out in the dugout of the half hanging our heads so it’s another half on Wednesday.
“We have to stay positive and of course prepare for what they’re about to do,” he stressed.
