A desperate National University Bulldogs squad came out on Wednesday afternoon, as they tried to hand the league-leading Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles their first loss. And the game was a grind for both squads, with the buckets coming few and far in between.
Figuring in this kind of game, things got chippy between the two sides.
The physicality reached its peak during the second quarter of the contest. With 4:53 left in the first half and the Blue Eagles up 37-34, Thirdy Ravena, who stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs approximately 180 pounds, went for a strong, breakaway basket.
However, Dave Yu, who himself is 6-foot-2, tried to stop him. The result was a hard crash that seemed like a clothesline from the NU Bulldog. Ravena, who mustered enough strength to score on the drive, was down on the court for a good minute.
Yu was called for an unsportsmanlike foul and Ravena was able to make the free throw.
After the game, though, the 20-year-old Ravena did not put any blame on Yu.
“Well, siguro duty foul niya yun. Knowing Dave Yu hindi niya naman siguro intention manakit,” recalled Ravena, who finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in Ateneo’s 85-72 win.
Moreover, the second-generation cager added that Yu is a good friend of his, and that he had just gutted out the pain from the fall.
“He’s a great guy. Part lang siya ng game. I had to take it like a man.”
