Fielding a complete lineup this time around, the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles where able to weather a huge fourth quarter surge by the San Beda University Red Lions, , to advance to the finals of the PCCL, Saturday afternoon at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
“Good experience for us. San Beda gave us what a champion team should do. We didn’t expect anything less,” shared Tab Baldwin.
With San Beda cutting Ateneo’s once-17 point lead down to just two with 1:10 left, Thirdy Ravena pulled up for a cold-blooded triple to put the Red Lions away from good.
“I’m happy that our players figured things out themselves. As you saw, we didn’t take timeouts. They need to learn from these situations,” added Baldwin.
The two-time UAAP Finals Most Valuable Player tallied 13 points, five rebounds, and two assists for the Blue Eagles, who will face CESAFI champions University of Visayas Green Lancers for the National Championship on Monday.
“We don’t know anything about them. We got to try and play good basketball because that is another champion team,” Baldwin remarked about UV.
But it was not just Ravena who towed Ateneo to the Finals.
Angelo Kouame, who missed Game Two of the best-of-three semifinals series, had 13 points, 18 rebounds, and eight blocks to help Ateneo erect a 41-24 lead early in the third quarter.
San Beda though rallied right back behind the likes of James Canlas, Donald Tankoua, AC Soberano, and pint-sized guard Prince Etrata.
“I think San Beda did a great job. They fought real hard. We lost some momentum in the second half when Tankoua gave George [Go] some problems, giving up a few fouls. And that really changed the flow of the game,” recalled Baldwin.
The Red Lions went on a 13-2 rally to start the final frame, capped by a Tankoua tip in to knot the game at 55-all with 2:36 remaining.
Kouame scored on an and-one afterwards but Tankoua split his free throws on the other end to set up Ravena’s dagger.
The Scores:
ADMU 62 –– Ravena 14, Kouame 13, Wong 10, Andrade 8, Ma. Nieto 5, Berjay 3, Mamuyac 3, Navarro 2, Go 2, Mi. Nieto 1, Tio 1, Belangel 0.
SBU 56 — Canlas 14, Tankoua 10, Nelle 9, Doliguez 7, Soberano 5, Etrata 4, Cuntapay 3, Oftana 2, Alfaro 2, Abuda 0, Bahio 0, Carino 0, Visser 0, Obenza 0.
Quarterscores: 10-7, 34-24, 53-42, 62-56.
