Ateneo ekes out win vs La Salle, to face UST in UAAP finals

Kiefer Ravena of Ateneo goes for a back pass off Jarelan Tampus of La Salle, at Smart Araneta Center. AUGUST DELA CRUZ/Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — Kiefer Ravena did almost everything in the payoff period and lifted Ateneo past rival La Salle, 66-63, booking a trip to the finals for the fifth straight year at the 75^th UAAP men’s basketball tournament Saturday.

Ravena, last year’s rookie-of-the-year who missed the mythical five this season, caught fire in the payoff period and scored 12 straight markers to bring the Blue Eagles back in the game after trailing by 11 points going into the fourth quarter.

Ravena, who finished with a blistering 28 markers, also had a hand on almost all of Ateneo’s final buckets — including an assist on Ryan Buenafe’s key three pointer.

The prized guard also plucked 12 boards and registered seven assists for Ateneo.

“La Salle gave us a great fight. We were helping each other in the last six minutes. The shots were falling, so I just took it. We really had to suck it up and go the extra mile,” said Ravena.

It started out with a three-point play by Ravena with 8:26 in the clock and he became unstoppable from there as he scored on all the ensuing possessions, before assisting Juami Tiongson on a fastbreak to tie the game at 55.

Ravena nailed a go-ahead triple and a freethrow for a 59-55 lead — from a 38-48 deficit — and the Blue Eagles just tried to hold on to from there.

But La Salle, on the brink of ending its season, fought back and once again took over the lead, 62-61, before Buenafe’s corner trey with 55.6 seconds left.

Ravena’s heroics nearly went down the drain, though, when he was called for an unsportsmanlike foul against Jeron Teng with 15.6 seconds left.

Teng was awarded two foul throws and ball possession for La Salle.

But Teng, this season’s top rookie, missed on his second freebie and lost the ball as he was about to attack the rim with three ticks to go — virtually dooming the Green Archers.

Yutien Andrada, who had a field day down low, was at the receiving end of the drop passes and backdoor plays and led La Salle with 17 markers despite a four-point production in the fourth.

Almond Vosotros, meanwhile, finished with 14 markers — four from downtown — and even gave La Salle the lead in the final minute.

The Green Archers bid their season adieu after gutting it out against Far Easter University to make it to the final four once again.

The Blue Eagles will face University of Santo Tomas in the best-of-three next Saturday, a rematch of the 2006 finale.