INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Kiefer Ravena poured in a career-high 33 points to lift the Ateneo Blue Eaglets to an 80-73 win over rivals La Salle Zobel Green Archers in the series opener of this season’s UAAP juniors basketball championships at the Arena in San Juan.

After a 38-all deadlock at halftime, Ravena, son former PBA swingman Bong Ravena, knocked in 15 points in the second half via a variety of offensive moves from inside and outside paint.

"Kiefer is a good boy and he worked hard for the team but it's still Ateneo's team not just Kiefer’s," said Eaglets coach Jamike Jarin, noting that Ateneo’s big men like Paolo Bugarin and Von Pessumal also stepped up for the team.

Nico Elorde topscored for the Junior Archers with 18 points, including a four-point play late in the latter half of the fourth quarter that managed to cut down Ateneo’s lead to four points.

"Nico (Elorde) is a good friend of mine and we're always guarding each other since two years ago," Ravena said on his La Salle counterpart.

On the women's basketball, the Adamson University Lady Falcons clinched the first win in the title series over the defending champion Far Eastern University, 58-51.

Team captain Katherine Sandel topscored with 18 points and this year’s most valuable player Analyn Almasan added 14 points and 16 rebounds for the Lady Falcons, who led at halftime, 28-23.

Game 2 of both ladies and juniors championship series is scheduled on Tuesday.

The scores:
Women’s
AdU-58 Sandel 18, Almasan 14, Bernardo 6, Ortega 5, Mangahas 5, Tecson 4, Buendia 4, Roque 2
FEU-51 Palmera 18, Positos 14, Lim 12, Sicat 3, Soriano 2, Cabochan 2

Juniors
ADMU-80 Ravena 33, Bugarin 10, Sinco 8, Pessumal 8, Dumrique 6, Banal 6, Reyes 5, Unson 5
DLSZ-73 Elorde 18, Capacio 15, Van Opstal 12, Fortuna 12, Dela Paz 12, Sevilla 2, Roxas 2