INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?Ateneo de Manila University collected one more major title in a season replete with achievements.

The Blue Eagles, winners of back-to-back UAAP crowns, captured the Philippine Collegiate Champions League title for the second time in three years by nipping the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 74-70, Sunday night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Diminutive guard Jai Reyes ended his collegiate career with a flourish, finishing with 17 points to win the Most Valuable Player award of the tournament that gathers the best collegiate teams in the country.

The Blue Eagles were caught in a five-minute scoring drought when the 5-foot-7 Reyes knocked in the last of his four triples to end a five-minute scoring drought and tie the game at 70 with two and a half minutes remaining.

Christopher Sumalinog, who saw limited minutes in his first three seasons with the Eagles, scored the go-ahead basket with a layup with 46 seconds left, before Ryan Buenafe iced the victory with two free throws in the last six seconds.

?I told the team that this game will define whether we are just a good team or a great team,? said Ateneo coach Norman Black, who also steered the Eagles to their second straight University Games title last October.

?It?s been a very long season and I couldn?t ask for more from the players.?

Eric Salamat, who joined Reyes in the mythical five, unloaded 19 points before leaving the game midway in the fourth period due to cramps.

The game also turned out to be the last in the collegiate ranks for Ateneo?s defensive stalwart Nonoy Baclao, the MVP of this tournament two years ago, who scored four points and grabbed five rebounds.

?I?m thankful to Noy,? said Black of the 6-foot-5 Baclao, who skipped the Philippine Patriots? Asean Basketball League clash with Brunei on Sunday to play in Game 3.

The scores:

ATENEO 74?Salamat 19, Reyes 17, Sumalinog 11, Buenafe 8, Golla 4, Chua 4, Baclao 4, Salva 4, Monfort 3, Austria 0, Long 0.

FEU 70?Sanga 15, Garcia 14, Ramos 10, Cawaling 10, Exciminiano 8, Manalo 5, Cervantes 4, Noundou 4, Knuttel 0.

Quarters: 20-16, 45-35, 61-59, 74-70