Kiefer stuns UST in end-game 63-61

By: Bong Lozada - 10 years ago

Kiefer Ravena of Ateneo. INQUIRER PHOTO/AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines—And it all boiled down to that one last shot.

Kiefer Ravena drained the clutch floater that shot the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers’ hearts, 63-61, in the UAAP men’s basketball at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum Wednesday evening.

Ravena spun out of the Tiger double team and put up the floater with 3.7 seconds left to give the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles a 5-1 slate, a tie for first with the National University Bulldogs.

Blue Eagles head coach Bo Perasol said that Ravena’s last shot was made through the brush strokes of assistant coach Ronnie Magsanoc.

He added that he was tempted to tell his junior guard to avoid taking those mid-range floaters, but was still confident enough in Ravena.

“I was tempted to tell Kiefer not to take those shots, but knowing him, he found a way to make it,” Perasol said.

Ateneo held a five-point lead late in the fourth, 55-50, until the Growling Tigers went on a 8-2 hunting gathering with forward Aljon Mariano draining a straight-away three, 58-57.

Tiger center Karim Abdul scored inside the shaded lane to give UST a two-point lead, 60-58, with 1:26 remaining.

Eagle swingman Chris Newsome, though, gave Ateneo the lead back with a spin move on a drive to the basket then hitting his bonus free-throw, 61-60.

Even with the victory, Perasol said that it was near impossible to stop Abdul inside.

“We know that it was almost impossible to stop Karim inside…we knew it would be a grind against a tough UST team,” Perasol said.

Newsome paced the Eagles with 18 points with Ravena adding 17 of his own and eight boards.

Eagle rookie Arvin Tolentino held his own against Abdul with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Abdul led UST with a double-double of his own, 19 points and 12 boards, while Mariano added 17 and forward Louie Vigil contributing 11 for the Tigers who fell to a 3-2 record.