Ateneo overcomes FEU in OT, 68-64

Video by INQUIRER.net’s Ryan Leagogo

MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo rose from 19 points down late to stun Far Eastern University, 68-64, in overtime and secure the top seeding in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tournament Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Blue Eagles trailed by 19 points, 36-55, before outscoring the Tamaraws, 23-4, in the final six minutes of regulation to force overtime, where their strong play spilled over.

“The truth is I really don’t know what happened in the third quarter. The one thing that I remember telling them was we just have to play through this,” said Ateneo coach Bo Perasol, whose team missed the Final Four last year but will be heading into the semifinals this time with a twice-to-beat advantage.

FILE PHOTO

The Tamaraws blew the game wide open in the third quarter but then squandered a golden opportunity to clinch first place and instead will have to go into a playoff with the winner between defending champion De La Salle and National University later for the last twice-to-beat edge.

FEU led by 19 in two separate times in the final frame and could’ve salvaged a win in regulation had Mike Tolomia made two free throws with 2.8 seconds left.

Tolomia had a chance to redeem himself in the extra period but capped his performance with another blunder — a costly turnover in the waning seconds — with the Tams down by just three, 64-67, with under 15 seconds left.

The Eagles scored just 26 points through three quarters but a 33-point fourth period immediately changed their fortunes.

Kiefer Ravena and Fonzo Gotladera combined for 19 points in the fourth quarter with the leading MVP candidate scoring 12, including two free throws that tied the game at 59 with 20.3 ticks left.

“I had to find a way. FEU just played tremendous defense,” said Ravena, who shot just 5-of-28 from the field to go along with five turnovers.

Ravena though, still came away with the game-high 23 points that went with five rebounds and five assists.

Chris Newsome added a double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds while Gotladera chipped in nine points, seven rebounds and two blocks for Ateneo, which wrapped up its campaign in the elimination round with an 11-3 record.

The Eagles took the lead for the first time, 62-59, on Nico Elorde’s lone basket at the 4:11 mark in OT and never trailed again.

Mac Belo led FEU with 16 points to go along with eight rebounds but scored just one point in the final 15 minutes of the game.

Roger Pogoy posted 15 points while Tolomia finished with 10 points, six rebounds, six assists but committed six turnovers and shot 3-of-16 from the field and 3-of-10 at the line.