Big 4th quarter pushes Ateneo past UST

Ateneo’s Thirdy Ravena skies for a layup against University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, at Smart Araneta Coliseum. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Ateneo banked on a huge fourth quarter to escape University of Santo Tomas, 73-69, Sunday in the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Aaron Black scattered 23 points, including the game-sealing jumper with 31.1 seconds left, seven rebounds, and five assists to deliver the win for the Blue Eagles.

“It was a good game. You can’t take any team for granted, as shown by UST today,” said Ateneo coach Sandy Arespacochaga.

Thirdy Ravena had 17 markers and 11 boards, while Mike Nieto got seven points and four rebounds. Anton Asistio sparked the fourth-quarter pullaway, igniting a 14-2 run with his two treys to start the frame and give Ateneo a 66-53 lead with 5:31 remaining.

“We hit some crucial outside shots in the fourth quarter, so we’re very happy with that,” said Arespacochaga, as the Blue Eagles bucked their 0-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc in the first half and nailed all of their six treys in the last two quarters.

Louie Vigil and Regie Basibas, though, kept the Growling Tigers in the thick of things, 71-66, with 54.6 ticks left before Black nailed the dagger jumper.

Vigil paced UST with 21 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, while Joco Macasaet had 12 markers and nine boards in the defeat.

The dcores:

ATENEO 73 – Black 23, Ravena 17, Mi. Nieto 7, Asistio 6, Wong 5, Mendoza 5, Babilonia 4, Tolentino 2, Go 2, Ma. Nieto 2, Ikeh 0, Porter 0, Verano 0.

UST 69 – Vigil 21, Macasaet 12, Bonleon 9, Lao 8, Basibas 7, Faundo 6, Subido 2, Afoakwah 2, De Guzman 2, Sheriff 0, Lee 0, Arana 0, Huang 0.

Quarters: 14-17, 34-34, 52-51, 73-69.