Thirdy Ravena is still not ready to wake up from this dream run.
Just days after Ateneo’s shock 83-71 victory over La Salle on Saturday, it extended its winning streak to four, this time toppling another powerhouse in Far Eastern University on Wednesday, 74-59, to forge a tie for second place.
“We just came out to fight,” he said. “Yun lang ang nasa utak namin because we’re the underdogs in this match.”
Shooting the lights out in the first half, Ateneo went on to take a 23-point advantage, 55-32 before a furious FEU rally cut the lead down to seven, 63-56 with four minutes still to play.
That was when Ravena took charge, pouring six of his 15 points in the last four minutes, to go with 11 rebounds and two assists to secure the win.
“I just did whatever it takes para lumaki yung lamang at para di sila maka-stop sa amin,” he said. “Sinwerte lang din ako na gumana yung pick-and-roll namin. Ice (Go) was there, and everyone was there to open up yung mga shooters. It was a good team effort in the fourth quarter.”
Somehow, the Blue Eagles are looking like legitimate contenders this late in the season.
But Ravena warned his team of complacency coming off big wins over the league’s top two teams.
“Ang mindset lang namin as a team is wag naming isipin na maging kampante kami just because we won against La Salle,” he said. “We have to be mentally and physically prepared coming in sa bawat laro.”
Coach Sandy Arespacochaga echoed his player’s plea.
“We don’t want to think too far ahead.”
“We don’t want our minds to wander. We just want to focus on the next game, and take it one game at a time. Hopefully at the end of it all, come up with a good record.”
Ateneo finishes its eliminations schedule against UST and Adamson.