Ateneo back in UAAP Finals vs La Salle, outlasts FEU in OT

Ateneo celebrates its return trip to the UAAP Finals after outlasting FEU, 69-68, in overtime of their Final Four duel. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Ateneo survived Far Eastern University in overtime, 69-68, to clinch the last Finals slot in the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Isaac Go made the go-ahead basket off a put back with 1:24 left as the Blue Eagles booked its first finals since completing a ‘five-peat’ in 2012.

The Tamaraws still had a chance to win but Ron Dennison’s last-second basket came after the buzzer and was waived off.

“They made the last shot but it came half a second too late and I think that’s what separates these two teams,” said Ateneo consultant Tab Baldwin.

The Blue Eagles arranged a best-of-three duel with the top seeded De La Salle Green Archers beginning Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“Are we ready for La Salle? We’ll find out.”

The Eagles and the Archers split their meetings in the elimination round.

Thirdy Ravena led the Eagles in scoring with 13 points on top of eight rebounds. Go, who was left blooded after getting hit with an inadvertent elbow by Tamaraws’ Prince Orizu during a rebound battle, finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds.

Dennison, the graduating guard, hit a floater over Ateneo center Chi Ikeh with 37.8 seconds left to force OT.

Raymar Jose had another double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds in his final game for FEU. Monbert Arong, who has also maxed out his playing years, led all scorers with 15.

The scores:

ATENEO 69 – Ravena 13, Nieto Mi 13, Go 12, Tolentino 9, Wong 8, Nieto Ma 7, Asistio 3, Verano 2, Black 2, Ikeh 0

FEU 68 – Arong 15, Jose 12, Escoto 11, Dennison 8, Inigo 7, Comboy 5, Orizu 4, Trinidad 4, Nunag 2, Tuffin 0, Ebona 0, Holmqvist 0
Quarterscores: 15-20, 38-41, 53-49, 66-66, 69-68 (OT)