Ateneo didn’t look like it was in a rush to put away National U last Wednesday.
But the pacesetting Blue Eagles’ latest victory in UAAP Season 80 took on a familiar theme: A close game for three quarters, before they methodically picked apart another opponent down the stretch.
Thirdy Ravena fired 12 of his 15 points in the second half and the Eagles held the Bulldogs to just seven points in the final period on the way to an 85-72 victory that assured Ateneo of at least a playoff for a Final Four berth at Mall of Asia Arena.
Matt Nieto and Jolo Mendoza combined for 20 points, including five treys for the Eagles, who trailed at the end of the first half, 45-48, for the first time this season before making the Bulldogs bleed for their points in the last two quarters.
The win lifted the Eagles to 9-0, while sending the Bulldogs to their sixth loss in nine games, putting their Final Four hopes in peril.
Earlier, Adamson got back on the winning track after surviving a gritty challenge from University of the East, 66-57, to solidify its hold of third spot with a 6-3 record.
The victory augurs well for the Falcons as they brace for a crucial clash with La Salle on Saturday, even as the Warriors saw their two-game winning run halted for a 2-7 record.
“As you can see, it was a dogfight,” said Adamson coach Franz Pumaren. “It was really a struggle. It’s a good thing that we made some important stops in the end.”