Go, Ateneo lock up Filoil finals berth

There’s still no stopping Ateneo as it entered the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup finals after outmuscling Far Eastern University in a defensive game, 50-38, Friday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

With the match tied at 31 in the fourth quarter, Isaac Go hit a triple with 7:19 to go to and that was the spark the Blue Eagles needed to end the game with a 19-7 run.

Ateneo, which last played in the pre-season tournament final in 2011, will face the winner of the San Beda-St. Benilde matchup in the one-off championship game on Saturday.

“The players gathered themselves in halftime and played our normal system in the second half,” Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga said.

The Tamaraws were in control in the first half, leading as much as nine points, 18-9, but the Blue Eagles used a 12-4 sprint to close the gap at halftime, 21-22.

Ateneo once again displayed its balanced offense with seven players producing at least five points led by Thirdy Ravena’s seven.

Prince Orizu had 11 for FEU on a 5-for-13 shooting clip. Justin Robert Valencia