Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Ateneo swept its season series against archrival De La Salle with a 71-62 and secured its twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball Final Four Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Blue Eagles improved to a league-leading 11-2 record and their win also allowed second seed Adamson University (10-3) to take the other twice-to beat perk.
De La Salle, meanwhile, dropped to an 8-5 slate while staying at third.
With neither team taking control for most of the game, the Blue Eagles turned on the jets late and went on an 11-2 run to take a 71-58 lead with Thirdy Ravena’s three capping off the furious rally with 2:09 remaining.
Part of Ateneo failing to quickly establish its tempo in the game was the absence of big men Angelo Kouame, Isaac Go, and Raffy Verano who all fell into foul trouble.
Fortunately for the Blue Eagles, seldom-used William Navarro stepped in and his seven first half points proved helped Ateneo go back-and-forth with the Green Archers.
“Second quarter was pivotal for us actually because we stepped up defensively and William Navarro did a great job for us especially when our big guys got into foul trouble,” said Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga.
“Willaim enabled us to preserve Ange and George [Go] so they wouldn’t be in foul trouble in the second half.”
Go figured in Ateneo’s earlier scoring spurt in the third quarter when his three-pointer capped off a 7-0 run with 15 seconds left in the penultimate period that gave the Blue Eagles a 54-50 lead.
Kouame then held Ateneo’s paint for much of the fourth with his driving layup putting his team up 62-56 with 5:20 left to play.
Ravena led Ateneo’s charge with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks off the bench while Kouame finished with 11 points and 10 boards.
Aljun Melecio finished with 13 points, on 4-of-11 shooting, and seven rebounds for the Green Archers while Justine Baltazaer and Santi Santillan combined for 22 points and 16 boards.