Ateneo drags UST to a KO tiff

Kiefer Ravena scored on a breakaway layup with 11.4 seconds left as Ateneo slipped past University of Santo Tomas, 70-69, yesterday to forge a winner-take-all title clash in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League at Filoil Flying V Arena.

Ravena topscored with 21 points in spoiling the title-sweep bid of the Tigers, who fought back from 17 points down in the first half.

“Once a winner, it’s hard to get off that track,” Ateneo assistant coach Gabby Severino said of Ravena. “It’s his character trait. He doesn’t shy away from big shots and challenges.”

Ryan Buenafe helped foil the Tigers’ last play with a block on Melo Afuang in the dying seconds.

Greg Slaughter also delivered 14 points on top of 10 rebounds and three blocks.

The Eagles, who picked up their fifth straight UAAP crown at the expense of UST last month, vie for a repeat over the Tigers in the deciding Game 3 at 3:30 p.m. next Friday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Earlier, four-time NCAA juniors champion San Beda rolled past Far Eastern University-Diliman, 90-59, in a benefit showdown of high school champions.

The Tigers—who took Game 1 with an 82-76 triumph last Tuesday—looked all set to complete the upset after opening the final period with a 10-0 run to take a 59-57 lead.

But momentum swung back to the Eagles after UST’s Cameroonian center Karim Abdul fouled out with still four minutes to go.

The scores:

First Game (Jrs)

SAN BEDA 90—Mocon 19, Caracut 14, Gumtang 11, Tolentino 8, Tongco 8, Furaque 7, Abude 7, Inigo 6, Diputado 4, Abatayo 4, De Villeres 2, Macapayag 0, Abuda 0, Brojan 0.

FEU 59—J. Domingo 14, Pingoy 11, Completo 8, R. Domingo 7, Aguilon 6, S. Domingo 5, Delfinado 4, Lumba 2, Palana 2, You 0, Magbuhos 0. Palacio 0, Hassam 0, Escoto 0.

Quarters: 22-15, 52-30, 60-42, 90-59

Second Game

ATENEO 70—Ravena 21, Slaughter 14, Gonzaga 13, Salva 9, Tiongson 7, Buenafe 4, Sumalinog 2, Golla 0, Pessumal 0.

UST 69—Fortuna 18, Abdul 13, Teng 12, Mariano 12, Ferrer 8, Bautista 4, Afuang 2, Pe 0, Daquioag 0.

Quarters: 28-14, 43-30, 57-49, 70-69