Eagles soar to UAAP lead; Tigers slay Tams

The script changes every weekend in UAAP Season 81, setting up a wild and frenetic race for Final Four berths in the men’s basketball tournament.

Hardly looking like a champion team a few days ago, Ateneo returned to its winning ways on Sunday, while University of Santo Tomas took down Far Eastern U, which suddenly lost its edge after skyrocketing over the last two weeks with giant victories.

Once a team struggling to find its identity under a new coach, UST has pulled off two wins against a contender.

On the other hand, a University of the Philippines team that showed so much promise at the start of the season has struggled to make an impact.

The Blue Eagles asserted their mastery of the Fighting Maroons Maroons, 83-66, to gain the solo lead at 6-2 on a day when an inspired UST team brought FEU back to earth with a gutsy 78-70 victory at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Thirdy Ravena notched a season-high 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Tyler Tio and Jolo Mendoza, stepping up in the absence of the ill Matt Nieto, combined for 22 points for the Eagles, who capitalized on the error-prone game of the Maroons (3-5) in the endgame.

“This is more than the standings for us,” said Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga. “We wanted to mainly focus on our intensity.”

UST, once down in the cellar, is suddenly creeping into Final Four range after putting together a spectacular fourth quarter that brought the Tamaraws to their knees.

Zach Huang finished with a season-high 20 points, joining forces with Marvin Lee, whose back-to-back treys ignited a torrid finish for the Tigers.

“The players are now showing what they’re capable of,” coach Aldin Ayo said of UST, now in solo fifth at 4-4.