INQUIRER SPORTS Top 7 Stories of the Year: Ateneo-San Beda dominance
There was no stopping the inevitable.
Sure, there were adversities along the way but they were merely bumps rather than stumbling blocks that hardly had any effect on the outcome as Ateneo and San Beda remained kings of their respective leagues.
The Blue Eagles repeated as UAAP champions for the second straight year while the Red Lions completed another 3-peat and won their 11th NCAA title in 13 seasons.
Ateneo and San Beda’s title runs narrate stories of dominance and will to sustain greatness.
University of the Philippine may have stolen the UAAP limelight with its Cinderella run to the championship round, but not the crown with Thirdy Ravena unleashing a finals performance for the ages.
Ravena was named back-to-back Finals MVP after nearly posting a triple-double in Game 1 with 21 points, 10 rebounds and nine rebounds with two steals and two blocks to boot and erupting for a career-high 38 points on 13-of-18 shooting from the field that went with six rebounds, six assists and three steals in the title-clincher.
Ravena put on his cape but he couldn’t have taken Ateneo to the top alone with the likes of Matt Nieto and Angelo Kouame and the rest of the gutsy Blue Eagles making significant contributions as well.
San Beda also had its heroes in Javee Mocon, Robert Bolick and Donald Tankoua.
Mocon went on to win Finals MVP after casting his imposing presence on both ends of the floor. He averaged 15 points, 10.5 rebounds and three blocks in the title round.
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