THE ATENEO Blue Eagles booked a spot in the finals of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Men’s Basketball Tournament after cruising past the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 80-61, in their Final Four matchup earlier today, November 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.  

Despite entering the game as the league leader in three-point shooting with a 32.5% shooting split from beyond the arc, the Tamaraws were held to a mere 4/26 (15.38%) clip from beyond the arc in their third straight elimination game.

Thirdy Ravena was in playoff mode as he unleashed 22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals on an 8/14 (57%) shooting clip in 28.33 minutes of action. Despite a somewhat quiet first quarter, Kouame finished the game on a strong 18 point, 11 rebound double-double to go with 4 blocks and a 7/13 (54%) shooting clip.

Leading the league in offensive rating (ORTG) at 102.48, the Blue Eagles barged on to an early 8-0 scoring run, forcing FEU Head Coach Olsen Racela to call a timeout at the 7:28 mark.

FEU’s scoring drought only ended a long two minutes after as a Kenneth Tuffin triple gave the Morayta-based squad their first bucket of the contest, 8-3. The Blue Eagles on the other hand, rode on the offensive firepower of Kouame and Ravena who both starred on numerous highlight plays. Ravena in particular was a problem for FEU this quarter, as the swingman’s 8 first-quarter points helped see the Blue Eagles past the Tamaraws, 17-9.  

FEU began the second quarter on a stronger note, deploying an aggressive full-court trap to force a 5-second violation in the early stages of the quarter. Despite the Tamaraws’ increased efforts on the defensive end, Ravena refused to let his foot off the gas as a triple at the 6-minute mark saw the veteran break his season average in points (12.1 points per game), with an output of 13 markers in about 12 minutes of play.

Ravena was also hugely impressive in facilitating the Blue Eagles’ offense, as he set-up Kouame for a fast-break slam with a bullet pass from midcourt at the 4:00 mark. By the halfway mark, the Blue Eagles’ firepower imposed a 14-point advantage, 38-24. Both Ravena and Kouame were dominant in this quarter as the duo’s combined 25 points outscored the Tamaraws’ entire team scoring output of 24 by a point.

The Blue Eagles began the third quarter in similar fashion—riding an Anton Asistio triple and a Verano lay-up to go on an early 5-0 scoring run two minutes into the quarter.

Tempers between Alec Stockton and Thirdy Ravena boiled at the 7:12 mark of the quarter, consequently earning Stockton an early shower for a head punch on Ravena in the fastbreak. The sequence only added fuel to the fire as Ravena led Ateneo to a 24-point lead, 48-24, that forced a timeout from the Morayta-based squad at the 6:48 mark.  Following the break, Ravena continued his onslaught en route to a 22-point scoring tally. By the quarter’s end, the Blue Eagles nearly doubled the Tamaraws’ output, 59-31.

Fouls plagued the Tamaraws in the final quarter of play as they reached the penalty in just 1 minute and 25 seconds of play. Verano was impressive for the Blue Eagles in this quarter as he set up his teammates with passes from the high post.

Ravena’s impressive showing for the day would come to an end at the 3:32 mark, as he walked off to a standing ovation from the Blue Eagles faithful after being charged with his fifth personal foul. Eventually, the Blue and White’s efforts saw the team book its finals ticket with an 80-61 victory over the Tamaraws at the expense of graduating former Blue Eagle Arvin Tolentino, who crossed to the Ateneo side to wave his final farewell to a standing ovation from both crowds. After the ceremonial Song for Mary, both teams showcased a heartwarming moment with the Blue Babble Band playing FEU’s “Let’s go Tamaraws” cheer, while the FEU side cheered on Ateneo.

Speaking on the Blue Eagles’ third straight finals appearance, Ravena commented on what the Blue and White were expecting in the final blockade to a successful title defense. “We’re coming into the finals as first-time defending champions—it’s a whole different feeling,” he said. “The experience may or may not help us, but it’s basically a new game, [and] we can’t say that we know what’s going to happen. We just have to come in a better mindset than today.”

Now safely in the finals round, the Blue Eagles will face either the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons or the Adamson University Soaring Falcons in the first game on Saturday, December 1, at 3:30 PM at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Quarter Scores (Ateneo-FEU): 17-9, 38-24, 59-36 80-61

Box Scores:

Ateneo (80): Ravena – 22, Kouame – 18, Verano – 7, Ma. Nieto – 6, Go – 6, Mi. Nieto – 5, Belangel – 4, Mamuyac – 3, Asistio – 3, Mendoza – 3, Black – 2, Tio – 1

FEU (61): Ebona – 9, Orizu – 7, Ramirez – 7, Gonzales – 6, Inigo – 5, Tolentino – 5, Stockton – 5, Tuffin – 4, Parker – 4, Tuffin – 4, Escoto – 4, Comboy – 3, Cani – 2