THE BLUE Eagles escaped a late rally by the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers, 70-69, and evened the 2012 Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) Finals at 1-1 at the FilOil Flying V Arena on Thursday, November 29.
The Katipunan-based squad took an early 11-4 lead two and a half minutes in care of threes from Tonino Gonzaga and Kiefer Ravena.
UST found it difficult to match Ateneo’s stride throughout the quarter as Ravena drained two more threes, pegging the score at 28-11 with just under two minutes to go.
Jeric Fortuna managed to convert a three, but Ateneo’s five of six shooting from beyond the arc proved to be the difference as the first quarter ended at 28-14 for the five-peat UAAP champions.
UST managed to cut the deficit to 10 with 4:02 remaining, after their 2-3 zone frustrated a number of Ateneo’s plays. Seconds later, Juami Tiongson spotted up from the wing and sank another three-pointer, giving the Blue Eagles even more distance.
UST just could not find an answer, as Ateneo led, 43-30, at halftime.
The Blue Eagles continued from where they left off, until Tiongson sustained a sprain after he landed awkwardly on Kevin Ferrer’s foot. He left the game halfway into the third quarter and did not return to play.
The Tigers took advantage of the former King Eaglet’s absence, getting within five points of Ateneo after Clark Bautista’s free throw with a minute left, 54-49.
Gonzaga had other plans though, as he made a clutch three with 12 seconds to go, ending the third at 57-49.
In the final canto, however, Coach Gabby Severino’s boys failed to replicate their success, going scoreless in the first three minutes. Jeric Teng tied the game at 59-all with a four-point play with 8:55 remaining and handed UST the lead in the next possession.
Ateneo managed to regain the lead only for Fortuna to level the proceedings once again, 62-all, with 6:16 to go. The Tigers were dealt with a hammer blow two minutes later, as their star center Karim Abdul headed to the showers after picking up his fourth and fifth fouls—the latter being a technical foul due to his resentment to the call.
Ravena was able to give the Blue Eagles some leeway after draining his fourth three of the game, 68-64, with less than four minutes left. Ferrer swung the lead back to UST a couple of minutes later, 69-68, following a three by the graduating Fortuna.
The crucial play came when Ferrer, a former UAAP Juniors MVP, failed to beat the shot clock. The Blue Eagles then found Ravena all by his lonesome for the easy finish with 12 seconds left, 70-69.
In the final scenes of the night, Melo Afuang set himself for a three, which was blocked emphatically by Ryan Buenafe as the clock stopped with 0.3 seconds left. With virtually no time remaining, Fortuna heaved a desperate shot, but it was no good.
Ravena led all players in scoring with 21 points plus four rebounds and three assists. Fortuna notched 18 points for UST.
Game three of the PCCL Finals is at 4:00 PM on Friday, December 7, at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.
