WHEN HEAD Coach Bo Perasol was asked days before the game on his thoughts against their second matchup against the Fighting Maroons, he quipped, “I really believe UP [University of the Philippines] is a strong team.”
His words were affirmed in their encounter last Wednesday, September 3, as the grit of the Fighting Maroons came only two free throws short of a big upset. The Ateneo Blue Eagles held on for a one-point win, 70-69, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
The Fighting Maroons were off to a good start in the game as they trailed only by a single point at the end of the first quarter. UP was within striking distance with the score of 16-15 in favor of the Blue Eagles. Dave Moralde led the boys in maroon with all of his 11 points tallied in the first 10 minutes of action.
The Blue Eagles struggled in the succeeding quarter as the boys in blue and white only notched a single field goal care of a Kiefer Ravena layup. Ateneo scored 11 of their 13 second quarter points from the foul line. Despite the sloppy offensive shooting, they still ended the first half with the 29-24 advantage.
After halftime, Ateneo managed to pad the lead in the next 10 minutes with the help of Thirdy Ravena’s offense. The rookie scored all eight of his points in the third quarter. Additionally, big man Gideon Babilonia also benefitted from Ateneo’s ball movement as he constantly found himself open deep inside the paint. His ability to move away from the ball was capped off with the last shot of the quarter set up by an Isaac Lim dish.
Despite the eight-point cushion at 56-48 entering the final quarter, the Blue Eagles felt the well-balanced offensive output of UP shooters Mikee Reyes and Rey Gallarza. The duo combined with five three-pointers throughout the game. Reyes hit the biggest one of those five under pressure, as he placed UP within a point at 70-69 under a minute left in the clock.
With the ball in possession of the Blue Eagles, Arvin Tolentino was called for an offensive foul with 17 seconds left in the quarter that gave UP a chance to steal the game. The Fighting Maroons, however, botched their attempt with a missed jumper by Diego Dario.
K. Ravena was immediately sent to the line as he was in position to add comfort to the Ateneo lead with 10 seconds left. The team’s leading scorer, however, missed both of his charities and gave UP one last chance.
Reyes then took advantage as he drew contact from Chris Newsome in his long jumper attempt and was sent to the line for two free throws with 0.8 seconds left in the clock. Fortunately for Ateneo, Reyes was unable to connect on either attempts and sealed the Blue Eagles’ ninth win of Season 77.
Perasol experimented on his lineup as all 16 of his players saw at least three minutes of action on the court. The most notable spark plug from the bench came from rookie Clint Doliguez, as he immediately scored four points in the final quarter.
Ateneo only shot 2/13 from beyond the arc compared to UP’s 8/19. The boys in blue and white, however, compensated with 24/29 free throw shooting compared to the Fighting Maroon’s 15/21. The Blue Eagles led as much as 13 points prior to the Fighting Maroon’s comeback attempt.
K. Ravena finished the game with 18 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Nico Elorde followed with 12 markers, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Ateneo will face the Adamson Falcons in their next matchup on Saturday, September 6, 2 PM at the Mall of Asia Arena.
