The Ateneo Blue Eagles secured a crucial win in the do-or-die semifinal game against Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, defeating them, 69-68, on Wednesday, November 30 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City.
The win sends the Blue Eagles to the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Finals against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers.
The Katipunan-based squad were led by Isaac Go, who had a huge double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Thirdy Ravena and Mike Nieto had 13 points apiece, with Ravena grabbing eight boards. Vince Tolentino had a near double-double, scoring nine points and nabbing eight rebounds.
The Tamaraws were top-scored by Monbert Arong, who scored 15 points along with seven rebounds. Raymar Jose had another double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Richard Escoto contributed 11 points.
Arong hit a jumper to begin the game for FEU, but Go responded with a basket at the other end. This back in forth action continued as the quarter progressed, until the Blue Eagles went on a 7-0 run courtesy of a Ravena triple and baskets from Tolentino and Matt Nieto. However, FEU responded with an 11-0 run, with Arong and Allen Trinidad combining for nine points in the last few minutes to end the quarter strong for FEU, giving them a five-point lead (15-20).
The Blue Eagles began the second quarter with a 11-2 run, highlighted by an Anton Asistio triple and two Go baskets to bring them a two-point lead (24-22). FEU then scored six straight moments after. This back-and-forth action continued as Ateneo seemingly had a response for every FEU basket. Howevr, Escoto ended the quarter with a three-point play, giving the Tamaraws 41-38 advantage at halftime.
The second half began with Adrian Wong and Axel Iñigo trading baskets, followed by Wendel Comboy and Aaron Black also exchanging baskets of their own. Midway through the third quarter, Ateneo started to get hot and scored seven straight, capped by a Matt Nieto triple and a Ravena floater, which gave them a four-point cushion that they held onto as the third quarter buzzer sounded.
The final period began with Mike Nieto and Escoto trading buckets. FEU then went on a 5-0 run from an Arong basket and Iñigo triple that gave them the lead, but Wong responded with a triple of his own. Mike Nieto then scored four points that gave Ateneo a four-point lead with three minutes left in the match, but FEU later tied the game with freethrows from Jose and an Arong jumper. Ravena came in big in the last two minutes as he made two charities and a floater that gave the Blue Eagles a two-point lead (66-64). However, Ron Dennison sank a gutsy floater for FEU with 37.8 seconds left that tied the game 66-all. This basket sent the game into overtime, as Ravena barely missed a potential game winning basket in the dying moments of regulation.
Both teams failed to score in the first two minutes of overtime, until Tolentino broke the deadlock with a free throw that gave Ateneo a one-point lead (67-66). Dennison responded with a baseline floater that surrendered the lead to FEU (67-68) with 2:10 remaining in the game. The game was put into a hold for a few moments when Go’s nose bled from a minor accident. After a few minutes of recovering in the bench, Head Coach Tab Baldwin called Go back into the game and laid in a shot that regained the lead for the Blue Eagles. That shot ended up being the game-winning basket as the final shot of FEU was not counted as it came after the buzzer.
After the game, Coach Tab Baldwin commented on how close the battle was for both squads. “I don’t think you can separate these two teams with a sledgehammer and a crowbar,” he said. “All the things we love sports for were on display today.” He congratulated FEU Coach Nash Racela and the team for a great series. “[FEU] was every bit as good as we were. I don’t think anybody deserved to lose today.”
Game one of the UAAP finals between the two arch rivals begin at 3:30 PM on Saturday, December 3 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Quarter scores: 15-20, 38-41, 53-49, 66-66, 69-68
Box Score:
Ateneo: Ravena- 13, Mi. Nieto- 13, Go- 12, Tolentino- 9, Wong- 8, Ma. Nieto- 7, Asistio- 3, Verano- 2, Black- 2
FEU: Arong- 15, Jose- 12, Escoto- 11, Dennison- 8, Inigo- 7, Comboy- 5, Orizu- 4, Trinidad- 4, Nunag- 2
