ISAAC GO converted on huge plays in both regulation and overtime, lifting the Ateneo Blue Eagles to their second straight University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Finals appearance in an 88-84 overtime win over the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Go hit a triple in regulation that tied the match 75-all with 8.5 seconds remaining, then stripped Arvin Tolentino’s potential game-winning basket on the other end. He then hoisted the game-sealing shot in overtime on an incredible putback while falling on the ground, giving Ateneo a five-point cushion with under 25 seconds left.
The win catapults Ateneo into the UAAP Finals where they will play against archrivals De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers. Game 1 of the best of three series will be on Saturday, November 25, 4:00 PM at the Mall of Asia Arena.
After spearheading the Blue Eagles’ fourth quarter comeback, Thirdy Ravena finished as the team’s stat-leader with 17 points, seven boards, and four assists. Matt Nieto, who hit a couple of huge baskets in overtime, recorded 16 markers on a trio of three-pointers, while Chibueze Ikeh added a strong double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds. Meanwhile, the hero of the game Isaac Go racked up 13 points and nine boards, including three triples.
FEU was led by spitfire point guard Jasper Parker who had 19 points to lead all scorers. Arvin Tolentino, the Tamaraws’ leading scorer during the Elimination Rounds, scored 13 points, but shot just 3/10 from the field. Wendell Comboy and Prince Orizu added 11 and 10 markers, respectively.
The match began with the Blue Eagles frontcourt duo of Ikeh and Vince Tolentino draining a three each, which was countered by back-to-back baskets from the three-point line Arvin Tolentino. Things began to get chippy with the former Blue Eagle; a minor scuffle erupted after Arvin Tolentino pushed Ikeh after the center was fouled, granting five free throws to Ateneo.
The team only made two out of the five freebies, however, as inconsistency from the free throw line persisted throughout the match. Go ended the first with five straight points that gave Ateneo a six-point advantage (21-15) entering the second.
The Tamaraws opened the next period with a 6-2 run, cutting their deficit to two (23-21). Ateneo’s hot shooting from deep had them up by a seven (40-33) by the end of the second period, highlighted by an Isaac Go buzzer beating bucket from downtown.
FEU began the third quarter half with a sense of urgency, going on a 7-0 run, kickstarted by a Jojo Trinidad straightaway make from deep. With the match tied at 40-all, Ravena stopped the bleeding with a runner, followed by an exchange of triples from Matt Nieto and Trinidad.
Comboy drilled a triple that gave FEU their first lead of the match (57-59) early in the final period. His three sparked an 11-2 run for the Tamaraws, which had them up by as much as eight points with a little over six minutes left. Ateneo slowly clawed back to cut the lead, culminating in a Ravena go-ahead fast break layup, which gave his team a one-point lead (72-71) with about 30 seconds left.
Undeterred, Parker responded with a gutsy layup in the ensuing possession, which handed the lead back to FEU at (72-73). After a missed fadeaway from Matt Nieto and a pair of charity makes by Parker, Go tied the match with a showstopping triple, sending the game into overtime.
The two teams continued to trade punches in the opening minutes of overtime. With the match tied 80-apiece and under a minute remaining, Matt Nieto came up big in the clutch, scoring five straight points capped off by a dagger triple that gave Ateneo a five-point advantage (85-80). Go sealed the game with a putback shot from the ground, sending the team to the Finals.
After the match, Assistant Coach Sandy Arespacochaga commended the team’s focus despite the challenge FEU provided. “We have a chance to write our own history. It’s a very good test of character for our boys,” he said. “We’re thankful for this opportunity. Just to have a chance to win the championship is a blessing.”
Quarter Scores
Ateneo-FEU: 21-15, 40-33, 57-53, 75-75, 88-84
Box Scores
Ateneo (88): Ravena – 17, Ma. Nieto -16, Ikeh – 16, Go – 13, Mendoza – 5, Tio – 5, Mi. Nieto – 4, Tolentino – 3, Black – 3, Mamuyac – 2, Verano – 2, Porter – 2
FEU (84): Parker – 19, Tolentino – 13, Comboy – 11, Orizu – 10, Escoto – 6, Iñigo – 6, Trinided – 6, Cani – 5, Dennison – 4, Eboña – 2, Tuffin – 2
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