THREE-point bombs in the fourth period and a loose ball error forced on Ben Mbala in the dying seconds decided the outcome of the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Seniors Basketball Tournament won by the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 88-86, yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Finals MVP Thirdy Ravena led with 17 points for the Blue Eagles, who went on to take their first title after a five-year drought.
It was Ravena’s layup past Mbala in the last 4:26, which gave the Blue Eagles a 78-70 cushion.
Matt Nieto had 14 points and struck with one of two consecutive triples in the last 1:03, shattering a 68-all deadlock.
“It was an epic series. I congratulate La Salle. They defended well, but we really earned this championship. It could have gone either way. We got a great team. We got a lot to be thankful for,” said Ateneo co-head coach Sandy Arespacochaga.
Anton Asistio delivered 11 points and unloaded the second pivotal triple in the last 6:37 off Chibueze Ikeh’s assist, widening their edge to six, 76-68.
Vince Tolentino tallied nine points, with his drive past Mbala tying the contest for the last time, 68-all, in the last 8:38, and his other drive past Mbala, with 4:09 remaining giving Ateneo an 80-70 spread.
Six-foot-eight slotman Isaac Go banged in seven points and connected with a triple off Ravena’s pass with 26 ticks left.
Joseph Nieto, a member of the Blue Eagles squad that won Ateneo’s title 30 years ago, joined the celebration.
The elder Nieto’s sons, Matt and Mike, led their teammates to a final stand that lifted the Blue Eagles to an emotional 88-86 win over the defending champion La Salle Green Archers.
The Green Archers, who lost their second of three attempts at the crown since 2013, got 19 points and 14 rebounds from Mbala, who turned the ball over following a steal by Ikeh with 15.3 ticks left.
Aljun Melecio made 16 points and he tried to keep La Salle within range with a triple, 73-80.
The Green Archers, rallying from a 38-45 halftime deficit, managed to overtake Ateneo on baskets from Abu Tratter and Kib Montalbo, 64-61, in the final 2:10 of the third.
But a triple from Jolo Mendoza got Ateneo into the first of a series of deadlocks, 64-all, in the final 1:02 of the third.
Ravena unloaded 11 points in the first half and his efforts helped the Blue Eagles build a 45-38 lead at halftime.
Ikeh had eight points, with his split charity in the last 2:05 of the second period giving Ateneo a five-point cushion.
Asistio had seven, including a buzzer-beating triple at halftime.
La Salle fell into foul trouble again which found Mbala, who made seven points, with two early fouls that set Ikeh up for the a split charity, 37-32.
Caracut, coming in for a foul-troubled Rivero, had five, with his two charities in the last 2:38, keeping La Salle close, 32-34.
Ateneo leaned on an early fourth quarter explosion to erect a big lead which they protected until the end. With the game tied at 68-all, Ravena grabbed a pivotal offensive rebound. He zipped the ball out to Matt Nieto who drained a three-pointer to break the deadlock.
That ignited a decisive 14-2 Ateneo blast which allowed the Blue Eagles to post a huge advantage.
The Green Archers closed the gap but timely hits preserved the Ateneo lead. Go kept the Archers at bay with a dagger triple. The Ateneo big man drilled a three-pointer with 24.7 seconds left in the fourth to extend the Blue Eagles lead, 85-80.
The scores:
ATENEO 88 — Ravena 17, Ma. Nieto 14, Ikeh 12, Asistio 11, Tolentino 9, Go 7, Verano 6, Mendoza 5, Black 4, Mamuyac 3, Mi. Nieto 0.
LA SALLE 86 — Mbala 19, Melecio 16, R. Rivero 14, Caracut 13, Santillan 11, Tratter 4, Go 3, Montalbo 3, P. Rivero 2, Tero 1, Baltazar 0.
Quarter scores: 24-14, 45-38, 66-66, 88-86.