ATENEO de Manila University showed who’s boss—and who has the experience and materials—and won Game Two over University of the Philippines (UP) by a mile, 99-81, to capture a second consecutive men’s basketball crown in Season 81 University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
The Blue Eagles were methodical in posting the lopsided victory witnessed by a crowd of 23,471 faithfuls from both sides of Katipunan at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and thousands more in both campuses where video walls were set up by their respective administrations.
And the man of the hour? Thirdy Ravena.
Ravena didn’t make Season 81’s Mythical Five who were awarded their trophies before tip off. But he sure dished out a hell of a game that knocked the title aspirations off the heads of the Fighting Maroons.
The wingman scored a career-high 38 points he decorated with six rebounds, six assists and three steals.
Ateneo Head Coach Tab Baldwin couldn’t hide his satisfaction after bringing the team to its second title—and 10th overall—that he finally made his voice heard in the cavernous coliseum.
“I feel so blessed to have my players,” Baldwin said. “Dignity, class and servanthood, that’s what we teach in our team.”
Against a UP squad that persevered and dead-set at ending a 32-year title drought, Ateneo never wavered and made sure there will be no Game Three.
Bright Akhuetie couldn’t stamp the form that made him the best individual player of the season, while his Ateneo counterpart, Angelo Kouame, made a statement and proved why he is the Rookie of the Year.
Kouame had a monstrous 22-point, 20-rebound, two-block performance, more than enough to complement Ravena’s explosion that all but silenced all dreams by their foes for a Cinderella finish.
Akhuetie finished with 19 polints and grabbed seven rebounds in the match.
Ravena is waxing too hot in the final quarter by unloading 18 points that helped give Ateneo its biggest lead at 81-59 in the 6:52 mark Matt Nieto capped with a completed fastbreak.
The match was delayed for some 10 minutes when the Ateneo bench called the game officials’ attention on Akhuetie’s heavily braced left knee which he hyper-extended in Game One. The Nigerian was obliged to take off the brace.
Juan Gomez de Liaño scattered 24 points and seven rebounds to lead UP, while Paul Desiderio and Javi Gomez de Liaño added 15 and 11 points, respectively.
Jun Manzo, who had 19 in Game One, was scoreless in 17 minutes of action.
With the repeat, calls for a “five-peat” which Ateneo pulled off from 2009 to 2013, have resonated.
“I have no idea what presents itself next year. We want to build the team for another championship,” Baldwin said.
Anton Asistio is the only graduating player in the Ateneo roster, while at UP, team skipper Desiderio, Diego Dario, Christopher Vito and Jarrell Lim played their final year in the league.
Desiderio said there is nothing to be ashamed of.
“We are happy because we made it to the Finals and no one expected us to be here,” he said.
National University, meanwhile, beat Far Eastern University, 67-61, to keen the women’s basketball crown. Rhena Itesi topscored for the Lady Bulldogs with 17 points and also hauled down 10 rebounds.
NU extended its win streak to a league-record 80 games.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza