Ateneo takes top spot after edging FEU in OT thriller

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – One big comeback.

Ateneo has completed many epic come-from-behind victories in Season 77 of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament but none was more improbable and unforgettable than the one they accomplished on Saturday, September 13, as they rallied from a 19-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the FEU Tamaraws in overtime, 68-64, and claim the no. 1 seed entering the Final Four round.

Kiefer Ravena shot a miserable 5-of-28 from the field, but finished with 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Chris Newsome put up 13 markers to go with 16 rebounds, while Ponzo Gotladera and Von Pessumal combined for 16 points for Ateneo, which shot only 30% from the field and committed 24 turnovers.

“I don’t think I can call it divine intervention because coach Nash had been playing also,” Ateneo head coach Bo Perasol said after the game.

After a disappointing third quarter that saw them trail the Tamaraws by 19, 45-26, the Blue Eagles started scoring a few easy points to start the fourth period then leaned on a 10-0 run thanks to Ravena and Newsome to cut FEU’s lead to 10, 57-47.

Not long after, Ravena converted four straight points to get his team within four, 58-54. FEU, on the other hand, struggled to score on offense and missed consecutive free throws.

After a three-point play by Gideon Babilonia cut the Tams’ lead to one, 58-57, Mike Tolomia split his charities at the line to extend FEU’s advantage to two. After which, Ravena drew a foul and converted two free throws to tie the contest at 59.

Tolomia was fouled again with 3 seconds left in the clock, but choked on both free throws, paving the way for the game to go into an extra five-minute session.

A Nico Elorde triple gave ADMU their first taste of the lead in OT, which was succeeded by four points from Ravena and Newsome to put the Blue Eagles ahead 66-59. FEU had a chance to counter, but two late turnovers cost them the game and the top seed.

“The truth is I don’t know what happened in the third quarter,” Perasol added.

“‘It’s not over,'” Ravena mentioned what he told his teammates entering the fourth quarter.

He continued, “It was a team effort. 33 points in the fourth quarter – that was probably the most in the season for us.”

Kiefer Ravena: "It’s partly mental (than physical). Ang layo ng hinabol namin dun pa ba kami bibigay." #UAAP77 pic.twitter.com/Hv9s1ysTMY

— Jane Bracher (@janebracher) September 13, 2014

ADMU will face either DLSU, UE, or NU in the Final Four round, depending on the results of Saturday’s second game and on following game dates.

The Tamaraws will face the winner of Saturday’s second game in a playoff (tiebreaker) to determine who claims the second seed and last twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four round.

Mac Belo had 16 points to lead FEU, while RR Pogoy finished with 15. Tolomia contributed 10 markers, but was 3-of-16 from the field.

“It just feels good to be back in the final four,” Ravena added after the game.

When asked whom he would want to face in the Final Four round, Perasol said: “I don’t think any in my team – especially Kiefer – will have any preference.”

“We just have to find a way.”

The Blue Eagles outrebounded the Tamaraws, 57-46, and shot better from the charity stripe, 70%-41%. FEU won the battle in the paint, 38-24, but allowed Ateneo 33 points in the last quarter after letting them score just 8 in the third.

Sloppy was the theme of the first quarter as both teams struggled to take care of the ball, totaling 14 turnovers after 10 minutes of play.

At the four-minute mark, the score read 4-2 in favor of FEU, whose stingy defense against the Blue Eagles forced Ravena to miss his first three shots. As a team, the Blue Eagles went 2-of-12 to begin the game, while the Tams made 5 of their first 17 attempts.

The action intensified in the final minutes of the first canto starting with Pessumal, who converted a tough bank shot after forcing a steal on the other end of the floor. On the subsequent possession, Ateneo forced another Tamaraws turnover, but Pessumal missed a 3-ball on the break.

With a few seconds left on the clock, Achie Inigo threw up a three-pointer of his own that went in, giving Far Eastern University a 12-7 lead entering the second period.

Coach Perasol didn’t wait long to re-enter Ravena in the second quarter. Though right after he subbed in, Coach Racela countered by making Belo man the Ateneo superstar.

Thanks to the FEU slotman’s versatility, the Blue Eagles had trouble involving Ravena as the ball handler in pick-and-roll situations. Even on possessions where Belo went under the screen, his long wingspan enabled him to cover enough ground and make each jumper for Ravena tough and contested.

Other than missing 6 of his first 7 shots, Ravena and Ateneo constantly turned the ball over in the second quarter, enabling FEU to build a 10-point lead, 19-9.

The Blue Eagles gathered some momentum to end the first half thanks to impressive defensive plays by Pessumal and Newsome – both of whom had solid blocks – and went on a 9-6 run, but still faced a 25-18 deficit at the half.

Scores:

ADMU (68): Ravena 23, Newsome 13, Gotladera 9, Pessumal 7, Capacio 6, Babilonia 5, Elorde 3, Tolentino V 2, Doliguez 0, Tolentino A 0

FEU (64): Belo 16, Pogoy 15, Tolomia 10, Cruz 8, Hargrove 8, Inigo 3, Jose 2, Dennison 2, Tamsi 0, Denila 0, Yu 0

Quarter Scoring: 7-12, 18-25, 26-45, 68-64

– Rappler.com