MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Ateneo Blue Eagles escaped a neck-and-neck battle with the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 70-59, on Saturday, October 21 at the Araneta Coliseum. 

The Blue Eagles are still undefeated in the league with a 10-0 record, and secured a final four spot in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament.

This denied FEU of vying for the second seed in the league and is now with a 5-5 record.

As Ateneo trailed in the final frame for the first time this season, Raffy Verano was perfect from the stripe, finally grabbing the lead for Ateneo with 7:10 left in the game (53-52). The Blue Eagles sealed the win as they ballooned the lead to 12 points with Verano hitting back-to-back buckets in the dying seconds of the game. 

The Tamaraws started strong with a 16-4 run that garnered the biggest lead of FEU in the match. FEU further limited the Katipunan-based squad to 12 points only with a triple from Arvin Tolentino at the end of the first period. 

Isaac Go punctuated Ateneo’s 9-0 start in the second period to tie the score at 21-all. However, the Tamaraws were able to expand the lead until the end of the half that saw the Blue Eagles trail at halftime for the second time this season. 

The Blue Eagles came close to nabbing the lead, as Matt Nieto sank a corner triple (48-47), but Axel Iñigo’s buzzer beating pull-up jumper stretched the cushion to 3 points.

Matt Nieto and Verano scored 14 points apiece and led the team’s escalating offensive output throughout the game. Nieto also grabbed 6 boards and made 1 assist and 2 steals. 

Dennison topscored for the Tamaraws as he racked up 12 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Tolentino recorded a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds and contributed 2 assists. 

The Scores

Ateneo (70) – Matt Nieto 14, Verano 14, Tolentino 7, Ravena 6, Black 6, Asistio 6, Ikeh 5, Go 5, Mike Nieto 4, Mamuyac 3, Mendoza 0, Tio 0, Andrade 0.

FEU (59) – Dennison 12, Tolentino 11, Cani 10, Parker 7, Orizu 6, Escoto 5, Ebona 4, Inigo 4, Comboy 0, Tuffin 0, Ramirez 0, Stockton 0. 

Quarter Scores: 12-21, 27-34, 47-50, 70-59

– Rappler.com