Ateneo clinches Final 4 spot in sweep of NU

MANILA, Philippines – The Ateneo Blue Eagles clinched the first Final Four spot in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament after a 79-64 drubbing of the National U Bulldogs at the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, October 27.

Thirdy Ravena took charge in the lopsided duel to finish with a season-high of of 23 points – spiked by a 3-of-7 (43%) shooting from downtown – and 12 rebounds on top of 3 assists and 1 block.

Angelo Kouame chipped in his customary double-double of 19 points and 17 boards with 6 big blocks in 25 minutes.

With the win, the Eagles (9-2) completed an elimination-round sweep of the upstart Bulldogs (3-7), who remained nailed at 7th place just above UE.

Much like their first-round matchup, the game was out of reach early on from the Bulldogs, after rookie-MVP candidate Kouame crushed home a one-hand jam that gave the defending champions a 20-point lead, 40-20, with 3:15 left before halftime.

The lead got as high as 24, 44-20, off a free throw from Ravena at the 1:59 mark.

NU made some small runs in the 3rd off the sweet shooting of John Lloyd Clemente, but Ateneo negated that with a buzzer-beating up-and-under layup from SJ Belangel at the end of the frame, 65-47.

Clemente eclipsed his 21-point career-high with 25 markers off the bench on a 5-of-8 (63%) three-pointers.

NU’s star rookie Dave Ildefonso again got contained with 13 points and 6 boards on just a 5-of-16 (31%) clip from the field.

The Scores 

Ateneo 79 – Ravena 23, Kouame 19, Belangel 11, Verano 7, Go 7, Tio 3, Black 3, Mendoza 2, Mamuyac 2, Daves 2, Asistio 0, Wong 0, Navarro 0, Andrade 0.

NU 64 – Clemente 25, Ildefonso D 13, Ildefonso S 7, Diputado 5, Yu 5, Gaye 4, Joson 3, Rike 2, Gallego 0, Sinclair 0, Galinato 0, Morido 0, Malonzo 0.

Quarters: 22-11, 47-25, 65-47, 79-64.

– Rappler.com