Ateneo ousts FEU in OT; rematch on against defending champion La Salle
Host Far Eastern University blew a huge chance in regulation last night and paid the price against powerhouse Ateneo in overtime.
Guard Matt Nieto and big man Isaac Go delivered the killer blows down the stretch as the Blue Eagles got back at the Tamaraws, 88-84, to book a return trip to the UAAP Season 80 basketball finals at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Nieto banged in six of his 16 points in the decisive push in the extra fiveminute period while the 6-foot-7 Go drilled in a game-tying triple with 8.5 seconds left in regulation to help Ateneo recover its bearing and withstand a gallant stand by FEU.
The victory enabled the Blue Eagles to bounce back from an 80-67 loss to the Tams in the series opener Sunday and set the stage for a muchawaited finals rematch with the defending champion La Salle Green Archers starting Saturday.
“We’ve been through much and we worked very hard for this. Hindi kami pwedeng matalo,” said Nieto, who went for a pair of isolation plays against FEU big man Arvin Tolentino, first hitting a pull-up jumper before draining a dagger of a triple from the top of the key that gave Ateneo an 8580 lead with 46.9 seconds to play.
A quick jumper by FEU veteran Richard Escoto cut the deficit to three, but Go spared Ateneo blushes with a clutch putback off the glass as he was falling backward after losing his balance during a rebound battle, restoring the lead back to five, 22.4 seconds left.
“When I got the ball, I just threw it up,” said the former Xavier High standout, who finished with 13 points and nine rebounds on top of two assists in 21 minutes off the bench.
Wingman Thirdy Ravena finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists while Nigerian center Chibueze Ikeh added 16 points and 11 rebounds to help the Blue Eagles’ cause.
The Blue Eagles found themselves in a precarious position after the Tamaraws took a 75-72 lead off Japer Parker’s free throws with 14.2 seconds to play in regulation.
Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin sued for time and drew the overtime-forcing play, with Nieto setting up Go on a high pick-and-roll for the booming triple that pumped life back to the Blue Eagles’ faithful in attendance.
The Tams had a chance to go ahead – and possibly win it all in regulation – but Tolentino, a former Blue Eagle, decided not to attack the lane and dribbled the ball off his leg against Go as time expired.
Graduating wingman Ron Dennison, who had a team-high 17 points the last time out, groped for form in what turned out to be his farewell match with the Tamaraws, finishing with just four points in seven attempts from the field.
Ravena 17, Nieto Ma 16, Ikeh 16, Go 13, Mendoza 5, Tio 5, Nieto Mi 4, Tolentino 3, Black 3, Mamuyac 2, Verano 2, Porter 2, Asistio 0 Parker 19, Tolentino 13, Comboy 11, Orizu 10, Escoto 6, Inigo 6, Trinidad 6, Cani 5, Dennison 4, Ebona 2, Tuffin 2, Bayquin 0 Quarters: 21-15, 40-33, 57-53, 75-75, 88-84 (OT)