Ateneo downs NU in double OT
Games Saturday (Mall of Asia Arena) 2 p.m. – Ateneo vs UE 4 p.m. – NU vs UST
Kiefer Ravena saved the Ateneo Blue Eagles from the jaws of defeat not once, but twice.
And he did it against an old tormentor in the National University Bulldogs.
Though he once again struggled against the stingy defense of Paolo Javelona, Ravena made the shots that mattered most as the Eagles eked out a 74-70 double overtime victory over the Bulldogs last night in the UAAP basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
On the verge of losing once again to the Bulldogs − the team that booted them out in last season’s Final Four − Ravena rose to the occasion with tying baskets in regulation and the first overtime to help the Blue Eagles pull off an exhausting victory.
“I don’t think we could have done it without the heroics of Kiefer Ravena,” said Ateneo Coach Bo Perasol, whose team notched its second win in three matches.
Ravena forced the first five-minute extension when he nailed step-back three in front of Javelona to tie the game at 57all with five seconds left in regulation.
The reigning Most Valuable Player then repeated the feat in the first overtime session, attacking Javelona with a beautiful change of pace before powering his way past NU’s Raph Tansingco for a 62-all deadlock with again five seconds to play to extend the contest.
And with NU’s Tansingco, Alfred Aroga and Kyle Neypes all fouling out, muchmaligned import Chibueze Ikeh lorded over the paint, grabbing critical offensive boards on his way to draining 6-of-8 foul shots to secure Ateneo’s win.
Ravena finished with 21 points despite going 7-of-26 while committing five turnovers. Ikeh also had the biggest game of his young UAAP career with 14 points and 17 rebounds.
“We worked hard in the facets of the game that we really needed. Rebounding and making the big shots. At the end of the day, I just sensed that my players just didn’t want to lose this game,” Perasol said.
Gelo Alolino finished with 19 points and eight rebounds but made crucial miscues in regulation and overtime that kept the Bulldogs winless in three outings.
Earlier, rookie transferee Bonbon Batiller may have earned himself the reputation as the next big thing for University of the East as he scored 23 points in the Red Warriors’ 89-78 win over the Adamson Falcons.
First Game
UE 89 – Batiller 23, Varilla 14, Derige 12, Charcos 9, Yu 8, De Leon 6, Javier 6, Palma 6, Abanto 2, Gonzales 2, Manalang 1, Sta. Ana 0.
ADAMSON 78 – Tungcab 16, Capote 15, Nalos 14, Ng 11, Villanueva 8, Sarr 6, Ochea 4, Garcia 2, Polican 2, Bernardo 0, Escalambre 0.
Quarters: 20-26; 44-41; 63-57; 89-78.
ATENEO 74 – Ravena 21, Ikeh 14, Pingoy 9, Pessumal 8, A. Tolentino 6, Apacinle 6, Gotladera 4, Babilonia 2, Nieto Ma. 2, Cani 2, Wong 0, V. Tolentino 0, Nieto Mi. 0, Black 0.
NU 70 – Alolino 19, Aroga 14, Neypes 11, Celda 6, Javelona 4, Salim 2, Alejandro 2, Diputado 2, Javillonar 0, Rangel 0, Lastimosa 0.
Quarters: 13-11; 27-24; 43-42; 57-57 (Reg); 62-62 (1OT); 74-70 (2OT).