by Waylon Galvez
Games Wednesday (Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City)
2 p.m. – Ateneo vs UP
4 p.m. – UP vs De La Salle
Defending champion Ateneo claimed the top spot in the Final Four following a repeat 71-62 victory over arch nemesis De La Salle last night in the 81st UAAP basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Rookie center Angelo Kouame finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Thirdy Ravena came off the bench with 14 points, including clutch baskets down the stretch for the Blue Eagles.
A basket off a spin move by Ravena – the Finals MVP last season – gave Ateneo a 67-58 lead. After a missed three-point attempt by Justine Baltazar, Ravena buried a triple to make it 71-58 with 2:51 to play.
Ateneo improved its record to 11-2 to assure itself the No. 1 spot and a twice-to-beat incentive in the semifinal round.
The victory also handed Adamson (10-3) the second twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals.
The Archers, who fell to 8-5, must beat University of the Philippines (7-6) on Wednesday to avoid the playoff for the last semifinal berth.
“Coming into the game, we weren’t thinking about getting top seed. We focused on La Salle,” said Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arenpacochaga. “We knew that this was going to be a tough game as they are playing well in the second round. We are happy that we got the win.”
The Archers led by eight points twice, the last at 32-24 before the Blue Eagles used an 11-3 run to tie the score at 35-all at halftime.
In the other game, Far Eastern University solidified its Final Four bid with a 79-74 victory over National University.
FEU’s win forced a tie again with University of the Philippines for fourth and fifth places with similar 7-6 slates with both teams still playing their final matches.
UP meets De La Salle on Wednesday while FEU faces Adamson on Sunday.
The scores:
FEU 79 – Tolentino 16, Tuffin 15, Gonzales 9, Stockton 7, Parker 6, Iñigo 6, Orizu 6, Bienes 5, Eboña 4, Comboy 3, Bayquin 2, Cani 0, Escoto 0.
NU 74 – Clemente 38, Ildefonso D 12, Diputado 4, Yu 4, Rike 2, Aquino 2, Tibayan 2, Galinato 2, Gallego 2, Salim 2, Gaye 2, Ildefonso S. 1, Malonzo 1, Joson 0, Sinclair 0.
Quarters: 19-18; 44-28; 69-61; 79-74.
ATENEO 71 – Ravena 14, Kouame 11, Verano 9, Navarro 7, Nieto Mi. 7, Nieto Ma. 6, Tio 5, Mamuyac 5, Asistio 3, Go 3, Daves 1, Mendoza 0, Wong 0.
DE LA SALLE 62 – Melecio 13, Baltazar 12, Santillan 10, Caracut 8, Samuel 8, Manuel 5, Montalbo 2, Bates 2, Serrano 2, Go 0.
Quarters: 18-22; 35-35; 54-50; 71-62.
