UAAP Season 74 Final Four: Ateneo defeats UST

The first half of the “Angry Birds” clash has been introduced with the Ateneo Blue Eagles outlasting the UST Growling Tigers, 69-66.

Why Ateneans... WHY!!!!!

Ahem.

As if this result shocked people. Like I said, the last thing Ateneo wants after scoring 13 consecutive wins are three straight losses. UST put on a gallant fight but in the end, the stronger team prevailed. The Eagles had a lead as high as fourteen points in the third quarter and if it wasn’t for the Tigers’ freak outside shooting spree, the lead would have been really bad for UST. Except for Karim Abdul, almost all of the UST players gained form only in the last salvo. Ateneo will have the chance to join the Growling Tigers as well as the La Salle Green Archers as the third team to win four straight titles during the UAAP’s Final Four Era.

Greg Slaughter was outplayed by Karim Abdul at the start of the game but bounced back to lead all scorers with 17 points. He also had 8 rebounds and 3 blocks for the finals-bound Eagles. Kiefer Ravena and Nico Salva combined for 25 points to back up Slaughter. Justin Chua, who averaged 4.8ppg, had 9 points for the Eagles and ably came through with the bad scoring night of Kirk Long and Emman Monfort.

Abdul topscored the Tigers by unleashing 11 of 16 points in the first quarter and also finished with 16 boards, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Chris Camus banged in 13, Jeric Teng had 11, Kevin Ferrer had 10, and Jeric Fortuna had 8.

UST had a chance to send the game into overtime but Jeric Fortuna’s three-point shot missed with 2.7 seconds left.

Oh well.

By the way, here are the names of those who won the Finals MVP award since the UAAP institutionalized it:

2001 – Renren Ritualo – DLSU

2002 – Larry Fonacier and Wesley Gonzales – Ateneo

2003 – Arwind Santos – FEU

2004 – Macmac Cardona – DLSU

2005 – Arwind Santos – FEU

2006 – Jojo Duncil – UST

2007 – JV Casio and Cholo Villanueva – DLSU

2008 – Nonoy Baclao – Ateneo

2009 – Rabeh Al-Hussaini – Ateneo

2010 – Ryan Buenafe – Ateneo

Incidentally, Kiefer Ravena is the Finals MVP of the 2009 and 2010 UAAP Juniors Championship.

Ateneo is sure as hell the top dog going to the Best-of-three finals showdown. Whoever wins in Adamson and FEU’s do-or-die game on Sunday must be prepared against a well-rested flock of monsters.

Better luck next year for UST and good luck to Ateneo.

Game over!