The Ateneo Blue Eagles got four!(Photo by Roy Afable)
Saturday, September 24
Game 1 - Blue Eagles draw first blood on Tamaraws 82-64
The FEU Tams came with guns a blazing as they took the defending champs by surprise in the 1st quarter. They were up 19-14 but in the 2nd quarter the Blue Eagles managed to equalize the score by halftime. Then things started to go wrong for FEU in the 3rd quarter.
Ateneo finally got into scoring surge and maintained a double-digit lead. The Tams struggled to put a stop to the Blue Eagles' run lead Nico Salva.
Greg Slaughter and Rookie of the Year Kiefer Ravena followed suit to extend their lead even further until final buzzer.
Ateneo's Greg Slaughter throws it down.(Photo by Roy Afable)
Ateneo's Nico Salva chalked up 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block. Rookie superstar Kiefer Ravena had 17 points, 5 boards, dropped 4 dimes and stole the ball twice. Big man Greg Slaughter added 12 points, grabbed 8 boards, 2 assists and 1 block.
Terrence Romeo lead the Tams with 23 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. His teammate Russel Escoto contributed 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block.
Saturday, October 1
Game 2 - Ateneo sweep FEU for 4th title 82-69
The FEU Tams needed to win game 2 to extend the series for a rubber match while Ateneo wanted to finish the job and take home the prize. Interestingly, FEU Coach Bert Flores started Jens Knuttel instead of Chris Exciniano at the backcourt alongside Terrence Romeo. Perhaps hoping to make a difference in scoring and defensive end.
Kiefer Ravena: Rookie of the Year.(Photo by Roy Afable)
Ateneo Coach Norman Black however, didn't mind whichever player they throw at them. It's like it didn't matter at all. His team knew they're gonna get their brooms out.
It was a different scenario for FEU when they made changes with the starting five. The Tams struggled to score in the first quarter. In game 1, they made the Blue Eagles struggle in the first half in scoring and made them catch up. This time around, it was the Tams that're struggling and catching up but somehow got a 1-point lead at the half. HOWEVA, all that changed in the 3rd quarter.
The Tams' Aldrech Ramos pulls-up from the baseline.(Photo by Roy Afable)
Kiefer Ravena took over the game for the Blue Eagles and was on beast mode. Dude was doing it all -- scoring, dropping dimes, picking pockets and grabbing boards off the glass -- he was a monster all day.
Nico Salva, Greg Slaughter and the Ateneo bench mob joined the Rookie of the Year's scoring party and never looked back.
Final game in Ateneo Blue Eagles uni.(Photo by Roy Afable)
The FEU Tams on the other hand, were all slacking on D. Aldrech Ramos took the scoring load for the Tams but wasn't enough to pull off an equalizer and take game 2 -- it was all too late.
With only a few minutes left as Ateneo's lead was way ahead of FEU's, a blue celebration was already in the works. It was all over for the FEU Tams as the final horn sounded. The Ateneo Blue Eagles officially got 4 titles.
FEU's Russel Escoto with a follow-up slam.(Photo by Roy Afable)
Kiefer Ravena finished with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal for Ateneo. Nico Salva was named Finals MVP and chalked up 15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.
Greg Slaughter added 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block.
Graduating players Emman Monfort, Kirk Long and Bacon Austria played their last game for the Blue Eagles.
The Monfort tongue-wag.(Photo by Roy Afable)
FEU's Aldrech Ramos scored 20 points, 13 rebounds and 1 block while RR Garcia had 16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.
Ateneo's win marked the 1st time a host school won the hoops championship.
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