BY achieving a rare ‘four-peat’, Ateneo de Manila completed its date with greatness.
The Blue Eagles unleashed another big third quarter run to rout Far Eastern University, 82-69, and sweep the finals series in the UAAP seniors basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.
By winning its fourth consecutive crown, Ateneo duplicated the feat by University of the East, University of Santo Tomas and La Salle.
Ateneo coach Norman Black, also joins the legendary Baby Dalupan, Aric del Rosario and Franz Pumaren in the elite list of bench tacticians who completed the ‘four-peat’.
“It’s a good feeling to be part of these guys to put a string of championships. I’m very humbled,” said Black, who steered Ateneo to a seventh UAAP crown.
The Blue Eagles also tied archrival Green Archers as the league’s fourth winningest squad behind the Growling Tigers (19), the Tamaraws (19) and the Red Warriors (18).
The victory by Ateneo also gave graduating players Kirk Long, Eman Monfort and Bacon Austria a fitting sendoff.
Kiefer Ravena finished with 18 points, six rebounds and two assists, Nico Salva added 15 points and 6-foot-11 slotman Greg Slaughter contributed 11 points, six boards and two assists for the Blue Eagles.
Salva, who averaged 19.5 points in the series highlighted by his ‘perfect game’ of 24 points in Game 1, was named the Finals MVP.
FEU was simply helpless in stopping Slaughter, who placed second to National University swingman Bobby Ray Parks in the Most Valuable Player (MVP) race, from controlling the shaded lane.
“I’m just so happy, I’m waiting for a year to get this and I got it,” said Slaughter, a transferee from University of the Visayas.
Aldrech Ramos had a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds, while 2010 MVP RR Garcia chipped in 16 points, four boards, four assists and two steals for the Tamaraws.
Trailing by as much as 10, 18-28, FEU took the upperhand at 34-33 with Garcia completing a three-point play with less than a minute left in the first half.
But just like in their 64-82 loss in the series opener, the Tamaraws suffered another third quarter breakdown, while the Blue Eagles went hot, where a three-pointer by reserve Tonino Gonzaga gave them a 57-43 cushion.
FEU never recovered, as Ateneo posted the biggest lead of the game, 74-55, after Salva drilled in a jumper at the 4:12 mark.
It was the second straight finals series that the Tamaraws were swept by the Blue Eagles.
Meanwhile, Parks formally claimed the seniors division MVP plum in a short ceremonies before the match.
FEU’s Raiza Palmera and Jerie Pingoy took the MVP in the women’s at juniors division, respectively.
The Mythical Five in the seniors division was composed of Adamson’s Alex Nuyles, Parks, Ramos, Slaughter and Ravena, who also clinched the ‘Rookie of the Year’ honors.
The scores:
Ateneo (82) -- Ravena 18, Salva 15, Slaughter 11, Tiongson 11, Monfort 9, Gonzaga 6, Chua 5, Long 5, Erram 2, Austria 0, Golla 0, Pessumal 0, Sumalinog 0.
FEU (69) -- Ramos 20, Garcia 16, Romeo 7, Tolomia 7, Bringas 4, Escoto 4, Exciminiano 4, Foronda 3, Cruz 2, Noundou 2, Knuttel 0, Mendoza 0, Pogoy 0.
Quarterscores: 23-18; 35-36; 57-45; 82-69
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