Eagles snare thriller, force rubber vs Tigers

MANILA, Philippines - Kiefer Ravena came through with another clutch performance and lifted Ateneo to a nail-biting 70-69 victory over University of Santo Tomas as the Eagles forced a deciding Game Three in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League finals at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

The Eagles actually blew an 17-point lead in the early going but rode on Ravena’s key baskets down the stretch, including a shot-clock-beating triple that gave Ateneo a four-point cushion and a breakaway lay-up that saved the day for the Loyola-based squad.

Ravena wound up with 21 points for Ateneo, which dropped a 76-82 decision in the series’ opener last Tuesday.

The win thus foiled UST’s sweep bid for a payback after Ateneo swept the España-based in the UAAP finals last month with Ravena also delivering the goods at crunch time.

The decider, originally set for today, was reset for Dec. 7 at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City.

Seven-footer Greg Slaughter powered his way to 14 points and 10 rebounds while Tonito Gonzaga scattered 13 points for the Eagles, who threatened to blow the Tigers away after storming to a 28-11 lead in the first quarter.

But UST, behind Jeric Teng, Kevin Ferrer and Jeric Fortuna, worked its back, grabbing the lead towards the end of the fourth quarter, only to fall short in the end.

The Tigers had a one-point lead and in possession in the last 11 seconds but misfired a shot-clock beating triple coming off a huddle, paving the way for Ravena’s easy go-ahead layup.

“The guys showed toughness, it’s as simple as that,” said Ateneo coach Gabby Severino, handling the coaching job for Ateneo before Bo Perasol officially assumes the head-coaching job on Dec. 1.

The Eagles still had a big lead, 43-30, at the start of the third but the Tigers clawed their way back and moved within eight, 49-57, at the onset of the fourth.

UST then unloaded a 10-0 blitz with Teng capping it with a six-point splurge, including a rare four-point play that shoved the Tigers to a 59-57 lead with over six minutes remaining.

A basket and a foul shot by Slaughter and two more charities by Gonzaga against Fortuna’s trey tied the count again at 62 before UST’s Cameroonian big man Karim Abdul committed two quick fouls, including a blocking one on Slaughter and a technical.

Ateneo cashed in on that break and surged ahead again at 68-64, highlighted by Ravena’s buzzer-beater from the long range.

UST, however, didn’t give up. Fortuna countered with his own triple and Kevin Ferrer anchored a breakaway run for a 69-68 UST lead.