Eagles end 5-year journey

MANILA, Philippines — The Ateneo Blue Eagles slew the La Salle Green Archers in a drama-fraught Game Three, 88-86, soaring to the top of the world in a season they dominated and in a rivalry that has become keen and mean in the passage of time.

The Eagles outlasted the Archers, 2-1, in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball finals series, where no one gave an inch, no one backed down, and no one surrendered in the face of tremendous adversity.

Fledglings who surprised with a runner-up finish to the Archers last year, the Eagles grew into a high-flying pack that nearly swept the elims then survived the toughest of challenges in the playoffs to reach Cloud Nine.

“It was tough that we didn’t go all the way last year and certainly that was part of the fuel to the fire for this year,” said Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin after his wards got back at their 2-0 tormentor in the Season 79 finals.

The usual suspects delivered for Ateneo in the clincher witnessed by a 22,012-strong crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Thirdy Ravena, who would later on win Finals MVP honors, topscored with 17 and sealed his heroics with a well-placed feed to Isaac Go for the dagger trey that gave AdMU an 85-80 cushion with 24.7 seconds left.

Matt Nieto, the brave starting guard who suffered a cut in Game One, provided stability to the team and capped his exploits by sinking cold-blooded insurance charities for an 88-83 cushion with 4.3 ticks to go.

Chiz Ikeh battled the great Ben Mbala and put up 12 with 13 boards and Go, the gentle giant who developed a knack for scoring big shots at the most crucial moment, added seven.

And there’s the unsung heroes who dove for looseballs, help make defensive stops and other things not usually reflected in the stats sheets or highlight reels.

Such was the nature of the new-minted champs.

“Everyone of them, they go out there to do their jobs. Sometimes they fail, tonight they succeeded on that. I’m proud of all of them, not just the ones who make the marquee plays; they can’t make those marquee plays if others don’t do their jobs,” said Baldwin.

“We are a team, we pride ourselves on being a team, we will live as a team and we will die as a team,” he added.

After La Salle showed them up in heart and tenacity in the face of tremendous adversity in Game Two, it was the Eagles’ turn to show theirs coming off their lowest point.

“It was a tough loss. We blew a 21 point lead but for us, it wasn’t over,” Ateneo’s graduating big man Vince Tolentino. “The motto of this team is always believing. Even though La Salle beat us we never stopped believing.”

Mbala finished with 19 with 14 boards and three blocks while Aljun Melecio and Ricci Rivero chipped in 16 and 14, respectively, for the deposed champs, who were reduced to tears as white confetti fell on the other side of the court.