Ateneo foils FEU upset bid, beats Tams in OT

Adamson was the only team that ever came close of beating Ateneo in the first round of the 74th UAAP men's basketball tournament. On Saturday, Far Eastern University almost completed that seemed hard-to-accomplish feat. FEU, fresh from a lopsided loss to end its first round campaign against Ateneo, the Tamaraws went all out in their rematch against the Blue Eagles and even enjoyed a 16-point first quarter lead. But victory wasn't meant to be for the Morayta-based dribblers. Ateneo overhauled that 16-point deficit then showed its true form late in the fourth and in overtime to foil FEU's upset bid, 74-67, and remain spotless at the start of the second round at the Araneta Coliseum. The Blue Eagles' eighth win of the season came in dramatic fashion as timely baskets coupled by turnovers from the Tamaraws helped them come back from six points down with nearly a minute left in the game. "This is the first game that we were really threatened," said Ateneo coach Norman Black. "The Adamson game (a 55-51 Ateneo win in the opening game of the season) was pretty much the same but this is the game that FEU really controlled the game throughout." "I just told the players that this is where we are going to find out what character we have. We have been down the whole game and this is where we can find out if we can bounce back and win the game," Black added. Nico Salva had a game-high 18 points along with nine rebounds while rookie Kiefer Ravena scored 15 and top Most Valuable Player contender Greg Slaughter tallied 14 markers, 10 boards rebounds and three blocks. The trio conspired in overtime leading Ateneo's break away as the Blue Eagles outscored the Tamaraws, 11-4. The Tamaraws played with payback in their minds after a 69-49 loss to the Blue Eagles last week. FEU built a 36-20 spread in the first quarter and enjoyed a 38-25 advantage at the turn, the first time Ateneo trailed this season entering the third period. But the Blue Eagles slowly clawed their way back in the game with Rookie Kiefer Ravena highlighting the rally with back-to-back baskets including the game-tying lay-up with 8.8 seconds left in the fourth, 63-63, to send the game into overtime. "We kept playing defense down the stretch and in the end our plays started to click and our execution started to work and get some baskets down the stretch," said Black. RR Garcia finished with 17 markers while Terrence Romeo made 11 but committed two crucial turnovers that helped Ateneo's comeback. Garcia hit a triple from the right corner to give FEU a 63-57 lead with 1:16 left in the game. FEU looked headed for victory when Slaughter missed a hook shot in Ateneo's next play. But Eman Monfort picked up Romeo's inbound pass for an unmolested lay-up. Romeo again turned over the ball when he failed to keep inbounds while trotting at courtside. That turnover led to a Ravena lay-up with 45.7 ticks left in the game. After Aldrech Ramos' missed a jumper, Ravena sliced to the lane against the FEU defense for the game-tying lay-up with 8.8 seconds left in regulation. Romeo and Carl Cruz could have secured the win for FEU. Cruz was a recipient of a Romeo assist as the Tams' sophomore guard eluded the shot-blocking Slaughter's defense. However, Salva was there to block Cruz's shot attempt to force overtime. "Marami kaming lapses. Hindi pa sila sanay sa end game," said FEU coach Bert Flores. In overtime, Slaughter opened up the scoring with a lay-up and blocked Garcia's inside attempt, a shot that FEU coaches felt should have been called a goaltending violation. Ramos was called for an offensive foul which was his last and it led to Ravena's two free throws to make it 69-65. FEU's final points came from Mark Bringas' free throws as Salva scored the next three points for Ateneo that included a short stab. Slaughter cemented the win with a tip-in and 32.7 seconds left in the game clock for a 72-67 edge while Emman Monfort settled the score with two free throws. - JVP, GMA News