UAAP Season 74 Game 8: Ateneo 74-67 FEU
08.13.11
Keys to victory:
Last wind: The Blue Eagles looked like they were going to fall from their perch of perfection, but got away with some freakishly lucky breaks. RR Garcia's triple looked like the closer, but a bullet-time steal by Emman Monfort, a boner play by Terrence Romeo along the sidelines, and a couple of Kiefer Ravena baskets a minute and a half later, Ateneo had a 50-50 chance to win it in the next five minutes. By then, FEU had unraveled. Aldrech Ramos, already saddled with four fouls, could not resist hacking Ravena one last time two minutes into extra time. This paragraph does the comeback no justice as to how memorable these sequence of plays will go down in Ateneo lore. It is right up there with Kirk Long's buzzer-beater against UST four years ago. Speaking of Kirk Long, the hair... not a key to victory, that's for sure.
Officiating: Ok, ok, this is a very touchy subject. But it is an urgent matter that demands discussion. With FEU down two, a goaltending play on a layup (yes, that was blatantly caught on camera, don't deny it) was left uncalled. The thing is, these calls happen. FEU also got away with a crucial traveling call during the fourth quarter. This is not to condone the mistake but simply to assert the point that it is a harsh reality of the game. I hate the fact that I have to rationalize the events that transpired. I hate the fact that it had to happen altogether. Ultimately, what matters was that Ateneo placed the ball in the basket when it mattered most. That's something no amount of rigged officiating can alter.
Kobe's pupils doin' work: Nico Salva's midrange prowess continues to baffle opponents as a legitimate threat. With a potent jabstep and hesitation move along the perimeter, he creates enough space to knock down his shot consistently enough to earn the respect of the defense. And once again, the Blue Mamba, as the forums and Twitterverse fondly christens Ravena as, poured in a superhuman effort and delivered the two most important baskets of the ball game that should be kept in the treasure troves of YouTube for years to come. As an icing to the cake, the two connected on a nifty play, with Ravena driving and dishing to Salva, creating a 70-65 gap that proved insurmountable for the stunned Tamaraws.
Chalk talk:
Free throws, guys, free throws... Greg Slaughter connected on 3 of 6 attempts in the last four minutes of the game. Long missed four straight in the second half. Think the game would've ended sooner had he converted on, let's say, four or five of them instead?
FEU's gang defense on Ateneo's bigs proved effective through the first three quarters. They kept Slaughter complaining, Justin Chua bricking, and Frank Golla... well, even on a wide-open lane, Golla can't finish, so let's leave it at that. I also don't know how I should react to Chua's nine points; the team was getting an afternoonly (sic) staple of 10+ last season.
One game? Definitely a fluke. Two games? Lucky streak. Three games? Reaching. But Tonino Gonzaga has been at it for the Blue Eagles for four straight games and is definitely making an impact off the bench. If he and Kirk Long see more minutes at the same time, they'll be a tough defensive wall to crack with exemplary lateral movement.
This ballgame was sponsored by L'Oreal Hair Color Highlights and shoes funded by a tieup between Nike and Stabilo Boss. Go figure.
Tweets of the game:
This is a new segment where I will select the three best tweets that caught my attention over the course of the game (and probably postgame barbs as well). So if I like what I'm reading on my timeline, who knows, you might just get a well-deserved S/O here. Here we go!
@osepreyes: Tangina, kahit sa #UAAP crammer ang Atenista.
@FidelPamintuan: FEU Tamaraws, we are deeply sorry for playing with your feelings.
@megan_fuentes: Prolly the sweetest win this season -- down by as high as 16 points, down 6 pts in the last minute of reg, forced OT... and won by 7 pts.
Quarter scoring: 13-21, 25-38, 42-47, 63-63, 74-67 (OT)
Game 9: vs UST - August 20, 3PM Smart Araneta Coliseum
The Growling Tigers are coming off a rally where they fell short against the Green Archers and will have another stopover against the Fighting Maroons before taking on the Blue Eagles. There are still too many variables to make a call on how closely contested this matchup will turn out.
Box scores courtesy of PB Fantasy