The rematch is set.
Ateneo needed an extra five minutes to overcome a brave and gutsy Far Eastern University, 88-84, in the Final Four sudden-death semifinal playoff, joining arch-rivals La Salle in forging their fifth such meeting in the Final Four era.
The combination of Isaac Go and Matt Nieto came up clutch down the stretch for the Blue Eagles this past Wednesday afternoon inside the Mall of Asia Arena, snatching the win after the Tamaraws forced a sudden death playoff this past weekend.
Matt would find Isaac for a game-tying triple with 8.5 seconds remaining in regulation. Go would be tasked to defend Arvin Tolentino in the ensuing FEU possession, but the former Blue Eagle lost control of the ball and never got off an attempt, thus sending the game to the extras.
Matt then took over in overtime, giving Ateneo the lead it would never relinquish through a floater with 89 seconds remaining. He then nailed a top-of-the-key triple with 46.9 seconds remaining to give Ateneo some cushion at 85-80.
Russell Escoto would make it a one-possession game again with a quick basket with 44.6 ticks left, 85-82. But Isaac would come to the rescue again, plucking an offensive rebound, and while on his way down, managing to get off and convert his shot, sending the Ateneo side of the MOA Arena to a frenzy with 22.4 seconds to go.
Escoto would have a chance to answer back immediately, but he missed a triple that could have made it into a one-possession game again. Thirdy Ravena would grab the rebound and the ball would eventually go to Matt's hands. He would ice the game with a free throw with under seven seconds remaining before Ino Comboy scored a final basket just before the buzzer sounded.
Assistant head coach Sandy Arespacochaga gave credit to FEU when he faced the media post-match, adding that "they played really well, their coaching staff had a great game plan, and their players really stepped up." Such a sentiment was shared by the Nieto twins and Isaac, who accompanied Sandy in the press room.
Ravena finished with seventeen points and seven rebounds, while Matt and Chibueze Ikeh each added sixteen points. Go would finish with thirteen markers.
Jasper Parker led all scorers with nineteen points, while Tolentino added thirteen.
Game 1 of the UAAP Finals is scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena, with tipoff scheduled at 4pm. (c/o Kim Karlo Castro)
Ateneo needed an extra five minutes to overcome a brave and gutsy Far Eastern University, 88-84, in the Final Four sudden-death semifinal playoff, joining arch-rivals La Salle in forging their fifth such meeting in the Final Four era.
The combination of Isaac Go and Matt Nieto came up clutch down the stretch for the Blue Eagles this past Wednesday afternoon inside the Mall of Asia Arena, snatching the win after the Tamaraws forced a sudden death playoff this past weekend.
Matt would find Isaac for a game-tying triple with 8.5 seconds remaining in regulation. Go would be tasked to defend Arvin Tolentino in the ensuing FEU possession, but the former Blue Eagle lost control of the ball and never got off an attempt, thus sending the game to the extras.
Matt then took over in overtime, giving Ateneo the lead it would never relinquish through a floater with 89 seconds remaining. He then nailed a top-of-the-key triple with 46.9 seconds remaining to give Ateneo some cushion at 85-80.
Russell Escoto would make it a one-possession game again with a quick basket with 44.6 ticks left, 85-82. But Isaac would come to the rescue again, plucking an offensive rebound, and while on his way down, managing to get off and convert his shot, sending the Ateneo side of the MOA Arena to a frenzy with 22.4 seconds to go.
Escoto would have a chance to answer back immediately, but he missed a triple that could have made it into a one-possession game again. Thirdy Ravena would grab the rebound and the ball would eventually go to Matt's hands. He would ice the game with a free throw with under seven seconds remaining before Ino Comboy scored a final basket just before the buzzer sounded.
Assistant head coach Sandy Arespacochaga gave credit to FEU when he faced the media post-match, adding that "they played really well, their coaching staff had a great game plan, and their players really stepped up." Such a sentiment was shared by the Nieto twins and Isaac, who accompanied Sandy in the press room.
Ravena finished with seventeen points and seven rebounds, while Matt and Chibueze Ikeh each added sixteen points. Go would finish with thirteen markers.
Jasper Parker led all scorers with nineteen points, while Tolentino added thirteen.
Game 1 of the UAAP Finals is scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena, with tipoff scheduled at 4pm. (c/o Kim Karlo Castro)
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