Blue Eagles fly high towards the UAAP title

Matt Nieto during Game 3.

After five years, the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles are champions once again.

The Blue Eagles avenged last season's loss to La Salle in the Finals, escaping with an 88-86 victory over the defending champions in Game 3 on Sunday afternoon at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum, doing so in front of over 22,012 patrons as they secured their ninth title in UAAP history.

It was Isaac Go who once again stepped to take the biggest shot of the game, receiving a pass from a driving Thirdy Ravena to nail a three-pointer from the right wing, establishing a two-possession lead for the Blue Eagles, 85-80, with just over 24 seconds remaining in the game.

Ateneo had created initial separation from their archrivals to open their offense in the fourth quarter. After allowing Ben Mbala to score seventeen seconds in to the period, the Blue Eagles went on a 14-2 run in the next five-plus minutes, erecting a ten-point lead, 80-70, off a Vince Tolentino basket.

La Salle would not give up their championship that easily, answering that run with a 10-2 run in the next three minutes, with Andrei Caracut's triple with 62 seconds left to cut the lead down to 82-80, setting the stage for Isaac's heroics.

Ricci Rivero had the chance to bring it back to a one-possession game, but he missed a triple with eighteen seconds left. After Anton Asistio split his charities with twelve seconds left, an Aljun Melecio triple made it 86-83 Ateneo. The Zobel alum would foul Matt Nieto with four seconds remaining, and the Ateneo starting point guard sealed the game with a couple of free throws.

Thirdy Ravena led Ateneo with an all-around performance, contributing seventeen points, eight rebounds, five assists, three steals, and a block in thirty minutes, bloody jersey and all. He would then deal with cramps after the game. His contributions in the three games would be suitably rewarded with the Finals MVP nod. Ably supporting Thirdy in Game 3 are Matt Nieto's fourteen points, three rebounds, an assist, two steals, and a block, while the graduating duo of Chibueze Ikeh and Vince Tolentino combined for 21 points, 19 rebounds and three assists. Ikeh would also chip in a steal and a couple of blocks.

Freshly minted MVP Ben Mbala led all scorers with nineteen points, fourteen rebounds, and three blocks, while Aljun Melecio and Ricci Rivero combined for thirty points. (c/o Kim Karlo Castro)