Ateneo's Four-Peat

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Not just 1, not just 2, and not just 3...

It's Four-Peat for the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

For four straight years Ateneo Blue Eagles reign as the UAAP Champion. They finished the series in front of 18,817 fans with a sweep, 2-0 against the raging FEU Tamaraws. Blue Eagles ended Game 2 with a blow again, 82-69. It's true that for the Blue Eagles it's really a ONE BIG FIGHT!

Coach Bert Flores made a surprise in the start of Game 2 by putting Bringas and Knuttle in the starting five. It was a fiery and aggressive start for the Tams. Ramos scored the first 7 points of the Tamaraws, they attacked the basket and got fouled, they made 8 of 8 in the free throw line but the Blue Eagles never backed down to the challenge of the Tams. Blue Eagles fought the same aggressiveness level that Tams showed in the start and they forced the Tams to enter in the penalty as early as 5:37 in the first quarter. Eagles maximized the opportunity by scoring 7 of 10 in the line, and they made a short scoring spurt in the last seconds of the first quarter and end the first 10 minutes with a 5 point lead, 23-18.

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FEU's Complete Assault

FEU Tamaraws
(image by UAAP Sports)

TEAM EFFORT

It was a complete ambush made by the Tamaraws. It was their Rebounding and their Defense that helped them out to secure the last Finals berth in the Season 74 of UAAP. Tolomia, Romeo, Escoto, Ramos, Garcia and the rest of the team gave their best and pulled out a 78-74 win over the No.2 AdU Falcons. It was a thriller from start to finish but Tams prevailed and outplayed the more motivated and more eager Falcons. FEU was the 7th team to beat the No.2 seed and went straight to the Finals. Now, they will face again the Blue Eagles in the Finals for a re-match and they have a chance to redeem their last year performance.

It was a hard fought game, no one wants to end their season there. AdU led by two points after two quarters, 33-35. Tams pulled away in the last part of the 3rd quarter and had their largest lead with 11 points, 59-70, but AdU came back again in the last 2 minutes of the game, they scored a quick 9 points and brought down the lead of Tams to 3 points, 71-74 and put FEU in limbo. Falcons had their chances but Tams rebounding dictated the outcome of the game.

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Blue Eagles fly to the Finals

"The Phenom" Kiefer Ravena
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"THE PHENOM"-ENAL
FINALS TCIKET

Blue Eagles knock-off the Growling Tigers in a close-tight game 69-66. With the strong effort of "The Phenom" Kiefer Ravena. He was awarded as the best player of the game with, 15pts. 2rebs. 2assts.

It was a hardly contested game from start to finish. In the first quarter it seemed UST would control the ball game and keep Blue Eagles on a chased down but the Ateneans refused to be on that spot and came back in the second quarter and ended the first half leading by 8-points, 30-38.

ADMU's lead ballooned to 15-points in the third quarter, their largest lead in the ball game but the UST Growling Tigers fought back and brought the lead to 12-points after three quarters, 52-40.

In the early part of the fourth and final quarter everyone thought that the Blue Eagles would easily take this one out of Uste. ADMU led the whole game, but they relaxed a bit and Uste took advantage of that and made their last and strong run to salvage their position in the Final 4 playoff and forced the Blue Eagles to a sudden death game this coming Sunday but ADMU denied that run.

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Tamaraws forced Knock-Out Game

Terrence Romeo
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ROMEO OH! ROMEO

He was part of the core three of the Tams with Garcia and Ramos. Terrence Romeo was the least expected to handle and carry his team in their game against the No.2 AdU Falcons, he was hitting all cylinder and burning nets. He was awarded the best player of the game with an outstanding 19 points.


Romeo's clutch game emerged when the team needed the most. After the tight game in the first half, Romeo, pulled it off, he hit a BIG 3-point shot that brought their lead to 13 points, 27-40. That was an answer to the 2-3 Zone Defense of the Falcons. That fueled the 17-4 run by the FEU in the third quarter and they posted their biggest lead in the game with 21 points, 31-52. The confidence and poise of this young Tam showed up in the game. He also played a very very good defense to Lester Alvares and limit the AdU's point guard production especially outside the 3-point line.

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The Final Four

Let the Playoff Begins!

Elimination is over, and now we have the Four Teams that standout.

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Ateneo Blue Eagles

The No.1 team in this season 13-1 (W-L). They have the lethal combination of "The Phenom" Kiefer Ravena and the big Greg Slaughter. They also have the athletic Nico Salva in their line up, this is their own "Big Three", with their Champion Coach, Norman Black, this team will be the team to beat in this playoff. Why? Because they simply know how to be a Champion, they will not have a rare three-peat if they don't have what it takes. Their match up with UST Growling Tigers (No.4) will have a big obstacle to overcome, ADMU have the twice to beat advantage and this is huge for them. Can they win another Championship? and go for a very very rare and almost impossible four straight titles? The Blue Eagles create this "Dynasty" in this league and became the barometer of all the team that want to win a title. They have the talent and capability to win it, BUT! will the other three teams allow them to get it? How will the "Big Slaughter" keep his production in the paint and dictate the game inside the shaded area?

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