REIGNING three-time champion Ateneo took to heart the lessons it learned in a stunning loss to University of the Philippines in Game 1 and was rewarded with handsome dividends last night.
Showing better poise in the endgame, the Blue Eagles hacked out a thrilling 69-66 decision over the Fighting Maroons in Game 2 of their best-of-three finals duel for the 84th UAAP basketball tournament before a wild and roaring crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Ateneo zoomed to a fast start and led by as much as 15 in the first half before UP fought back and whittled the deficit to 45-49 heading into the payoff period.
A Malick Diouf free throw gave the Maroons a 61-60 buffer with 2:48 remaining in the final stanza before the Eagles unleashed a crippling 9-2 blitz capped by a Gian Mamuyac layup that made it a 69-63 game, only 48.9 ticks to go.
Ricci Rivero scored on a layup that pulled UP to within 65-69 but that proved to be too little, too late in the final 37.2.
Rivero sank a free throw and intentionally missed his second freebie with 2.0 seconds left that pegged the final count.
Newly minted season MVP Ange Kouame notched team-highs of 14 points and 14 rebounds for Ateneo, while Tyler Tio backed him up with 14 markers.
Dave Ildefonso also had 10 points and eight caroms for the Eagles, who atoned for a 74-81 overtime setback in the finals opener three days ago.
The no tomorrow battle for the all the marbles is set tomorrow at the same venue.
Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin admitted their defeat in Game 1 served them in good stead.
“The loss in Game 1 is a blessing,” Baldwin said. “We fail in life. It happens to everyone.”
