By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno/PNA
MANILA — Ateneo clinched the last seat in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League final after beating San Beda, 62-56, in the rubber match of their Philippine Collegiate Champions League semifinal series at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on Saturday.
Ange Kouame and Thirdy Ravena saved the day for the Blue Eagles as both players scored on crucial baskets down the stretch to finally eliminate the Red Lions in the series tagged as the “Showdown of Champions” and set up a championship date with the University of the Visayas Green Lancers.
Ateneo held a 51-37 lead late in the third quarter, but San Beda responded with a 18-4 run spanning to the fourth quarter to force a 55-all deadlock with 2:39 left in the contest.
Kouame converted a three-point play right in the next possession to put the Blue Eagles back up, 58-55, with 2:14 to play.
After Donald Tankoua scored a split from the foul line that cut the lead down to two, Ravena buried a pull-up triple with 22.9 seconds left for the dagger. Ravena made a split from the charity stripe for the final tally.
Ravena put up 14 points, five rebounds, and two assists, while Kouame finished with 13 points, 18 rebounds, and eight blocks for Ateneo, which completed a comeback from a Game 1 defeat to clinch the series.
James Canlas made 14 markers for San Beda, which missed out on deposing a then undermanned Ateneo squad in Game 2 on Thursday.
The national collegiate championship clash between the Blue Eagles and the Green Lancers is set for Monday, 4 p.m., at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The Scores:
ATENEO 62 — Ravena 14, Kouame 13, Wong 10, Andrade 8, Ma. Nieto 5, Berjay 3, Mamuyac 3, Navarro 2, Go 2, Mi. Nieto 1, Tio 1, Belangel 0.
SAN BEDA 56 — Canlas 14, Tankoua 10, Nelle 9, Doliguez 7, Soberano 5, Etrata 4, Cuntapay 3, Oftana 2, Alfaro 2, Abuda 0, Bahio 0, Carino 0, Visser 0, Obenza 0.
Quarters: 10-7, 34-24, 53-42, 62-56.
