By NIKOLE JAVIER
Ateneo brought out the big guns in the first half to eke out a 75-68 victory over University of the Philippines and complete its redemption campaign in the winner-take-all Game 3 of the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball finals Monday, Dec. 19, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ange Kouame delivered the goods for the Blue Eagles following a double-double outing of 19 points and 12 rebounds to get his hands on the Finals Most Valuable Player award and cap such a decorated collegiate career.
Gab Gomez and Forthsky Padrigao both poured 12 points to tow Ateneo to its 12th championship title.
The Blue Eagles used a huge first half to keep the Fighting Maroons out of sight and deny their dream back-to-back championship title — reclaiming the throne they had lost earlier this year at the hands of the latter.
In front of more than 22,000 spectators all seemingly out to back the defending champions, the Blue Eagles would confront every bit of challenge hurled at them.
Ateneo unwrapped the third quarter with five straight points to haul its biggest lead of the match of 20, 52-32.
However, UP would regain consciousness with an 18-4 run sparked by James Spencer’s two triples to pull the Fighting Maroons within six.
Just as the Fighting Maroons were about to completely recover, Gab Gomez drew a foul from beyond the arc and knocked all three freebies to revive the Blue Eagles’ momentum heading into the fourth period.
With less than two minutes to spare, Kouame would come through with a huge and-1 play to give Ateneo an eight-point advantage.
The latter part of the fourth quarter saw the Fighting Maroons play with more persistence following Harold Alarcon’s last ditch-effort through a three-pointer with 20.1 seconds in the contest, 70-67.
But UP's late attempts would not come to fruition as Andrade would go on to ice the game with two more free throws.
“Obviously, it’s very welcome to be back on top. These Blue Eagles had to work harder than previous champion Blue Eagles. There was a lot of things that happened this year that happened that kind of flew within radar,” said Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin.
“ it really made the championship one that is against all odds. they came back with virtually an intact roster. I think today’s game was a classic example of a heavyweight fight. You gotta knock out the championship. First half was close to a knock out punch, but with UP it’s not. They fought back.”
Spencer's 14-point finish paced the Fighting Maroons while Alarcon and Henry Galinato chipped 12 markers apiece in the losing effort.
The Scores:
ATENEO 75 -- Kouame 19, Padrigao 12, Gomez 12, Andrade 10, Ballungay 4, Koon 4, Daves 4, Chiu 4, Quitevis 4, Ildefonso 2, Lazaro 0.
UP 68 -- Spencer 14, Alarcon 12, Galinato 12, Tamayo 11, Cagulangan 9, Diouf 7, Gonzales 2, Lucero 1, Abadiano 0, Fortea 0, Lina 0.
Quarters: 30-14, 47-32, 60-52, 75-68.