Ateneo makes UAAP finals again

THE ATENEO Blue Eagles may have taken the long way but are now back in the finals after they disposed of the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers, 69-66, in the Final Four of the 74th UAAP basketball tournament yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Blue Eagles played far from impeccable, committing 17 turnovers and even allowing the Growling Tigers to nearly snatch the game away in the winding seconds.

The Blue Eagles led for most of the way but were threatened down the stretch from a barrage of three-pointers from Chris Camus, Jeric Fortuna and Jeric Teng, whose trey with five seconds left pulled UST to within one, 66-67.

However, Ateneo forward Nico Salva was fouled after that and made the subsequent free-throws, which pushed their lead up to three with 2.7 seconds left.

UST’s chances went up in flames as Fortuna’s desperation three hit nothing but the board as time expired, sending the Blue Eagles back to the championship round, where they will aim for a fourth straight crown.

Greg Slaughter, runner-up in the MVP race, was pulled out in the last minute due to cramps but still finished with a game-best 17 points.

The Growling Tigers, who never overcame the Blue Eagles the entire season, put on a tough fight behind Karim Abdul’s 16 points and 16 boards, but still not enough to bring them to the finals, which they last played in 2006./Correspondent Jonas Panerio