Mission Accomplished

The Ateneo Blue Eaglets demolished the UST Tiger Cubs, 76-59, to win their third straight UAAP Juniors championship. The Eaglets have entered the finals 5 straight years (they missed to enter the finals in 2005 thanks to UPIS) since 2006 and have won 4 out of 5 championships. It was clear from the very start that Ateneo was banking on that winning tradition to finally put the Tiger Cubs away for good.

UST started festivities with a put back by Kevin Ferrer. This was however the last time that UST would ever have a taste of the lead. The RP Youth trio of Kiefer Ravena, Von Pessumal and Paolo Romero immediately went to work as they answered back with a 10-3, Ateneo 10 UST 5. It was obvious that Jaypee Sarcia was sorely missed in the last game as he proved to be another option in UST's offense. Sarcia together with Kevin Ferrer and Ejay Corre kept the Tiger cubs close all through out the quarter. The periood ended with Chuck Dumrique a buzzer beating three pointer to push Ateneo ahead, 23-14.

Kiefer Ravena splits the Tiger Cub defense. Kiefer scored 24 points to lead all scorers.
(Blue Eaglets vs UST, Finals Game 3 - Araneta Coliseum, September 19, 2010)

The second quarter saw Sarcia and company continually attack the Blue Eaglet defense. Jaypee opened the quarter with a three pointer to cut the lead to 6. The Eaglets however would score a 6-0 run that increased their lead to 12, 29-17. UST would trade baskets with Ateneo, but they could only cut the lead down to 10 by half time, Ateneo 35-UST 25.

Von Pessumal was hot from the outside today scoring a lot of his points off jump shots. Von scored 15 points for the Blue Eaglets.
(Blue Eaglets vs UST, Finals Game 3 - Araneta Coliseum, September 19, 2010)

The third and fourth quarter were critical to the Eaglet campaign as no lead was safe against an offense minded team like UST. In any critical stage, one would rely on the veterans of their team to deliver. UST was able to cut the lead to 7 by the end of the third by scoring 22 points. However reliable veterans Kiefer, Von and Paolo scored a combined 19 points to keep the Tiger Cubs from gaining any kind of momentum entering the final quarter.

Paolo Romero with a lay-up off a pass. Paolo's inside presence was felt as he scored 14, mostly from inside the painted area.

(Blue Eaglets vs UST, Finals Game 3 - Araneta Coliseum, September 19, 2010)

UST would threaten again in the fourth by cutting the lead down to 5 early in the period. However Kiefer Ravena showed why he was the leader of the Eaglets and Finals MVP. Kiefer would only score 4 more points in the period (he had already scored 20 points and would eventually lead all scorers with 24), however his nifty passes to Ateneo's big men in Paolo Romero and Jay Javelosa kept the Ateneo's offense going. Kiefer's assists produced a combined 7 points for Paolo and Jay to give the Eaglets a commanding 15 point lead midway through the fourth. Another scoring hero rose in the form of Chuck Dumrique. His fearless drives (some even against the much taller Keven Ferrer) kept the momentum on Ateneo's side. With the game out of reach, Lambert Tenorio finally put the proverbial nail in the coffin with a big three pointer to settle the final score at 76-59.

Chuck Dumrique drives and scores against MVP Kevin Ferrer. Chuck scored his highest output in the finals with 14 points.
(Blue Eaglets vs UST, Finals Game 3 - Araneta Coliseum, September 19, 2010)

Ateneo played a masterful game from the start to finish. They played a great offensive game with 4 Ateneo seniors scoring in double digits (Ravena 24, Pessumal 15, Romero 14, Dumrique 14). Aside from that, they played solid defense as they also limited UST's big guns to score lower than their average output (Sarcia 17, Ferrer 13, Corre 9). The game was proof of how great this Eaglet team really is as they finally dominated a UST team that has been giving them headaches in the past. It was a perfect end to a near perfect season for the Blue Eaglets. 16 wins, 16 hearts, 3 championships, 1 Big Fight!

*For Kiefer, Paolo, Chuck and Von. Thank you for the three years (four for Kiefer) that you have played for the Ateneo. Good luck to you and the other Seniors in your careers after the Blue Eaglets and the AHS.

One Down...

The Ateneo Blue Eaglets won the second game of the Finals today at the Araneta Coliseum against the UST Tiger Cubs, 76-66. It was a big win for the Eaglets as they will only need to win one more game to win it all this Sunday. The Eaglets weren't the only ones prepared for the encounter, Fr. RB Hizon together with the Ateneo administration brought along all the seniors to watch and cheer their classmates who were playing on the court. And their presence made a definite impact on the Blue Eaglet's game.

Kiefer Ravena vs Kevin Ferrer. Kevin is sure to get the MVP trophy, but Kiefer is one game away from leading his team to the championship.
(Blue Eaglets vs UST, Finals Game 2 - Araneta Coliseum, September 16, 2010)

Picking up where they left off...

UST started the game waxing hot as they went on a 0-7 run topped off with a 3-pointer from their 2nd scoring option, EJ Corre. It was clear that UST wanted this game just as bad as the Ateneans as they would score in runs to counter every Ateneo basket. Towards the end of the quarter, UST even led by as much as 12, 8-20. A last ditch effort by Kiefer Ravena, Jay Sacluti and Gerard Austria salvaged the quarter and brought the lead down to single digits, 13-20 in favor of the Tiger Cubs.

The Comeback...

The second quarter saw the Eaglets slowly but surely hack at the UST lead. It started with a Von Pessumal lay in to start the period and a Lambert Tenorio three pointer. Though UST was still quick to respond to the threats of the Eaglets as they fought back with 6 points of their own to still lead it by 8, 18-26. Then Ateneo went on a 16-3 run capped by a great assist by Kiefer Ravena to a streaking Jay Javelosa and a booming three pointer by Kiefer Lim. Ateneo finally found themselves on top, 34-29. UST scored one more basket, but Ateneo matched this with a Kyle Suarez lay-in over the outstretched arms of Kevin Ferrer and a last second shot by Keifer to end the half, Ateneo 38 UST 31.

Kyle Suarez powers the ball to the hole over Kevin Ferrer. Kyle's lay up helped keep the Tiger Cubs at bay at the end of the first half.
(Blue Eaglets vs UST, Finals Game 2 - Araneta Coliseum, September 16, 2010)

Tigers Threaten...

UST opened the 3rd quarter with a three pointer. That seemed to bring the Tiger Cubs back to life as they were able to bring the lead down to 3 towards the end of the quarter. Corre continued to lead the offensive attacks of UST as Kevin Ferrer was feeling the defensive adjustments of the Eaglets. However, Kiefer Ravena wasn't going to allow the Tiger Cubs to gain any momentum going into the final period. He scored 13 of his 32 points in the third and even scored on a solo 5-2 run towards the end of the quarter to bring the lead back up to 5, 55-50.

Kiefer Ravena on a solo fast break. Kiefer scored 13 of his 32 points in the 3rd quarter to lead the Blue Eaglets in scoring.
(Blue Eaglets vs UST, Finals Game 2 - Araneta Coliseum, September 16, 2010)

Regaining the Momentum...

The final period saw the Eaglets seize the momentum for good from the Tiger Cubs. Ateneo started hostilities with a quick basket from Von Pessumal and Kiefer Ravena that increased their lead to 9. UST sued for time and got to respond quickly with a three pointer. This was immediately answered by Marky Mercado with a three pointer of his own. A basket each from both teams brought the score to 64-57, Ateneo still in the lead.

All game long Ateneo played straight up, pressure defense on Kevin Ferrer. It was obviously affecting his game as he scored only 6 markers up to this point. Frustration must have been mounting inside him as in one play, he threw an elbow at Jay Sacluti that merited him an unsportsmanlike foul and two free throws for Jay. Jay may have missed both gift shots, but the bigger fish was caught. Kevin Ferrer frustrated, with only 6 points and his fourth personal foul.

That incident sparked a 7-0 run by the Eaglets increased their lead to 12, ADMU 69 - UST 57. That scoring run was highlighted by a three-man play between Kiefer Ravena, Jay Sacluti and Marky Mercado. Marky was streaking down the court on a fast break, then passed the ball behind his back to a waiting Kiefer who then shot a quick pass to Jay S. for the lay in. That play not only confused Kevin Ferrer who was the lone defender in the paint, but also finally silenced the Tiger Cubs for good. Ferrer would score a three pointer in the next play, but those proved to be his last as he finished the game with 9 points.

Mercado to Ravena to Sacluti. The pinpoint accurate passing of the Eaglets in this play gave them their biggest lead of the game at 12 points.
(Blue Eaglets vs UST, Finals Game 2 - Araneta Coliseum, September 16, 2010)

With Ateneo comfortably ahead by 9 points and with less than three minutes left in the game, Coach Jamike sent in his shock troopers to finish. With baskets from Chuck Dumrique, Mio Puno and Marky Mercado, the 2nd team was able to maintain Ateneo's lead. The game ended with a score of 76-66. The Eaglets winning margin of 10 points, was the largest they have had all season long against UST. And if I remember correctly, the largest they have had including last year's elimination and Final Four matches.

The Eaglets are now one win away from winning their threepeat. UST now is faced with the task of beating Ateneo twice in a row. The next game will be critical for both teams. For UST, a win on Sunday would give them back momentum and a second chance at winning the trophy. For Ateneo, it is a matter of continuing the momentum they had regained. For the Eaglets, it is time to give it their all and finish off the Tiger Cubs.

One game down. One game to go. One Big Fight!

Lighting Strikes Anew...

The Ateneo Blue Eaglets lost their first game of the season today as they dropped game one of the finals to the title-hungry UST Tiger Cubs, 77-71. UST actually had history on their side. The Eaglets have swept the eliminations before, in 1999 when they were led by Larry Fonacier and in 2006 that had the likes of Mike Gamboa, Tonino Gonzaga and Bacon Austria to name a few. In both occasions, they went straight to the finals and lost game one at the same time. So far, lighting has stuck the Eaglets anew, not once, not twice, but a third time.

The championship atmosphere in the Filoil Arena was definitely felt. It reminded me of the last Ateneo-UST finals I saw way back in 2006 at the seniors level. Blue and Yellow balloons, bands beating their drums like there's no tomorrow and teams raring to play right from the get go.

Right from the tip-off Ateneo picked up where they left off in the eliminations with a 10-0 run which forced UST to sue for time just two minutes into the game. UST was then able to score off the time out and got their first field goal. Kevin Ferrer and the Tiger Cubs started to heat up as they slowly but surely caught up to Ateneo. Coach Jamike used different players rotating on defending against Ferrer. Gerard Austria, Jay Sacluti and even smaller players like Mio Puno took turns guarding the UST swing man, reminiscent to past defensive sets where Ice Reyes would guard much taller players. Sometimes it worked, sometimes Ferrer would simply shoot over the smaller defenders. As UST was starting to gain momentum, their rotation took a big blow as Jaypee Sarcia was thrown out of the game for an alleged punch to Marky Mercado. The quarter ended with Ateneo still on top at 19-13.

Gerard Austria keeping an eye on Kevin Ferrer. Gerard started the game for the Eaglets to defend the much taller Ferrer.
(Blue Eaglets vs UST, Finals Game 1 - Filoil Arena, September 14, 2010)

The ejection of Sarcia seemed to benefit UST more than it did Ateneo as the Tiger Cubs kicked off the 2nd quarter with a 9-2 run finally getting the lead at 22-21. UST though wasn't finished as they continued their scoring onslaught all throughout the quarter anchored on Ferrer's wax hot 3 point shooting. Ateneo could only muster 13 points that quarter versus UST's massive 24. UST held on to the lead at half time, 32-37.

Josh Gadia and Lambert Tenorio trap Kevin Ferrer in the backcourt. The Eaglets rotated in defending UST's best player.
(Blue Eaglets vs UST, Finals Game 1 - Filoil Arena, September 14, 2010)

The 3rd quarter saw Ateneo continue to fight against UST's offensive sets. However, UST was quick to adjust and any scoring run that Ateneo made was immediately countered by the Tiger Cubs as they increased their lead to 6 midway through the period, ADMU 40 - UST 46. Then Kiefer Ravena was reinserted in the line-up. Coach Jamike used him sparingly most likely due to a technical foul called on Kiefer earlier in the game. Kiefer provided instant offense as he went on a solo 10-3 run that finally brought the lead back to Ateneo at the end of the period, 50-49.

Kiefer Ravena taking the ball straight to the basket. Kiefer scored 10 points in the final minutes of the third to continue the fight for the Blue Eaglets.
(Blue Eaglets vs UST, Finals Game 1 - Filoil Arena, September 14, 2010)

UST however was quick to recover the lead they lost as they scored the first basket of the 4th quarter and they never let the lead slip way again. Ateneo kept fighting and kept it close to within 2-3 points. Then Kevin Ferrer hit two consecutive 3 pointers that increased their lead to 6 with about 3 minutes left in the game. Kiefer Ravena and the Eaglets tried in vain to regain the lead, but their baskets weren't falling and the calls weren't going their way. With only seconds left in the game, and UST up 71-77, Coach Jamike waived the white flag and brought in the other players to dribble the time away.

It was a sad loss for the Eaglets who have a propensity to lose game one after a sweep of the eliminations. The finals has now become a best of three series. However, not all is lost for the Eaglets. As with their past sweeps, they may have lost the first game, but have also ended up winning the championship. Coach Jamike and his wards are not known to allow two consecutive losses without a fight. To them losing game 1 is merely a wake up call to a sleeping and rusty juggernaut. So yes, lightning may strike more than once on the Eaglets, and if history does repeat itself, losing game 1 is a good sign of what's to come.

We Believe! One Big Fight!

Side notes:

1. The Lady Eagles lost their final game against the NU Lady Bulldog. They finish the season with a 4-10 record.
2. The Lady Falcons of Adamson failed in their quest to sweep the eliminations as they were beaten by the Lady Tamaraws by a last second shot by former Lady Eagle, Karen Columna.
3. The Eaglets-Tiger Cubs game was so hotly contested that 2 technical fouls, 1 unsportsmanlike foul and 1 disqualifying foul was called by the refs. That doesn't even include the hidden chops, punches, elbows and knees thrown by some of the players. You really see a lot when you sit right there on the floor.
4. There is an alleged incident that happened between the AHS Babble and UST Coach and a UST player. I don't have the complete details, but I'll see what I can find out.

Lady Eagles lose anew to the Lady Archers, 58-62

The Lady Eagles lost anew today to the Final Four bound Lady Archers. However, Ateneo did not simply hand the win to DLSU as it took the Lady Archers an extra 5 minutes to finally dispose of the fighting Lady Eagles, 58-62.

The game started with both teams playing tentative ball on the floor. In a span of three and a half minutes, both teams could only muster 3 points each as Sarah Mercado matched DSLU's three free throws with her own free throw and lay in. This was then countered by the Lady Archers with a crippling 14-0 blast, DLSU up 3-17. Teedee Estrada and Jen Dimaano finally ended the DLSU onslaught by scoring a free throw each. The first quarter ended with the Lady Archers still with a commanding 12 point lead, ADMU 5 - DLSU 17.

The second quarter started with both teams answering each other's offensive sets. DLSU even increased their lead by 1, ADMU 8 - DLSU 21. Then ADMU, with contributions from Val Chua, Sam Ong and Jen Dimaano, went on a scoring tear to bring the lead down to 5, 16-21. DLSU was able to respond with a three pointer, which was again quickly answered by a Dimaano free throw and a three pointer by Val Chua. The second quarter ended with Ateneo slicing DLSU's lead to single digits, 20-24.

The third quarter was riddled with fouls from both teams. DLSU took advantage of this and went to the line more times than ADMU. They made 9 out of their 12 free throws attempts in the quarter. DLSU also had more scoring opportunities as they ended the quarter re-establishing their 12 point lead, ADMU 32-DLSU 44.

Mariana Lopa shoots a three pointer. Mariana's shot tied the game at 52-all to send the game into overtime.
(Lady Eagles vs DLSU - Filoil Arena, September 11, 2010)

The fourth quarter saw DLSU free throw shooting percentage go down, as they scored on only 3 out of their 10 attempts. This helped Ateneo's comeback as they little by little chipped into the Lady Archer lead. Everyone that Coach Epok Quimpo brought into the floor contributed. But the biggest play came from Mariana Lopa as she hit a big three pointer that brought the game into overtime at 52-all.

The Lady Eagles finally took the lead at the start of the overtime period off a free throw by Sarah Mercado. However, the Lady Archers answered with a quick field goal and never relinquished the lead. Sarah and Mariana Lopa tried to bring the Lady Eagles back into the game but DLSU answered each of their efforts. The game finally ended at 58-62.

Sarah Mercado with an open lay up off a steal. Sarah top scored for the Lady Eagles with 17 points.
(Lady Eagles vs DLSU - Filoil Arena, September 11, 2010)

The game may have had no bearing for either team as Ateneo was out of contention and DLSU already with a firm hold of third place. However, this being a rivalry game, both teams played more for pride rather than standings. Both teams played their hearts out. This may have been a loss, but the Lady Eagles proved one thing, that they can play with the best of them.

Well played, Lady Eagles! One Big Fight!

Step Ladder and The Finals

The step ladder eliminations started last Tuesday with the the DLSZ Junior Archers defeating the NU Bullpups to go advance and face the UST Tiger Cubs. DLSZ have been improving in the past games as they won two straight to get to where they are. After losing big to FEU, they returned the favor by beating the Baby Tams in the play-off to get the last seat for the Final Four. They then beat the much favored NU Bullpups in their playoff match. NU had won against the Junior Archers twice in the elimination rounds, however lost when it mattered most. It was a banner year though for NU who had been at the bottom of the heap in the past years. The last time they made the Final Four was in 2007 when they almost eliminated the Blue Eaglets. Incidentally, that was the same year that DLSZ won the championship after they were suspended.

DLSZ now has to face the UST Tiger Cubs who have a twice to beat and Kevin Ferrer advantage. To win against UST, the Junior Archers will have to limit Ferrer and his cohorts not only once, but twice. With Gabby Reyes, Axel Torres, and Joseph Tempongko, they have more than enough guns to get the job done. It's a matter of winning another two games to face their arch nemesis, the Ateneo Blue Eaglets.

On the other hand the Blue Eaglets are still waiting. Depending on the outcome of the UST-DLSZ match, they may still have to wait a week before they play again. Their main adversary at the moment is rust. They have to keep in tip-top shape to meet their opponents head on. If it's UST, they will be facing their toughest competition of the season. UST is the only team to have come close to defeating the Eaglets. If it's DLSZ, the Junior Archers will be coming from a 4 game winning streak and with a lot of momentum. The only thing that may be going against them is fatigue as they will have played a total of 18 games if they do reach the finals. As the cliche goes, anything can happen.

However, whomever the opponent, whenever the game, the disciplined Blue Eaglets are sure to be ready to defend their crown.

Go Ateneo! One Big Fight!

Lady Eagles Get First 2nd Round Win

The last time the UE Lady Warriors (they were called the UE Amazons back then) beat the Ateneo Lady Eagles was in Season 70. That was the year when Ateneo won their second women's division championship behind MVP Cassy Tioseco. UE on the other hand had then Rookie of the Year Cindy Resultay in their team. Fast forward to Season 73. Ateneo no longer has Cassy in the team, however UE still had the services of an athletic Resultay.

One would enter the arena thinking that this game should be a walk in the park for the Lady Eagles, as the Lady Warriors had yet to register a win for the season. However the first quarter was an indication of how the game will turn out. Ateneo started out strong with a 12-5 run to open the quarter. UE then started getting their scoring going, however missed free throws kept the Lady Warriors from building any momentum. However, with less than minute left in the first, UE scored 5 straight points to bring them within one point. The quarter ended Ateneo ahead 17-16.

Val Chua driving strong to the basket. Val scored 11 points in the Lady Eagle's win versus the UE Lady Warriors.
(Lady Eagles vs UE - Filoil Arena, September 4, 2010)

UE continued their scoring tear with Resultay scoring 6 straight points to lead a 7-0 run and gain the upper hand over Ateneo, 17-23. Ateneo sued for time in order to get their offense in order. Ateneo won back the lead through a 13-2 run capped by a Teedee Estrada 3-pointer, Ateneo 30-UE 23. Ateneo was able to maintain their 7-point advantage till the end of the quarter, Ateneo 38 - UE 31.

The third quarter was marked by an offensive drought for the Lady Eagles. They were only able to score 4 points in an 8 minute period, all coming from splits from the line. In contrast, the Lady Warriors started scoring as they matched that with 15 points of their own, as their took back the lead, 42-46. Mariana Lopa finally ended Ateneo's field goal drought with a two pointer , however UE was quick to recover as they ended the quarter with a 6 point lead, Ateneo 46 - UE 52.

Mariana Lopa sets the play. Mariana scored 12 points including 2 free throws that put the game away for the Lady Eagles.
(Lady Eagles vs UE - Filoil Arena, September 4, 2010)

It seemed like UE was going to get their first win as the Lady Warriors were able to keep Ateneo at bay. Each Lady Eagle offensive play was quickly answered by UE, 51-58. However, at 6:55 mark, Sarah Mercado started to heat up as she scored 10 to lead a 10-3 for the Lady Eagles. The quarter ended at 61-all.

In overtime, Ateneo seemed to lost its steam as they allowed UE to score 6 straight points the regain the lead at 61-67. That's when Sarah went back to work. She answered back with 7 points of her own to get the lead for good, 68-67. Mariana then put the icing on the cake with two free throws to finalize the game for the Lady Eagles, Ateneo 70 - UE 67.

Sarah Mercado driving straight to the basket. Sarah scored 7 of her 19 points in overtime to give Ateneo its first win in the second round.
(Lady Eagles vs UE - Filoil Arena, September 4, 2010)

The game was a close call for the Lady Eagles, who finally got a win in the second round. Only two more games, one against NU and the other against rival DLSU. The NU game will be an exciting one as both teams want to finish the season on a high note. In the game versus DLSU, Ateneo will be playing for pride and the distinction of beating their rivals.

Finish strong Lady Eagles! One Big Fight!

Juniors Division Updates

All the elimination round games of the juniors division have been played and the final standings are as follows:

ADMU	14		0
NU	10		4
UST	10		4
DLSU	7		7
FEU	7		7
AdU	6		8
UE	2		12
UP	0		14

UP is still win-less like their older brothers as they lost their final match against UE, whose wins are both against UP. Adamson is officially out of the Final Four race as they lost to UST yesterday. If they had won, they would have had a chance at the fourth slot. DLSU and FEU will be playing an extra game in order to determine who will get that fourth and final slot. UST, by virtue of winning against Adamson are now tied with NU. They, too will be playing an extra game to determine who will get the much coveted twice to beat advantage. That will come in handy in the step ladder format that they will have to go through.

In the step ladder, fourth and third battle it out and the winner goes against the second placer, who has twice to beat. The winner of that second round of games will then need to beat Ateneo thrice (from what I gather from uaapsports.com) not twice in order to dethrone the champions and Ateneo has to win twice** for the threepeat.

Good luck to the Eaglets! One Big Fight Ateneo!

**Had a discussion with my good friend Rick and it is confusing. Why don't they just make it twice to beat? Well, UAAP rules are UAAP rules. :D

How SWEEP It Is!

The Ateneo Blue Eaglets have completed their sweep of the elimination round by trouncing a hapless NU Bullpup squad, 87-61. It was pretty much easy pickings for the boys in blue as they practically lead the whole game right from the get go and they never looked back.

7 1/2 minute stop

From the start, you can see that NU was pretty pumped, as they congregated in center court to for some pre-game rallying for the battle ahead. However, the Eaglets were equally ready to meet them head on. You can see from the warm ups that Ateneo was confident coming into today's game. And this confidence translated into a 19-2 run spearheaded by Kiefer Ravena's 11 points (he scored 13 in the first quarter alone) to start of the first quarter. In this period, the Eaglets defense limited NU to two freethrows and zero field goals. NU's first basket came somewhere at the 2:30 mark, and it seemed to have gotten the Bullpup offense going as they scored another 8 as compared to Ateneo's 4 points to bring the lead down to 11, 23-12 in favor of the Eaglets.

Kiefer Ravena stretches for a lay in. Kiefer scored 13 of his 24 points in the first quarter to get the Eaglet offense going.
(Blue Eaglets vs NU - Filoil Arena, August 31, 2010)

four-threes

NU seemed to be getting their offensive momentum and confidence in the second as they were able to keep at pace with the Eaglets in the early stages. However, it proved that it wasn't enough as the outside sniping of junior Josh Gadia kept the Bullpups at bay. Even though he was blocked a couple of times, Josh made 4 three pointers with one even extending the Eaglet lead to 16, the biggest in the half. The quarter ended with a highlight Kiefer Ravena reverse over two NU defenders. At half time, Ateneo was still ahead 42-26.

Josh Gadia hits a three pointer. Josh made four three pointers in the second quarter to keep the NU Bullpups at bay.
(Blue Eaglets vs NU - Filoil Arena, August 31, 2010)

Kiefer Ravena with a spectacular reverse lay-up towards the end of the first half.
(Blue Eaglets vs NU - Filoil Arena, August 31, 2010)

33-large

The third quarter was what finally broke the backs of NU. They scored first with an open lay up by one of the Bullpups. Then Ateneo's big men went to work. Senior Paolo Romero and Freshman Jay Javelosa scored a combined 14 points to lead a 16-5 run by the Eaglets increasing their lead, ADMU 58 NU 31. However, Ateneo wasn't done yet, as Kiefer and Lambert Tenorio continued the onslaught with another 8 points highlighted by a Tenorio three pointer giving Ateneo its largest lead at 33. NU would be able to trim down the lead to 27, but the damage had already been done, Ateneo up 69-42.

Paolo Romero scores off a lay up. Paolo together with freshman Jay Javelosa scored a combined 14 points to help the Eaglets build a 27-point lead midway through the 3rd quarter.
(Blue Eaglets vs NU - Filoil Arena, August 31, 2010)

Jay Javelosa steals the ball from NU at mid-court and takes it straight to the basket.
(Blue Eaglets vs NU - Filoil Arena, August 31, 2010)

14-0 sweep

The final quarter started with Kiefer Ravena trading a couple of baskets with NU players. With the game practically in the bag, Coach Jamike started playing his 2nd and 3rd teams. Even with second stringers playing, Ateneo was still able to keep the lead up. The game ended 87-61, and the 14-0 sweep was complete.

The Eaglets now have a free pass to the finals, a very familiar place for them as they have been there each year since 2006. It will be interesting to watch who will complete the Final Four cast. A playoff is already in the offing for 4th place as FEU defeated DLSZ earlier to give them identical 7-7 records. UST is in a must win on Thursday against Adamson in order to tie NU at 2nd place. If UST wins, another playoff between them and NU will be played to determine who has twice to beat. Three of the four teams mentioned will have to go through a step-ladder format where the loser of the possible UST-NU match-up will face the winner of the FEU-DLSZ playoff.

A lot more basketball will be played in the Juniors Division. For the Blue Eaglets, it's a matter of keeping their momentum up and keeping the rust out. It may be a week or two before they can hit the hard court anew. Two more wins to complete the ultimate sweep. Two more wins to the three-peat.

One Big Fight Eaglets!

Eaglets Outplay Junior Archers, 62-50

The atmosphere in the Filoil Arena was typical of any great rivalry game. The loud beating of the drums, the cheers bellowing from the crowds, the tense feeling in the air, all the elements that describe games played by the greatest rivals in Philippine basketball. And despite a crowd of hundreds (as compared to the thousands who watch the seniors), you knew that a great game was waiting to be played. The Eaglets had already won the first round encounter. For the Junior Archers, it was more than just getting back at Ateneo, it was also ending their 11-game winning streak.

The first quarter started out pretty close. Both teams traded baskets and were tied at 7-all midway through the period. Zobel then went to work on their offense and went on a 8-2 run to end the quarter. The 2 points came from Kiefer Ravena who had limited touches in the period, hampering Ateneo's offense.

Kiefer Ravena drives to the basket.
Despite having limited touches in the first quarter, Kiefer had a good offensive game.
(Blue Eaglets vs DLSZ - Filoil Arena, August 24, 2010)

The second quarter started with Ateneo and La Salle scoring 4 points each. It seemed that the Eaglets couldn't seem to get their offense going so Coach Jamike called for time to get his troops in order. He re-insterted his 1st five to the floor to get the lead back for Ateneo. And they responded by chipping away at the lead a basket at a time. By the end of the half, the Eaglets had gone on a 8-0 run getting Ateneo back on top, 21-19.

Eaglets on the prowl.
Defense still played a key role in Ateneo's win against the Junior Archers.
(Blue Eaglets vs DLSZ - Filoil Arena, August 24, 2010)

In the third quarter, La Salle tried their best to regain the lead, but Ateneo was able to answer each of the offensive runs. Then, with Ateneo still on top, 36-32, Marky Mercado hit a big three pointer that sparked a 8-2 scoring run for the Eaglets. The quarter ended with Ateneo's first double digit lead, 44-34. And it never went back down to single digits after that.

Marky Mercado hits a three pointer.
Marky's shot sparked a 8-2 run, giving the Eaglets comfortable 10 point lead.
(Blue Eaglets vs DLSZ - Filoil Arena, August 24, 2010)

The fourth quarter saw Ateneo little by little exert it's dominance over the Junior Archers. Point by point the Eaglets' lead was increasing. It was highest at 18 when Kiefer hit back to back three pointers and Paolo Romero attacked La Salle's interior defense with a powerful under goal stab. The Junior Archers never recovered as they can only trim down the Eaglets lead to 12. The game ended at 62-50, and Ateneo had gotten their 12th straight victory.

Paolo Romero with a power move to the basket.
Paolo's under goal stab in the fourth quarter gave the Eaglets a big 18 point lead.
(Blue Eaglets vs DLSZ - Filoil Arena, August 24, 2010)

The 12-0 Eaglets have only two more teams in the way of their sweep, FEU and 2nd place NU. With today's win, the Eaglets are already assured of the top spot and twice to beat. Now they focus on the sweep which would give them a huge advantage. If they do get it, they wouldn't have to go through the usual Final Four format and would only play in the best of three finals.

One Big Fight!

Lady Falcons Win Big Against The Lad Eagles

The game was pretty close at the opening period. Ateneo even opened the game with a 5-0 scoring run. However Adamson got their offense going and the quarter ended with the Lady Falcons having a slim 3 point lead, AdU 13 - ADMU 10. The second quarter proved to be the pivotal point in the game for Adamson as they outscored Ateneo, 14-6, to increase their lead to 11. The half ended, AdU 27 - ADMU 16. The Lady Falcons then stepped-up their defense in third quarter. They continually took advantage of Ateneo's errors and missed offensive sets as they increased their lead further to 21 points. The quarter ended with 48-27, in favor of Adamson. The final period was no different, as Adamson continued their defensive pressure. Though Ateneo scored an additional 13 points, it was no match to Adamson's 25. The game ended, AdU 73 - ADMU 40.

The Lady Eagles dropped to 3-6 and are 2 games behind UST. They have 5 more teams to play against, so all is not lost for the Lady Eagles campaign. In their way are cellar dweller UE, NU who has are tied with Ateneo and UST. They will also face more difficult opponents in the form of 3rd place DLSU and 2nd place FEU. It will be a uphill climb for the Lady Eagles, but a chance, no matter how slim, is still a chance.

Go Lady Eagles! One Big Fight!

Val Chua scores off a drop pass by Sarah Mercado. Val top scored for the Lady Eagles with 8 points.
(Lady Eagles vs Adamson - Filoil Arena, August 21, 2010)

Sarah Mercado with a rare open look. Sarah scored 7 points in Ateneo's losing effort against Adamson.
(Lady Eagles vs Adamson - Filoil Arena, August 21, 2010)

Cess Trinidad passes the ball in between two towering Adamson players. The Lady Falcons' defense kicked in the second quarter frustrating the Lady Eagles' offense.
(Lady Eagles vs Adamson - Filoil Arena, August 21, 2010)

Jen Dimaano breaks the Adamson press. Jen scored 4 points for the Lady Eagles.
(Lady Eagles vs Adamson - Filoil Arena, August 21, 2010)

Eaglets Win 11 Straight, Demolishes UP 129-43

The Ateneo Blue Eaglets continued its domination over their Katipunan neighbors as they won their 11th game with the demolition of the UP Junior Maroons, 129-43. It was one of those games that Ateneo was expected to win. And as the regulars in gameface's Blue Eagle's Nest would say, "First quarter pa lang, tapos na ito". And that's just what the Eaglets did.

Jan Resurreccion drives strong to the basket against the much smaller UPIS squad.
(Blue Eaglets vs UPIS - Filoil Arena, August 21, 2010)

The first quarter was played with Ateneo answering UP's baskets with massive scoring runs. The Junior Maroons opened the game with a three pointer which the Eaglets answered back immediately with a 10-0 blast. Then a lay up for UP brought them closer, 10-5 in favor of the AHS. However that was the last that UP scored for the quarter. Ateneo went on a blinding 20-0 run anchored on the Eaglet's defensive pressure. The quarter ended ADMU 30 UP 5. This was done with Ateneo's main offensive threats, Kiefer Ravena, Von Pessumal and Paolo Romero taking turns leading the team on the floor.

The 2nd quarter proved to be the Junior Maroons' best quarter as they scored 16 points. However, this hardly made a dent on the Ateneo offense as the Eaglets answered back with 31. The quarter was highlighted by a fast break play between Kiefer and Von where the two ran the length of the court without dribbling the ball. This gave them a 30 point lead midway through the quarter. The first half ended with a Kiefer Lim three pointer and Ateneo up 61-21.

Jay Javelosa driving straight to the basket after stealing the ball.
(Blue Eaglets vs UPIS - Filoil Arena, August 21, 2010)

In the third quarter, Coach Jamike let loose maybe his strongest 5 with Kiefer, Von and Paolo backed up by Freshman Jay Javelosa and Chuck Dumrique. The 5 opened the quarter with a 11-0 run that was only ended by a 3 pointer by UP's Ancheta. This however was quickly answered back by Ateneo with another 12-0 blast. With Ateneo comfortably ahead 84-24 and with 4 minutes left in the quarter, Coach Jamike sent in his 2nd 5 consisting of Lambert Tenorio, Bolek Vitangcol, Marky Mercado, Jay Sacluti and Mio Puno. This 2nd five continued to wreck havoc on the court as they produced another 11 points for Ateneo compared to UP's 6 point output. The 3rd quarter ended with Ateneo more than doubling UP's output, 95-30.

The final quarter started with Ateneo fielding in their 2nd, 2nd team (as they all performed as well as the previous 5) composed of Jan Reseurreccion, Josh Gadia, Gerard Austria, Kiefer Lim and Mark Gamboa. This team finally brought the Ateneo into the century mark with a 3 by Josh Gadia, 2 minutes in to the quarter. At this point, Ateneo shuffled it's players around experimenting on different team compositions. Despite the changes in the line ups, Ateneo continued to play pressure defense and scored on multiple turnovers by the UP Junior Maroons. The game finally ended with Ateneo with a 86 point lead, 129-43.

Josh Gadia's three pointers continued to increase Ateneo's lead in the fourth quarter.
(Blue Eaglets vs UPIS - Filoil Arena, August 21, 2010)

The Eaglets are now 11-0. The only other team in the entire league with a spotless record are the Adamson Lady Falcons (who beat the Lady Eagles today. More on that in the next entry). The Eaglets are now in the final stretch of the second round. They have 3 more teams (DLSZ, FEU and NU) to get through to complete their sweep. They may have beat these teams with double digit leads, but expect them to have already adjusted their games to match the Blue Eaglets brand of basketball. However, I am sure Coach Jamike and his Blue Eaglets are more than ready to take on the challenges of these teams.

Go Blue Eaglets! One Big Fight!