After the 2007 season of the UAAP, a lot of Ateneans had doubts about the Hail Mary squad most specifically the point guard position since we were left with two guards who are not offensively gifted - Yuri Escueta and Jai Reyes. Two years after, the latter proved a lot of critics wrong as he brought his game to a level that has given him not only respect but the best exit that anyone would like in a collegiate career. Imagine winning championships in the SBP while in Grade School, back to back UAAP High School titles, Back to Back UAAP Seniors titles, the 2007 and just recently 2009 PCCL that in itself is an achievement worth dreaming about. And to cap it all up, Jai Reyes also added the PCCL Most Valuable Player award. What a way to end your collegiate career as Reyes carried the fight in the fourth when Eric Salamat cramped out as the Ateneo Blue Eagles won over the FEU Tamaraws 74-70 to pocket the 2009 Philippine Collegiate Champions League crown.
The FEU Tamaraws have nothing to be ashamed of. After opening the game with a 0-6 deficit after the Tamaraws started hot, the Blue Eagles diesel engine went to work with Eric Salamat, Jai Reyes, Nonoy Baclao and Ryan Buenafe presiding on the Blue Eagles opening salvo. The Eagles offensive onslaught gave them a 20-12 lead which the Tams cut to 4 after the first 10 minutes of the game. Ryan's three point play off a fastbreak and Jai's two three pointers gave the Blue Eagles the necessary offense to make up for their bad start. The Blue Eagles continued their offensive onslaught after the 1st quarter as they sank 5 three pointers in the second quarter. Eric Salamat canned 2 triples, while Jai, Eman Monfort and Ryan Buenafe had one each. This gave the Blue Eagles plenty of breathing room as they led 45-35 at the end of the first half with Eric and Jai leading the scoring parade with 12 and 9 points respectively.
After trailing by 15 points 42 -57 after a Nico Salva jumper, the Tamaraws uncorked a 17-4 run which was orchestrated by three Tamaraws - RR Garcia, Paul Sanga and Christopher Exciminiano. The three Tams breathed life to the sagging hopes of the Tamaraws and inched closer as they ended the quarter behind by only two points 59-61. The fourth quarter was a see saw battle as both team's defense tightened. After the Blue Eagles threatened to pull away again by leading 67-63, JR Cawaling capped another 7-0 Tamaraw run that gave them a 3 point lead going to the last three minutes of the contest. But alas, Jai Reyes came to the rescue as he used a Nonoy Baclao screen to sink his fourth three pointer to level the count 70-all. Oping Sumalinog scored on a Jai Reyes assist pass and Ryan Buenafe sank two free throws off great defensive gems by the Eagles to give the Blue Eagles their 2nd PCCL title and end Ateneo's Sesquicentennial celebration on a high note.
The PCCL has given the Ateneo Community a glimpse of the Ateneo team to the 73rd UAAP. Notable revelations were the career games of Justin Chua and Nico Salva plus the steady play of Oping Sumalinog specially in the finals. Salva was unstoppable in game 2 while Sumalinog came up with clutch plays specially the go ahead basket in the waning seconds of the game 3 of the finals. Eric Salamat proved that he is ready to lead the team while the other Blue Eagles will be there to support the team may it be in defense or offense. The year 2009 will forever be remembered as the most dominating year of the Ateneo Blue Eagles after bagging the 72nd UAAP Seniors Title, Uni-Games and the PCCL. See you again next year.
The scores
ATENEO (74)
Salamat 19, Reyes 17, Sumalinog 11, Buenafe 8, Salva 4, Chua 4, Baclao 4, Golla 4, Monfort 3, Austria 0, Long 0
FEU (70)
Sanga 15, Garcia 14, Ramos 12, Cawaling 10, Excimiano 8, Manalo 5, Nondou 4, Cervantes 2, Knuttel 0
Quarterscores
20 -16, 45-35, 61-59, 74-70
(thanks to Ricky O for the pix)
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