Blue Eaglets lose game 1 of finals

The Eaglets on defense

Blame it on the long lay-off or was it just pure overconfidence that the Ateneo Blue Eaglets felt when they failed to close the game to give the second running University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs a 77 -71 win in the first game of the championship of the UAAP Juniors Division. National Youth 18 and under mainstay Kevin Ferrer proved that he is head and shoulder above the rest as he carried his team to victory as he led all scorers with 35 points and delivered the most important points in crunch time. This win came after UST swingman JP Sarcia was thrown out in the first quarter for a punching foul on Jay Sacluti.

Rookie Center Jay Javelosa scores

The Blue Eaglets started the game on a hot streak as it raced to a 10 - 0 lead on Paolo Romero's six points. The Eaglets stymied the Tiger Cubs guards as they forced Ejay Corre to turnovers and converted them to points. Von Pessumal scored 4 points in that run with Keifer Ravena scoring two points. The Tiger Cubs sensing problems in their start sued for time and eventually regrouped. The Cubs attacked the Blue Eaglets press with Corre scoring on drives and the rest of the team helping out in bringing the ball down. The Eaglets where still ahead 14 -2 when the Tiger Cubs came back with a fiery 11 - 5 run to end the first quarter within striking distance 19-13.

Paolo Romero lays it in

In the second quarter Kevin Ferrer happened! It was the moment that the MVP candidate has asked for as he drained three three pointers to give the Tiger cubs the upperhand and the momentum of the game. Ferrer missed an opportunity for a four point play but showed that is for real as Ateneo never knew what hit them. The Tiger Cubs eventually took a 26-22 lead on the barrage of threes by Ferrer and also took the half 37-32. From then on no one was able to stop Ferrer as he went on a tear offensively and was ably backed up by their point guard Ejay Corre with 24 points. Kiefer Ravena had 24 points while Von Pessumal had a hard time scoring 14 points as he missed all his three point shots. Paolo Romero had 12 but all of them in the first half.

Kiefer Ravena outjumps everybody

The end for the Blue Eaglets came with 3 minutes left in the fourth quarter. with the score tied at 62 - all and the Tiger cubs having possession. Ferrer looked tired and has missed three three pointers and some free throws. Unfortunately for the Blue Eaglets they never knew that Ferrer had an overdrive gear in him as he let loose two three pointers that gave the Tiger Cubs a 68 - 62 advantage that rattled the Blue Eaglets. The Eaglets would cut the score to 74-71 with less than a minute less after Lambert Tenorio hit a triple and Kiefer Ravena scored on a lay up with three defenders on him. Kevin Ferrer would ice the game with his free throws. Game two is set on thursday at 11:00 am at the big dome.

Kiefer off Kevin

The Scores:

UST 77- Ferrer 35, Core 24, Cabauatan 6, Lazaro 3, Ilarde 3, Sarcia 2, Mison 2, Gooh 2, Salas 0.

ADMU 71- Ravena 24, Pessumal 14, Romero 12, Tenorio 9, Mercado 4, Dumrique 4, Javelosa 2, Gadia 2, Vitangcol 2, Suarez 0, Sacluti 0, Puno 0, Lim 0, Gamboa 0, Austria 0.

Quarter scores: 13-19, 37-32, 49-50, 77-71.