The Boys sing the Song of Mary
The UAAP Juniors Basketball tournament is the Ateneo Blue Eaglets own playground. Imagine, in the 31 seasons the Blue Eaglets played they were booted out of the finals only four times, was runner up 13 times and won the title 14 times including four straight in 1983 to 1986. Having said that, one might say that the Blue Eaglets have done almost everything, but then again that statement is true in one sense specially after what happened today. For the first time the Blue Eaglets have beaten the de La Salle Junior Archers in a championship game!
Capacio and Pessumal jockey for position
The Blue Eaglets have been lording it over the UAAP Juniors tournament until the de La Salle ZObel Junior Archers came up with a massive recruitment effort to bring the players that they needed. This recruitment got them two titles in 2005 and 2007. Unfortunately, this is only the second time these two titans are meeting in the finals. In 2005 the Eaglets were upset by the UPIS Baby Maroons which was won by the Junior Archers. They eventually followed it up with a 2007 conquest over the favored Blue Eaglets. On the other hand, in 2006 the Junior Archers were not allowed to play while in 2008 they were upset by the FEU Baby Tamaraws – in those years the Eaglets won the title.
A steal and a basket
This highly anticipated match up had the makings of a blockbuster since both teams have different philosophies and highly touted cagers. For the Ateneo, former Freshman Phenom and Sophomore sensation Kiefer Ravena is now the main man of the team. His youthful enthusiasm carried the fight for the Blue Eaglets as he once again played an all around game of 33 points, 9 Rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks as he led the Ateneo to a 80-73 conquest of the de La Salle Zobel Junior Archers in game 1 of the Juniors Basketball tournament. It was the first time the Blue Eaglets have beaten the Junior Archers in the finals and vengeance is just around the corner as they battle once again for game two on Tuesday October 6, 2009.
Von on the drive
The Blue Eaglets dictated the tempo of the game from the start as their defense forced the Junior Archers to turnovers. Keifer Ravena scored rightaway as he hit a lay up and a three pointer to lead the Eaglets to a 7-0 lead. The Junior Archers would eventually counter as their main man Gwyne Capacio scored off three free throws as the Zobel quintet kept was just within striking distance of the Eaglets. Enter the lanky 6-7 Arnold Van Opstal the Junior Archers human fly swatting machine. Van Opstal blocked 6 shots of the Blue Eaglets which led to the change of offensive patterns for the team in Blue.
Rebound play
After playing catch up to the Blue Eaglets, Louis Fortuna sank a three pointer that gave them the lead 24-23 with still 8 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. Unfortunately for the Junior Archers their lead was just for a 2 minutes as Al Bugarin pushed the Eaglets back on top 30-29 with 6 minutes left in the half. Both teams fought tooth and nail with the Blue Eaglets leading most of the way and the Junior Archers playing catch up, the half would end with both teams tied 38 - all.
Kiefer over Van Opstal
After the half, the Blue Eaglets opened with an Ice Reyes three pointer that was answered by Louis Fortuna of La Salle. Kiefer scored on a jumper and Van Opstal countered with two free throws.Then the Blue Eaglets got lucky as Luis Sinco scored 5 straight points while Kiefer, Chucky Dumrique and Von Pessumal added four points through the 15 foot line to give the Eaglets a 52-43 lead after the Junior Archers went 1 of 11 from the floor. The Junior Archers then came back through a series of fastbreak points courtesy of Van Opstal and free throws by Capacio, Fortuna and Elorde to cut Ateneo’s lead to three 52-49. The Blue Eaglets closed out the quarter with 4 straight points on four straight free throws to end the quarter on top by seven points 56-49.
Tim is hacked
The fourth quarter was all Kiefer Ravena. He started the quarter with a three pointer, a jumper on the side with a hand in his face and a lay up on the fast break and passed off to Chuck Dumrique to put the Eaglets on top 65-52 with 6:30 left. The Blue Eaglets were about to blow the game open until the Junior Archers made a big comeback. Nico Elorde completed a four point play to put the Junior Archers to within 3 points, 67 – 70 with still three minutes left in the game. That was the cue King Eaglet Kiefer needed to douse cold water on the Junior Archers rally as he scored 6 important points in a time when the momentum shifted to the Junior Archers. Nico Elorde scored on a drive to cut down the lead once again 76 – 73 with 52 seconds left. The Blue Eaglets then closed out the game with a 4-0 wind up and their defense prevented the Junior Archers to score as the Blue Eaglets takes the first step in retaining their title.
Ice Reyes did a good job on Elorde
Ably supporting Ravena was the heads up play of Al Bugarin who scored 10 points, Luis Sinco who got things going in the third quarter had 8 points and 16 and under campaigner Von Pessumal with 7 points. Nico Elorde led DLS-Z with 18 points while Gwynne Capacio added 15 points. Lets go B lue Eaglets lets win this one.
The drive by Keifer
The scores:
ATENEO (80)
Ravena 33, Bugarin 10, Sinco 8, Pessumal 7, Dumrique 6, Banal 6, Reyes 5, Pe 5, Tenorio 0, Alonte 0, Erazo 0, Romero 0, Capacio 0, Daez 0, Alonte 0, Armenia 0,
DLS-Z (73)
Elorde 18, Capacio 15, Van Opstal 12, Dela Paz 12, Fortuna 12, Sevilla 2, Roxas 2, Park 0, Herrera 0,
23-19, 38- all, 56-49, 80-73
Kiefer in Traffic
