Career game for Salva gave Ateneo Game One

By: Anthony Don T. Marca

Nico Salva’s career-high 30 points lift the Ateneo de Manila University past against the University of Santo Tomas, 83-78, taking Game One of the UAAP Season 75 Finals last October 6 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

“I just want to win so I gave it my all. I told myself before the game that I’ll do everything I can for us to win,” said Salva.

The Growling Tigers showed more composure in the early part of the game, leading by 7 at the end of the first half, 38-31, until the Blue Eagles clawed its way up dropping a 17-0 run to start the second half. Ateneo turned things around by making baskets on one end and playing good defense on the other end as UST was held scoreless in the first six minutes of the third period.

Kevin Ferrer’s strong drive to the hole ended the offense drought of the Tigers, but Salva continued to heat up offensively by draining down basket after basket to put the Eagles still on top, 61-51, at the end of the third quarter.

In the final canto, the lead went back to UST at 64-63 after Aljon Mariano scored nine points to lead a 13-2 run capped by Jeric Fortuna’s outlet dish to Karim Abdul for a two-hand slam. But with three minutes left in the game, Ryan Buenafe drained six straight points off a four-point play following a goaltending violation from Abdul to increase their lead to 7, 77-70.

Everybody thought it was over as Ateneo was leading by nine, 81-72, with a minute remaining in the ball game, but Jeric Teng, who led his squad with 25 markers, drilled back-to-back trey, cutting the deficit to just 3.However, Kiefer Ravena sank a jumper to put up their lead to five with just eight seconds left on the clock, leading to a win for the Eagles.

Ravena, Juami Tiongson and Buenafe helped blaze their offense, scoring 13, 12 and 10 respectively, while Mariano backed up Teng with his double-double performance of 22 points and 11 boards.

Ateneo’s win on the best-of-three championship series makes the UST face a do-or-die situation come Game Two, which is scheduled to kick-off on October 11.

Tigers coach PidoJarencio expressed his dismay on the call of the refs, saying that the officials’ whistles were biased.

“Ang ninipis ng tawag, ang kakapal ng mukha. Sana marinig lang din nila ako. Eh kasi naaawa ako sa mga estudyante babayad 250, pipila medaling araw. Ala una ng medaling araw nandyan na para mapanood lang kami. Mapanood Ateneo-UST game tapos gaganunin lang. De-deprive kami ng fair officiating. Bahala na sila. Ma-ko-konsensya din yang lintik na yun.”

ADMU (83) – Salva 30, Ravena 13, Tiongson 12, Buenafe 10, Chua 9, Slaughter 5, Gonzaga 2,Elorde 2, Sumalinog 0, Golla 0

UST (78) – Teng 25, Mariano 22, Ferrer 13, Abdul 9, Fortuna 4, Lo 3, Pe 2, Bautista 0

Quarterscores: 18-24, 31-38, 61-51, 83-78