Kiefer Ravena continues to struggle against NU
On Wednesday, Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga walked out to the court before the Blue Eagle's Final Four matchup against the NU Bulldogs with the rest of the Ateneo staff. He was full of respect for the opponent that day.
“They're a very good defensive team,” he intoned.
Two and a half hours later, the NU Bulldogs had proved it, by shackling Ateneo's star, Kiefer Ravena, for much of the contest.
Ravena scored 24 points in Ateneo's 78-74 loss to National University at the Big Dome. Taken alone, that fact might indicate the two guard had a good afternoon, since he averages 21 points a game this season. But a closer look at the game would say otherwise.
Ravena started ice cold, fluffing all ten of his first field goal attempts as NU raced to an early lead. He finished with only five points in the first half before exploding in the second. Ravena's total stats are pretty shocking. He ended up shooting only nine of an astounding 35 field goal attempts for just 26%. He only succeeded on two of nine from beyond the arc and wasn't much better from the line, making only four of nine from there.
More than an hour before the tip-off, with the lights of the Big Dome still not fully on, Kiefer and a handful of other Blue Eagles, shot around the darkened court. While the other Ateneans practiced a variety of shots, the Phenom concentrated solely on free throws. But the extra practice wasn't quite enough.
Undoubtedly NU's defensive scheme was key. While Bulldogs coach Eric Altamirano had his squad playing a zone defense, one player was always shadowing Ravena man-to-man. Oftentimes it was Paolo Javelona, at times Rev Diputado, and occasionally Gelo Alolino and Jjay Alejandro. The ploy helped frustrate Ravena, and he even seemed to throw an elbow at Javelona's midsection in the third quarter, which the Bulldog tried unsuccessfully to milk for an unsportsmanlike foul.
“Eto lang ang masasabi ko,” said Ravena after the game to a scrum of reporters about the incident, “I wouldn't start anything.” Apparently some previous contact from the Bulldog player provoked Ravena's second motion.
“It's the Final Four, and it's a physical game,” he added. “I don't think it merits a suspension. I just really don't want to give an inch to him (Javelona.)
But Kiefer was all praise for NU's efficient shackling early on.
“You have to give credit to their defense. It wasn't really individual defense, but team D. That's what coach Eric tells us from the PH youth team. Defense is your backbone, and it was their backbone.”
But NU had another ace up their sleeve on Wednesday: a massive, throaty crowd. The Mall Of Asia Arena is technically NU's home court since it's owned by the Sy family that also owns the school. But Araneta felt like home with Bulldogs fans slightly outnumbering the Ateneo fans but definitely out-voicing them.
Ateneo's older, mostly alumni crowd was no match for the energetic, mostly student-led masses of NU, who cheered more enthusiastically and also started Mexican waves that were not continued by the Blue Eagle faithful.
One former Blue Babble Battalion member felt the Ateneo cheering wasn't organized well enough.
“Speaking as an ex-Babble, they aren't doing a good job. Selection of cheers and tiempo is wrong,” he told me via text message.
NU won the sixth man battle, and the Bulldog's leading scorer, Alejandro, appreciated it.
“Alam natin 'pag Ateneo big crowd yan. Pero nakakatulong talaga na meron kaming kasama sa likod ng bench namin,” said Alejandro in the post-match press conference.
Undoubtedly the Ateneo gallery only woke up in the fourth when Ateneo very nearly turned back a 15-point lead as NU's offense froze as if the team was playing not to lose. But thanks to clutch free throw shooting in the end, The Bulldogs were able to salt away the victory and force a do-or-die match for a finals berth.
It's now very apparent that NU is Ateneo's, and Kiefer Ravena's, kryptonite. NU has won five straight UAAP games against the Blue Eagles dating back to last year. According to TJ Manotoc, in this season's three games, Ravena has gone 19 for 76 against Altamirano's boys from the field, a wretched 25%.
If such a thing as The Kiefer Rules exists, then the book is in Eric Altamirano's possession.
After the postgame conversation with the media concluded, Kiefer walked towards Araneta's south entrance with a backpack slung over his back plus another heavy gear bag. He spotted younger brother (and Ateneo teammate) Thirdy near the crucifix statue near the entrance.
“Thirds,” he called out with a wave of the hand, beckoning him.
The younger Ravena wordlessly came over and picked up the heavy bag for his exhausted kuya.
Kiefer's 24 points led Ateneo on the day, but if the Eagles are to overcome NU and their suffocating defense, his teammates will have to lend him a very big hand in the next game.
Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.
