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Blue Eagles trip Green Archers, then withdraw from tourney

Kiefer Ravena (15) of ADMU soars for a layup during the matchup between the Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles and the De La Salle University Green Archers for the Filoil Flying-V Premiere Cup held at The Arena in San Juan, east of Manila on 01 June 2013. (George Calvelo/NPPA Images)

The latest chapter in the storied rivalry of Ateneo and La Salle clearly belongs to Blue Eagle star Kiefer Ravena.

Doing practically everything right from the get-go, Ravena sizzled with 31 points in an electrifying offensive showing Saturday night, powering short-handed Ateneo to a 78-70 victory over archrival La Salle at the close of the 2013 Fi-Oil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup eliminations at the packed Arena in San Juan.

Entering the much-anticipated match with a league-best 20.4 point-average–tied with University of Santo Tomas’ Aljon Mariano, the crafty guard displayed his vastly-improved offensive arsenal throughout, knocking down 13 of his 19 attempts from the field on top of five rebounds and five assists.

Ravena went on a big tear in the second canto, firing away 12 points, then drilled in a pair of difficult fade-away jumpers in the crunch that enabled the Blue Eagles, the five-time defending UAAP champions, to notch their seventh win against a lone loss.

It was also Ateneo’s first win against La Salle since the league’s inception in 2007. The Green Archers to second with a 6-2 mark.

The problem is, we won’t be seeing any more of Ravena and the Blue Eagles until the UAAP opens on June 29.

Just when everybody through the quarterfinals cast was already complete, after the game Ateneo athletic director Ricky Palou disclosed that the Blue Eagles are pulling out from all summer leagues, including this tourney, due to “injuries.”

RELATED: Fil-Oil Cup 2013: Ateneo vs. La Salle

Already without center Poy Erram who suffered a knee injury, Ateneo also missed the services of Von Pessumal, Kris Porter, Gieboy Babilonia and Gwynne Capacio against La Salle.

That means University of the East, which finished fifth in Group B, will take the top spot vacated Ateneo in the quarterfinals and will take on Adamson, the fourth-seeded team in Group A, on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, La Salle takes on Group A’s third-ranked team San Beda, the reigning NCAA titlist, on Monday.
 
The Main Man: Clearly, Ravena played on a different level in this game.

Knowing his team needs him at his best especially with five teammates sidelined with different sorts of injuries, “The Phenom” proved a handful against his La Salle defenders especially at the post.

Having bulked up in terms of his physique, Ravena emerged as the post presence for the smaller Ateneo side, making one tough jumpers after another that somehow dictated the game’s tempo.
 
Honorable Mention: Thrust into the lead role with the absence of fellow slotmen Poy Erram, Kris Porter and Gieboy Babilonia, Frank Golla stepped up to the plate with aplomb.

The unlikely recipient of several drop- and kickout-passes, Golla proved he can deliver the goods too, scoring 13 big points to backstop Ravena and teammate Juami Tiongson, who added 15 points.

More than his surprising offensive output, the undersized 6-foot-4 center also held his own in neutralizing the taller Green Archers, led by the wide-bodied 6-3 Jason Perkins, 6-9 Arnold Van Opstal and 6-7 Norbert Torres.
 
Game Turning Point:
Controlling the game mainly behind the exploits of Ravena, the Blue Eagles uncorked a pair of big runs in the first half then led by as many as 55-35 off a Tiongson completed three-point play in the third canto.

With the La Salle crowd egging them on, the Green Archers desperately clawed their way back and pulled within 63-69 off Perkins’ two made free throws with 3:07 left to play.

Whatever hopes La Salle had of turning things around were shattered to pieces by Ravena, who doused cold water on the scorching Archers’ run with back-to-back tough jumpers to help the Blue Eagles regain control.

La Salle still refused to roll down and die, closing in on at six anew off a Thomas Torres triple. but a crucial turnover in the final minute led to an unmolested transition lay-up by Ravena that sealed the deal for Ateneo.