Soaring Eagles have landed, clinch 4-peat

MANILA, Philippines - Sweep or no sweep, there’s no denying who owns UAAP Season 74 men’s basketball tourney – four-peat kings Ateneo.

Making their move in the second half, the Blue Eagles trampled Far Eastern U, 82-69, to put the icing to a banner year that saw them yield just one game and also equal the longest championship streak in the Final Four era.

“We just wanted to establish the Ateneo program as one of the best programs in the country,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black, whose wards joined University of Santo Tomas (1993-96) and La Salle (1998-2001) in the ranks of four-peat titlists.

The Eagles also put themselves in a position to extend their reign and possibly shoot for the current league record of seven straight crowns, a feat achieved by University of the East (1965 through 1971) under legendary coach Baby Dalupan.

“This particular team, we’ve had a lot of players come and go but the nucleus really came in 2008 – Nico Salva, Ryan Buenafe, Justin Chua, and Frank Golla – and these guys have been producing over the last four years. We don’t know how long this will last but we take advantage of it while we have the talent,” said Black.

The Ateneo Blue Eagles celebrate after winning their four th straight UAAP men’s basketball crown yesterday. JOEY MENDOZA

Ateneo lost Eric Salamat (graduation) and 2010 Finals MVP Ryan Buenafe (academics) for this campaign but gained from the entry of Mythical 5 member Greg Slaughter and Rookie of the Year Kiefer Ravena and heads-up plays of experienced returnees led by Nico Salva, who had a staggering 78 percent shooting clip the entire series.

“We’re hoping for a good year and we got one,” said Black, who steered Ateneo to its seventh men’s title overall, the fourth highest among the member teams.

Ateneo came tantalizingly close to a rare 14-0 sweep elims sweep but got ambushed by Adamson in their final game to settle for a Final Four appearance.

“It’s probably a blessing in disguise that we lost because it gave us new hunger, new fire. For a start, a sweep in the UAAP is almost impossible to do. I think the key is to win the championship in the end and that’s what we’ve accomplished,” said Black.

Ravena fired 18 points and grabbed six rebounds while Salva, the eventual Finals MVP, added 15 markers and five boards, and Slaughter finished with 11 points and six caroms as Ateneo swept the series, 2-0.

The trio jumpstarted a 14-0 salvo to open the third canto and pull away, 49-38, setting the tone for the rout. The Ateneans poured it on, erecting their biggest lead at 74-55, as supporters began to chant “4-peat” and wave “4-peat champions” banners in a celebration capped by showers of white confetti while Black flashed his four fingers in his victory ride.

Aldrech Ramos, playing his last game for FEU, shot 20 points and collared 13 boards while RR Garcia added 16 as the Tams took bridesmaid status for the second straight year.

The Scores:

Ateneo 82 – Ravena 18, Salva 15, Slaughter 11, Tiongson 11, Monfort 9, Gonzaga 6, Long 5, Chua 5, Pessumal 0, Sumalinog 0, Golla 0, Austria 0.

FEU 69 – Ramos 20, Garcia 16, Tolomia 7, Romeo 7, Escoto 4, Bringas 4, Exciminiano 4, Foronda 3, Cruz 2, Noundou 2, Pogoy 0, Mendoza 0, Knuttel 0.

Quarterscores: 23-18, 35-36, 57-45, 82-69.