Ravena drops career-high 38 points as Eagles outlast Warriors in OT

MANILA, Philippines – Kiefer Ravena exploded for a career-high 38 points to power Ateneo de Manila University past a pesky UE side, 93-91, in the first overtime game this UAAP Season 77 at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.

Nursing a mild right ankle sprain, Ravena once again bailed out his team with a crucial 3-pointer from the right wing with 59.4 ticks left in the extra period to give the Blue Eagles a six-point cushion, 91-85, en route to the victory.

Ravena credited his best game so far this season to his supportive teammates who gave him confidence.

“Nakakatanggal ng kaba (support of teammates), nakakawala ng pressure. Sila yung unang nagtitiwala sayo,  binibigyan nila ako ng kumpiyansa,” said the Ateneo skipper, who spiked his performance with nine assists and six rebounds.

 It was also Ravena who sent the game to overtime after draining a jumper to tie the count at 80-all in the fourth quarter, capping an Ateneo comeback from a 21-point deficit in the second canto.

 “He’s always going to be the one,” Ateneo head coach Bo Perasol said of Ravena, who outdueled UE star Roi Sumang.

The former UAAP Rookie of the Year broke the 35 point-record of La Salle’s Jeron Teng and former two time-MVP Bobby Ray Parks Jr. in Season 75. But his output was five-point short of tying the all-time high 43 points registered by ex-Bulldog Jeff Napa in 2002.

The Eagles finished the first round of eliminations holding the top spot with a 6-1 win-loss record.  

But Perasol stressed they can’t relax yet as they are just half past the season.

“We are winding up the first round with a very good slate, but it all goes back to the second round,” explained the sophomore coach, whose team missed the Final Four for the first time last season.

“We have to prepare, we’ll rest. We’re going to find a way to replicate this round.”

Sumang likewise finished with his own career-high of 30 points to lead the Warriors, who once again fell short for a mediocre 2-4 card.