Eagles land in finals; Saints stay alive

MANILA, Philippines — Cignal-Ateneo dominated Valencia City Bukidnon-SSCR anew yesterday, fashioning out a 100-73 win to complete a semis sweep and advance to the finals of the 2019 PBA Developmental League at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City.

The Blue Eagles banked on a strong third-quarter attack where they unloaded a 20-2 salvo to turn a precarious 50-45 lead into a commanding 70-47 upperhand midwax through the frame.

Ateneo never looked back from there as the Katipunan-based squad even stretched the lead to as many as 29 points en route to another one-sided win following its 105-67 Game One drubbing of the Golden Harvest.

Team skipper Thirdy Ravena paced Ateneo with 19 points on top of five rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block while Isaac Go added 13 markers and six boards.

After a 19-point, 20-rebound, four-block outing in the series opener, Ivorian slotman Ange Kouame once again provided stability in the paint with 18 rebounds and 12 points.

But even with their finals passage, the Blue Eagles reiterated their goal is to improve and be ready for the coming UAAP wars.

“As we have said before, everything that we’re doing this offseason is just part of our preparations for the UAAP,” said deputy coach Sandy Arespacochaga.

“It’s a big help for us entering the finals but we can’t leave it just like that. We want to make sure we stay hungry and ready.”

Ateneo actually started flat with a 19-28 deficit before cranking up to snatch the driver’s seat at 50-45 entering the break

Meanwhile, St. Clare College-Virtual Reality manhandled the shorthanded CEU side, 84-50, to forge a sudden-death Game 3 on Tuesday. 

Malian big man Mohamad Pare topscored with 17 markers, 15 boards and four blocks while four other Saints registered double-digit outputs as they avenged their 75-76 Game 1 loss .

Fatigue seemed to finally take its toll on the seven-man CEU squad which was led by France Ray Diaz with 19 points and Maodo Malick Diouf with seven markers and 22 boards.