Ateneo Wins the UAAP 73 Crown:

UAAP Finals:
Ryan Buenafe Lifts Ateneo over FEU 64-59:
ADMU pulls a 3-Peat





by: BadaBingPatron@gmail.com



Burly Ryan Buenafe stepped into the spotlight as he power-played and pivoted himself into lifting Ateneo De Manila University into grabbing this year's UAAP Men's Basketball Championship and the ADMU Blue Eagles a Three-Peat.

With under 30 seconds to go and ADMU enjoying a shaky 2-point lead at 59-61, Ryan Buenafe asked for the ball, called for isolation high up in the right side of their court, scoped the floor, and with 23 ticks left, pulled up from the 3-point territory and sank it like he owned it. It was magnificent, timely, and just what ADMU needed.

I don't know what Ryan was thinking when he took the shot but for all it's worth, that shot is exactly what separates goats from champions. Had he missed that shot and ended up giving up the game, he would have been just the 'Ryan Buenafe' who looked like he played big when he was with Nonoy Baclao and Rabeh Al-Hussaini. But since he made that shot, he gets to own this Championship as something he took even without the help of graduate Eagles Rabeh, Baclao, Tiu and last season's hero shooter Reyes. That shot also secured Buenafe the Finals MVP award.

In a low scoring Game Two, FEU looked like they have found a formula to steal one from the ADMU Blue Eagles. Play tough, rough, and rough some more, and hope to drive Ateneo out of sync.

Click the "Read on" link below for the rest of this entry:




Earn Cash for Posting Links you would have done for FREE anyway

CONTINUED:

Indeed the game was one that the FEU Tams loves to play. A helter-skelter, chaotic one with lots of turn-overs and a lot of fouls. Unfortunately for the FEU Tams, Coach Norman Black found a rare rotation that had him shuffling big men, wing-men, around Monfort and Buenafe to counter play FEU's ranks. By the turn of the 3rd period, the Tams' key players collected so much fouls that their team fouls added with their turn-overs could very well rival their output.

Star Rookie Terrence Romeo was in foul trouble by the turn of the half along with 3 other Tamaraw and MVP RR Garcia was literally a non-factor. JR Cawaling was the only Tam that was consistent.

At the other side of the bench, seasoned Coach Black knew what he was going to do. Keep it close, and pounce when the time comes. That's exactly what he did as his offensive and defensive sets turned to over-drive with under 3 minutes left in the game 61 to 57 with Buenafe providing the anchor.

But after a Cervantes split from the charity and a turnover by Ateneo, Sanga was fouled while taking a shot from the three-point territory. It would have been a major game-changer had Sanga not converted only 1 of his 3-shots.

Then the game-clincher came into play with Ryan Buenafe firing a trey with their shot-clock ticking away and 23 ticks left in the game. That sealed the game shut. The final score 64-59 with the Ateneo Blue Eagles securing the UAAP 73's Men's Basketball Championship.

Credit should also go to Kirk Long despite an air-ball from the freethrow line late in the 4th quarter ;), Big Man Chua who provided the body inside the lane, Austria who looked like a spooky Giant version of Aisa Seguerra ;), of course the ever reliable Eric 'Kokey' Salamat

In the post-game interview, Ryan offered the game to the ADMU community and of course his Coach, Norman Black. That's Black-Magic for you.


Oh btw, it's also clear that even as this Championship Series is being played, Coach Black and the rest of the ADMU basketball execs are already eying a rare 4-Straight Championship which is a record of sorts still held by UST and Coach Aric Del Rosario.


-BadaBingPatron@gmail.com



Have time for some Drama?













Grab the "English Subtitle" for the very popular DONG YI Korean Drama(latest episodes)