Ateneo takes Game One of UAAP Finals 2012
Written by: Rene "Zam" Zamora
MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo de Manila
University Blue Eagles capped a very exciting fourth quarter and made several
huge plays down the stretch to win a decisive game one of the UAAP Finals to
the tune of 83–78 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Blue Eagles is gunning for history as
the first UAAP team in history to win 5 consecutive championships but still 2
more shy of UE’s record of 7 straight. It’s a renewal of rivalry between the
two universities which also met last 2006.
Mico Salva starred for Ateneo with a 30
point clip that is a personal-high and a UAAP finals record to be the only the
third player to score 30 or more in the finals.
Ateneo didn’t win it easily though, after
the Espana-based squad made a good run in the fourth canto which even grabbed
the lead at 63-62 with Karim Abdul’s slam. But with huge plays coming from
Mico, Kiefer Ravena and Juami Tiongson, the Blue Eagles arrested a UST uprising
and made sure to make it a 1-0 start for the best of three finals.
The Blue Eagles will try to gun for their 5th
straight championship this Thursday October 11, 2012 at the Smart Araneta
Coliseum but expect the UST Tigers to
fight back and even the series.
