KUNG may kapiraso mang tsansa ang University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigers na makahirit, hindi nagbigay ng pagkakataon ang Ateneo Blue Eagles para makumpleto ang pakikipagniig sa kasaysayan sa premyadong collegiate league.

Sa pangunguna ni future professional star Thirdy Ravena, na kumana ng 17 puntos, winasak ng Ateneo ang kumpiyansa ng Tigers para dagitin ang 86-79 panalo at maitala ang pambihirang three-peat sa UAAP men’s basketball championship Miyerkoles ng gabi sa MOA Arena.

Higit na naging pambihira ang tagumpay ng Ateneo sa katotohanan na nakamit nila ang kampeonato sa malinis na 16-0 sweep, kabilangh ang double-round elimination.

Dumadagundong ang pagaspas ng Blue Eagles at walang nagawa ang Tigers kung hindi ang magbigay-daan para sa isang dominasyon sa premyadong league sa bansa.

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Nakuha ni Ravena – sa ikatlong sunod na pagkakataon ang Finals MVP Awards.

“We won it in a way na we were playing for one another, and it’s incredible, sambit ni Ravena, unang manlalaro sa liga na nagwagi ng tatlong sunod na Finals MVP at championship.

Bukod dito, rekord din ang naitala nilang 16-0 sweep, dahil ito ang unang sweep sa Final Four era matapos ang 14-0 sweep ng UST noong 1993.

“Tinatanong nila paano namin nagawa yung 16-0, yung sagot ko kanina is our strength doesn’t lie with one person, with one player or with one coach, it lies in all of us, and it lies in us because we want to play for one another, and we preach servanthood. Kaya kami malakas, kaya gumagana yung system, it’s that because we do what we do, not for ourselves, but for our teammates and for the guy beside us on the bench. Sobrang sarap lang ng feeling,” pahayag ni Ravena.

Dahil sa kanyang mga naging achievements, isa na si Ravena sa mga pangalang tiyak na magiging bahagi ng kasaysayan ng Blue Eagles mula sa dating pagkakakilala sa kanya bilang nakababatang kapatid dating King Eagle na si Kiefer na naging 2-time champion at 2-time league Most Valuable Player.

“I think, what happened was I took myself out of my brother’s shadow, not just this year, but ever since Coach Tab came in, he already talked to me, and he told me that the biggest pressure shouldn’t be trying to be like your brother or your dad, but the biggest pressure should be coming from yourself and trying to be the best player you could possibly be, and with that, I think I’ve effectively removed myself from my brother’s shadow and focused on how I could be the the best player I could possibly be, not just for myself but for my teammates,” aniya.

Gayunman, nilinaw niya na ginawa niya ito hindi upang makipagpaligsahan kundi para mas maiangat pa ang kanyang sarili bilang isang manlalaro.

“For me, it’s not even about accomplishments, it’s about trying to work at something, and not trying to work to be like someone, and I’m just trying to be the best version of me. That’s it,”pahayag ni Ravena.

-Marivic Awitan

Iskor:

ATENEO 86 -- Ravena 17, Belangel 14, Ma. Nieto 14, Kouame 7, Navarro 7, Go 6, Maagdenberg 6, Wong 5, Daves 4, Mi. Nieto 3, Mamuyac 2, Andrade 0.

UST 79 -- Abando 16, Nonoy 14, Chabi Yo 11, Concepcion 8, Subido 8, Huang 7, Ando 6, Paraiso 5, Cansino 4, Bataller 0, Pangilinan 0.