Manila – The defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles maintained the top spot after pulling off the biggest comeback this season.

Rabeh Al-Hussiani turned from goat to hero in leading Ateneo to a grueling 74-73 squeaker over hard luck Far Eastern Universtiy (FEU) Tamaraws at the end of eliminations in the 72nd UAAP men’s basketball on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Struggling all throughout the game, the foul-saddled Al-Hussaini hit the marginal basket on a beautifully executed drop pass from Eric Salamat in the final 14.3 seconds.

It was enough to pull off the victory to cement the top spot for the Blue Eagles, who came back charging from as much as 18 points down before the payoff period.

Needing a five-point win to steal the top spot, FEU got a chance to extend the game to extra five minutes. Reil Cervantes, however, missed the second of two potential game-tying free throws off Al-Hussaini’s fifth foul in the last 2.1 seconds.

For a while, the Tamaraws appeared headed to a rousing victory when it erected an 18-point lead, 57-39, late in the third period.

But Jai Reyes, Eric Salamat and the comebacking Noy Baclao combined in a huge 22-4 run as Ateneo tasted the lead, 62-61, 4:28 remaining.

“Mission accomplished as far as getting the no.1 spot is concern. We just need to win one (against UST) in the Final Four to get back in the finals,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black, who has led the team to second straight 13-1 eliminations record.

The American coach, who won 10 PBA championships, underscored the importance of this game for them.

“This game is important for us because we got the momentum if ever we’ll face them again later. We struggled against their zone but Rabeh (Al-Hussaini) and Noy (Baclao) came up huge,” said Black.

Al-Hussaini struggled for only seven points after getting two quick fouls in the first half but scored the most important basket in the game on the well drawn winning play.

Baclao, now fully recovered from a fractured hand injury he sustained in their game against La Salle, grabbed a personal season-high 18 rebounds that went with 12 points and two blocks.

The backcourt tandem of Reyes and Salamat led the scoring onslaught of the defending champions with 33 combined points and six three-pointers between them as they bucked the ejection of Nico Salva on a punching foul.

It was a sorry loss for the Tamaraws despite drawing a career effort from Paul Sanga, who fired 19 points, built on 5-of-11 three-point shooting, and Aldrech Ramos’ seventh double-double (16 points, 16 rebounds).

They ended up the eliminations with an 11-3 record, just a game ahead of UE (10-4), whom they will face in the Final Four.

Ateneo will face fourth ranked UST on Sunday while the FEU-UE tussle will be played on Saturday. Both games are scheduled at 3:30 p.m.

Both Ateneo and FEU hold a twice-to-beat edge against their opponents.

The Scores:

ADMU 74 – Salamat 20, Reyes 13, Buenafe 12, Baclao 12, Al-Hussaini 7, Monfort 6, Long 4, Sumalinog 0, Salva 0, Chua 0, Austria 0.

FEU 73 – Sanga 19, Ramos 16, Garcia 8, Barroca 8, Cervantes 7, Cawaling 6, Tanuan 4, Knuttel 4, Vinluan 1, Caluag 0.

Quarters: 11-22, 32-35, 42-57, 74-73

Authorized feed from UAAP Sports.com, source: http://www.uaapsports.com/features/236/eagles-stage-biggest-comeback-land-on-top-spot/

 

September 12th, 2009 by Alder T. Almo