Kiefer Ravena’s floater, with 3.7 seconds left, stunned the University Santo Tomas Growling Tigers as Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles went on to win, 63-61, in the UAAP men’s basketball at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ravena extricated from a double-team before he maneuvered for the winning basket that pushed the Blue Eagles into a 5-1 record, tied with the National University Bulldogs.
The Blue Eagles and the Growling Tigers are known for their intense rivalry in the recent years. This time Ravena stole the game from the Tigers.
Blue Eagles head coach Bo Perasol said that Ravena’s last shot was made through the brush strokes of assistant coach Ronnie Magsanoc.
“I was tempted to tell Kiefer not to take those shots, but knowing him, he found a way to make it,” Perasol said.
The Tigers were leading 60-58 with 1:26 left, when Karim Abdul scored inside the lane.
But Chris Newsome was not disturbed by the noise as he spinned and scored with a foul to make the score, 61-60. Newsome had 18 point in the game while Ravena added 17 points for the Blue Eagles.
Abdul had 19 points and 12 boards to lead the Growling Tigers.