I cannot recall my last UAAP Men's Basketball championship game was but I think Season 80 the year 2017 when Thirdy Ravena led Ateneo in dethroning DLSU. I am very happy and lucky that I was able to cover Game 2 of the Season 85 Finals between Ateneo and UP and this time it will be the deciding game who will take home the trophy. The game was held at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Monday, December 19.
I arrived early at the venue to avoid traffic and also to get a good spot in the press room and on the court. I am also very happy to see my fellow photographers who also covered the game. I had a quick bite at KFC and then coffee before the game started so I will have energy until the game ends.
The game started around 7 PM and the venue is jam-packed from both the Ateneo and UP side.
Zav Lucero of UP is also in uniform and also joined his team in the warmup. The UP players wore a shirt that has ZAV in front and his jersey number and last name at the back as they dedicated the game to him.
Ateneo started strong with a 9-0 lead. The Blue Eagles showed their defense ending the 1st period with an 18-point lead, 30-12. They continued to dominate with a 20-point lead in the early part of the third quarter.
The Fighting Maroons were able to make a run as the UP started hitting their outside shots from James Spencer and also Henry Galinato's presence inside the paint cutting the lead to 6 points. The 3rd period finished with Ateneo still on top 60-52.
The UP crowd started flashing the lights from their mobile phones.
Both teams gave their all in the last period as UP still managed to cut the lead to 3 points after a three-pointer from Alarcon in the final seconds of the game.
Ateneo kept their composure and BJ Andrade sinks both free throws with 12 seconds left in the game.
With 0.7 seconds, Ateneo stormed to the court to celebrate leading to a technical where Zav Lucero took the bonus free throw.
Ateneo reclaimed the Men's Basketball crown as Angelo Koume was named finals MVP finishing the game with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks.
AWARDING
3rd Place - NU Bulldogs
2nd Place - UP Fighting Maroons
Champions - Ateneo Blue Eagles
It is also nice to bump with my friends from the media who has been covering games for years.
Also to my long lost brothers Shaun and Dave Ildefonso and ADMU courtside Julia Vargas.
Big thanks again to ABS-CBN Sports for the opportunity to cover sports again and hopefully more to come next year. Nice to see our team is growing.
Photos taken using Nikon D750 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
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