UAAP finals: Ateneo lifer Matt Nieto comfortable with any role if it leads to winning

MANILA, Philippines—After tallying a career-best 27 points in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 81 men's basketball finals, Matt Nieto was limited to just six points in Game 2 on Wednesday and yet the Ateneo guard could not be happier about it.

Nieto was the hero of the Blue Eagles' 88-79 triumph over University of the Philippines in last Saturday's Game 1, as he knocked down big shot after big shot in the fourth quarter to hold off the Fighting Maroons.

In Game 2, however, Nieto finished with only 6 points on 3-of-9 shooting, though he added 3 rebounds and 5 assists in 26 minutes of action. The Blue Eagles didn't need him to hit clutch shots, as they routed UP 99-81 to secure a second straight men's basketball title.

"First quarter pa lang, they put a defensive player sa akin, si Jarell (Lim), but you know that scoring isn't the first option for me, so I was really happy that they were guarding me, because I can set up my teammates," said Nieto.

Nieto spent the game setting the table for his teammates, with Ange Kouame and Thirdy Ravena being his primary beneficiaries. The highlight of the game came with 62 seconds left, when he dished off to Ravena for a two-handed jam.

"I saw Thirdy, he was in the zone, so I really tried to look for him," said Nieto, who added that he would have loved for Ravena to reach 40 points. Ravena, the eventual finals MVP, settled for a career-best 38.

"He really deserves that, kaya binigay ko sa kaniya 'yung points na 'yun. Because we know, deserving siya."

Ravena was no slouch in Game 1, putting up 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists. He and Nieto were hailed as the heroes then, but Nieto didn't mind ceding the spotlight to his teammate for the title-clinching game.

"Sabi niya nga, kaming dalawa 'yung nagdala ng Game 1. Sabi ko wala 'yun," he said.

" 'Yung Game 2 dapat, gusto ko kahit mababa 'yung score ko, basta 'yung lead namin malaki," Nieto stressed. "Mas pipiliin ko na manalo kami na 'yung margin (ganito), kesa 'yung hard-fought game na nag-27 ako."

"So I will choose to win in a blowout, kesa 'yung gitgitan na 27 points ako. I will take that every time."

Nieto, an Ateneo student since the preparatory level, has now won two championships on the collegiate level after winning one title in high school. He is hoping that in his final year in Season 82, he and twin brother Mike will graduate as champions.

"I wanna end my college career on a winning note," said Nieto. "Kasi after next year, 16 years in Ateneo, I will be graduating already, and I wanna end on a winning note, and I hope that my teammates will be there for me."

"(But) now, it's time to celebrate," he added.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

UAAP women's volleyball: La Salle rallies past Ateneo to win championship

MANILA, Philippines — For the second straight season, the De La Salle University Lady Spikers are the queens of UAAP women's volleyball.

In a thrilling showdown against their archrivals, the Lady Spikers showed their championship poise in hacking out a 19-25, 25-14, 18-25, 25-18, 15-10 victory over the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles in Game 2 of the Season 79 Finals at Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.

The hard-fought win allowed the Lady Spikers to sweep their best-of-three series over the Lady Eagles, and secure their second consecutive title. It was also their 10th overall championship, all of which came under the guidance of coach Ramil de Jesus.

"Siguro, sa lahat ng na-form ko na team, ito 'yung medyo roller-coaster [Of all the teams I've formed, this is the one that performed like a roller-coaster]," said De Jesus, referring to La Salle's relatively shaky elimination round campaign wherein they went 11-3, losing twice to Ateneo. "I'm very, very happy right now."

It was a balanced effort by the Lady Spikers, with last season's finals MVP Kianna Dy scoring 19 points, Tin Tiamzon 16 points, and eventual finals MVP Desiree Cheng contributing 12. Season 79 MVP Majoy Baron had 10 points.

It was not an easy victory for the Lady Spikers. Like Game 1, the Lady Eagles seized the first frame, though La Salle bounced back in the second set on the strength of graduating setter Kim Fajardo's spectacular service game.

Ateneo seized control of the match anew in the third, with Bea de Leon anchoring a 5-0 run through her serve that allowed the Lady Eagles to pull away, 13-10. They completely distanced themselves later, this time with Kim Gequillana coming through with an ace to spark a 4-0 attack, turning a slim 18-16 lead into a 22-16 advantage.

With Ateneo fans chanting "Game 3, Game 3" ahead of the fourth set, the Lady Spikers buckled down to work. The two squads traded points early, but La Salle took control midway, thanks to a series of errors by the Lady Eagles and an ace by Tiamzon.

Ateneo came as close as three points, 21-18, but La Salle ended the frame with four unanswered points capped by a resounding block by Dy on Michelle Morente.

"Sabi ko lang, ayaw kong umabot ng Game 3," said De Jesus of his message to the players ahead of the fourth set. "So sabi ko sa kanila, tatapusin natin ngayon. Maniwala lang kayo na tatapusin natin ngayon."

[I told them that I didn't want it to reach a Game 3. I told them that we will end it today, they just need to believe that they can end it today.]

The Lady Spikers raced out to a quick 6-1 lead in the fifth and deciding frame, forcing Ateneo to play catchup the rest of the way. The Lady Eagles had no answer for Tiamzon and Dy, who conspired to punch attacks through Ateneo's porous defense.

De Leon's net defense and Kim Gequillana's ace allowed the Lady Eagles to come to within two points, 10-8, but La Salle restored order immediately through Cheng and Tiamzon.

A swipe by Jhoana Maraguinot proved to be Ateneo's last stand, 10-14, before Baron's quick kill and an attack error by Maraguinot wrapped up the victory for the Lady Spikers.

It was a fitting ending to the UAAP career of Fajardo, who returned to the Lady Spikers for her final year and served as the inspiration of the team all throughout their title defense. The captain had six points on four aces, along with 43 excellent sets, in her final game for La Salle.

"She was my main inspiration for today's game," said Dy of the graduating Fajardo. "I'm happy that we were able to give her the exit that she deserves."

"Sobrang saya ko talaga," said Fajardo. "Hindi ko naramdaman na ako 'yung pinakamatanda sa amin. Hindi ko naramdaman na ako 'yung mag-isa, na ako lang 'yung lumalaban. Never ko na-feel 'yun."

[I'm so happy. I never once felt that I was the oldest person in the team, that I was alone in the fight. They never made me feel like that.]

Morente had 16 points for Ateneo, while De Leon and Maraguinot each tallied 14, and Kat Tolentino scored 10. Morado also had six points and 53 excellent sets to her credit.

However, for the second straight game, the Lady Eagles were unusually error-prone. They gave away 33 free points to La Salle due to their errors, and their spotty reception allowed the Lady Spikers to score 12 points off aces.

La Salle has now beaten Ateneo in four of their six Finals meetings dating back to Season 74.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

When did Kiefer earn his first million?

MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo star Kiefer Ravena, one of the most recognizable athletes in the Philippines today, is an endorser aside from being a basketball player.

ALhough he became a star because of his performance inside the basketball court, Ravena has since gained more fame because of the numerous endorsements he has with various products – some of which aren't at all related to sports.

So when did the 21-year-old Ravena earn his first million?

"I was 17," Ravena revealed to Anthony Taberna on "Tapatan Ni Tunying" on Thursday.

At the time, Ravena was coming off a spectacular high school career that saw him lead the Ateneo Blue Eaglets to a "three-peat."

Informed by Taberna that when he was 17, he was earning only P100 pesos in his job, Ravena simply smiled and said: "Sobrang blessed lang (ako)."

Aside from his endorsements, Ravena became ubiquitous due to his numerous magazine covers and television commercials. It also helps that he is active in social media and regularly engages fans.

Even though he is still an amateur player, Ravena has already earned some money because of his performance on the court.

During the awarding ceremonies of the UAAP Season 77 men's basketball tournament, Ravena walked away with a total cash prize of P280,000 after garnering several awards from the league's sponsors, while also winning the UAAP Most Valuable Player trophy.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Is Kiefer Ravena leaving basketball?

 

King Eagle to try out for Ateneo volleyball team

MANILA, Philippines – Season 77 UAAP Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kiefer Ravena is reportedly planning to shift sports as he bared plans to try out for the Ateneo men’s volleyball team next year.

Ravena told Spin.ph’s Mei-Lin Lozada that he already talked to Ateneo volleyball coach Oliver Almadro about joining the try outs.


"Magta-try out ako sa volleyball next year. Nakipag-usap na rin ako kay coach O," he said.

Ravena, whose parents were both volleyball players, said he is no stranger to the sport.

His mother, Mozzy Crisologo Ravena, was part of the University of Santo Tomas team that won titles in the late 1980s to the early 1990s. His father Bong Ravena also used to play volleyball before finding a career as a PBA player.

"Naging varsity ako dati noong elementary, tapos noong nasa Ateneo na ako di na pwede [mag-volleyball], isang [sport] na lang ang pwede," said Ravena.

His rumored girlfriend, Mika Reyes, also plays volleyball for La Salle.

Ravena already had two UAAP championships as part of the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

This year, however, the Blue Eagles failed to reach the finals after succumbing to the National University Bulldogs in the Final 4.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Ateneo Continues Bar Dominance

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo de Manila asserted its dominance in the Bar examinations, producing its third topnotcher in five years.

In the results of the 2011 Bar examinations released by the Supreme Court Wednesday, Atenean Raoul Angelo D. Atadero had the highest grade – 85.5363 percent. Ateneans also topped the Bar exams in 2007 and 2010.

The second and eighth placers in the 2011 exams are also from Ateneo. A total of 1,913 out of the 5,987 examinees who took the tests passed, or 31.95 percent, Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez, chief of the Supreme Court Public Information Office, said the number is the “second highest rate in the millennium.”

Also landing in the Top 10 are Luz Danielle O. Bolong, 2nd place, ADMU; Cherry Liez O. Rafal-Roble, 3rd place, Arellano University; Rosemil R. Banaga, 4th place, Notre Dame University; Christian Louie C. Gonzales, University of Santo Tomas, 5th place; Ivan M. Bandal, 6th place, Silliman University; Eireene Xina M. Acosta, 7th place, San Beda College; Irene Marie P. Qua, 8th place, ADMU; Elaine Marie G. Laceda, 9th place, Far Eastern University-DLSU; Rodolfo Q. Aquino, 10th place, San Beda College.

Atadero, the valedictorian of his class, and Bolong are new associates of Puno and Puno Law Offices. They joined the firm in February.

Supreme Court Justice Roberto A. Abad, chairman of the 2001 bar examinations committee, said the passers will take their oath as new lawyers on March 21 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

Abad said the passers may secure their clearances from the Supreme Court’s office of the Bar confidant during office hours Monday to Friday, starting Thursday.

source: mb.com.ph