Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — FEU Tamaraws swept Ateneo Blue Eagles with a 66-61 victory in the second round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines on Sunday (October 11) at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
But unlike their blowout first-round skirmish, FEU had to go through a rough road to overcome a Kiefer Ravena-led Ateneo this time.
In a game that was tight for the most part, the Tamaraws pulled away only late in the fourth quarter behind Mac Belo.
Belo tallied 12 points, including a timely fadeaway with 3:20 left to quell a run by the Blue Eagles.
FEU broke the 47-all deadlock with seven straight points to take a 54-47 lead.
Ravena then took matters into his own hands and scored 11 points from there, the last of which was a floater inside the final minute that gave Ateneo a ray of light, 61-64.
But Russel Escoto and Roger Pogoy scored one each from the foul line after that to seal the win for the Tamaraws.
With a superior 7-1 win-loss record, FEU assured itself of at least a share of the top spot after the UST Growling Tigers-De La Salle Green Archers match at 4 p.m. later.
