Contrary to today’s basketball norms, the Ateneo de Manila University employed big ball to equalize the best-of-three UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball finals against defending champions University of the Philippines (UP), 65-55, Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Blue Eagles, shooting poor from the outside in the finals, lorded the shaded area, collected numerous fouls, and erected a lead as huge as 15 points in the second quarter that has proven to be insurmountable to frustrate the Fighting Maroons’ attempt to finish the series.

Senior Ange Kouame, last season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) who missed an individual award this season, led Ateneo with 19 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks and is poised to win Finals MVP if Ateneo wins on Monday.

But it was his fellow bigs who proved crucial in the game.

With coach Tab Baldwin employing a double to triple post offense, seldom used Geo Chiu and Matt Daves sank crucial baskets whenever UP countered.

The bench duo combined for 12 points and four rebounds off 87 per cent shooting.

Prized rookie forward Kai Ballungay added 15 points and five rebounds off 70 per cent shooting, bouncing back big time from his Game One performance of zero points.

“When I said we have the DNA of underdogs, I wasn’t joking,” Baldwin said after the game.“Now we have every reason in the world to fight and every reason to believe.”

The Fighting Maroons tried to cram their way back in the fourth quarter, as wounded big man Carl Tamayo seven of his team-high 15 points late in the game, but a chance to mince the lead to seven points was wasted when gravity pulled down Henry Galinato’s wide open dunk attempt that could have been an easy layup.

JD Cagulangan was the only Fighting Maroon in double figure with 11 points but the disappointment came from newly-crowned season MVP Malick Diouf, who only afforded two points.

Meanwhile, UP star forward Zave Lucero suffered a non-contact knee injury early in the fourth quarter during a drive attempt.

In a report by UP courtside reporter Carla Elizaga, Lucero said that he heard a crack when he planted his left foot hard on the floor during the drive.

UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon said that Lucero will undergo an MRI scan Thursday to properly diagnose his injury.

The scores

Ateneo 65 – Kouame 19, Ballungay 15, Padrigao 15, Chiu 6, Daves 6, Ildefonso 3, Gomez 2, Lazaro 2, Koon 1, Andrade 0, Quitevis 0

UP 55 – Tamayo 15, Cagulangan 11, Fortea 9, Lucero 6, Alarcon 5, Abadiano 4, Diouf 2, Galinato 2, Spencer 1, Calimag 0, Gonzales 0, Lina 0

Quarter scores: 20-19, 41-33, 57-44, 65-55

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