Saving the best for last, Ryan Buenafe’s heroics in Game Two sealed Ateneo’s date with glory and history.

By: Geoff Latayan

All season long, Ryan Clarence Buenafe has been inconsistent. Purists thought that he cannot live with the hype that surrounded him since he donned the Ateneo jersey in 2008.

To further compound his woes, he came in to the season below game shape. There were instances this season that he delivers. There are times that he had a hard time contributing. He finished the elimination phase not expected of a third year super-prospect.

His offensive game was pedestrian. He just normed 7.7 points per game and shot low from the three point line as he missed 24 of his 26 shots there.

Then in their final four game against Adamson, he failed to produced a field goal in five attempts and only managed to score two points on free throws.

And in game one against FEU, Buenafe just matched his Final Four offensive output as he chipped in a measly two points.

Basically, nobody expected Buenafe to run rings against the much athletic FEU squad in game two with his lackluster stats but he was still starting for Coach Norman Black.

He scored the first two points for Ateneo with a slashing play to the hoop. But if you think that he was one and done, he was not. He led a Blue Eagle uprising in the latter stages of the second quarter.

His five consecutive points helped fuel a 10-0 run that gave the Blue Eagles the lead for the first time at 27-26.

Then in the third quarter, when they were behind by six, Buenafe scored six points on an 11-2 run to put them back in the driver’s seat at 45-42.

He had 13 points. Way above his average. That’s it? Well, surprisingly, not yet. He had some more in the stretch run and it all started with a split.

Buenafe made one of his two foul shots to give Ateneo the lead at 55-54. Then, he made a fadeaway to jack up the lead to three, 57-54.

Then, he made both freethrows and delivered another field goal after faking his defender to make it a two possession game at 61-56.

Three Tamaraw freethrows after, the Blue Eagles’ lead was trimmed to two at 61-59 and for Buenafe, it was time for some heroics and hysterics.

As the clock ticked by, Buenafe had the leather, dribbling away time at the three point area. All of a sudden, he launched, aimed and released the ball with confidence.

The ball went swishing through the net and with just 22 seconds remaining, all cheering for Ateneo were in a frenzy and all cheering for FEU went stunningly silent. It gave Ateneo a five point lead and insurance just in case FEU went sniping for threes.

Three plays later, Ateneo was declared back-to-back-to-back champions. And they could not have done it without Buenafe’s 23 big points.

Buenafe’s efforts gained him the Finals’ Most Valuable Player – a perfect reward for someone who is patient and persistent for his game to come out despite the fact that he came in not a hundred percent fit for this season.

With that virtuoso performance, Ryan became the hero, Ateneo faithfuls were waiting for. Another King Eagle has arrived with a big fight and a big heart in his arsenal.