MANILA, Philippines -- Kiefer Ravena waxed hot early on to set the tone of the Ateneo Blue Eagles' 68-59 taming of the defending UAAP champion NU Bulldogs on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Ravena scored all but three of the Eagles' 24 points in the opening quarter. The leading MVP candidate's explosion carried the Eagles to a third straight win to keep a firm hold of the third spot with a 7-4 win-loss card.
With Ravena in full throttle, the Eagles seized an eight-point lead which they never relinquished. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, dropped to 4-7 win-loss card and in danger of missing the Final Four.
It was a two-man show, practically, for the Eagles as Von Pessumal joined the scoring fray hitting 4-of-6 from the three-point zone en route to 20 points. Ravena went 6-of-11 to finish with a season-high 32 points.
Gelo Alolino tried to carry the fight for the Bulldogs with 17 points but their run fell short. They crept within four, 59-55, with 3:29 left in the game.
The Eagles, however, regrouped and steadied down the stretch to extend the Bulldogs' woes.