MANILA – Like their senior counterparts, the Ateneo Blue Eaglets are back in the UAAP Finals to defend their title.

But unlike the Blue Eagles’ easy win, the Blue Eaglets went through the eye of a needle before putting away the stubborn University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tiger Cubs, 73-68, on Tuesday in the 72nd UAAP Juniors Final Four at the FilOil Flying V Arena.

Raphael Banal and Kiefer Ravena combined for 13 of their total 46 points in a big second quarter run as the Eaglets pulled away from a tight game.

The Eaglets outscored the Cubs, 22-10, in that canto to set up a 41-29 halftime advantage, which they held on until the buzzer.

The Cubs, who entered the Final Four with a twice-to- beat advantage and a 2-0 record against the Eaglets in the elimination, made a comeback run in the second half but fell short.

It was their second straight loss to the Eaglets after suffering a 66-72 setback in Game 1.

Ravena, the son of former PBA Rookie of the Year Bong Ravena, finished with 24 points on top of eight rebounds and nine assists to pace the Eaglets.

Banal, the son of former Blue Eagles coach Joel Banal, scored 22 points in just 23 minutes of action off the bench.

The win paved the way for a face-off between archrivals Blue Eaglets and De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers in the finals.

The top seed Junior Archers clinched the first Finals seat last weekend after an easy 86-69 win against MVP Terrence Romeo and the rest of the Far Eastern University-FERN Baby Tamaraws.

The best-of-three championship will start on Saturday at 4 p.m. right after the 2 p.m. Game 1 Finals encounter between FEU and Adamson University in the women’s play. -- Alder T. Almo

The scores:

ADMU 73 – Ravena 24, Banal 22, Capacio 8, Sinco 5, Romero 4, Dumrique 4, Reyes 2, Pessumal 2, Bugarin 2, Unson 0, Tenorio 0, Pe 0, Daez 0, Armena 0, Alonte 0.

UST 68 – Neypes 20, Ferrer 18, Labing-isa 12, Dia 9, Jimenez 6, Riva 2, Inciong 1, Sumampong 0, Gonzales 0.

Quarters: 19-19, 41-29, 56-47, 73-68.

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