MANILA – The Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Blue Eagles executed its game plan to the letter and came out with a 71-58 victory over the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors for its second consecutive men’s basketball crown in the 72nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

The Blue Eagles outrebounded, outhustled and outsmarted the Warriors in the deciding game before 18,851 UAAP fans at the Araneta Coliseum on Thursday.

“Today, the focus was much better and we came out with a lot of energy,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black. “Believe it or not, we had a game plan in Game 2. When we got back to practice, I showed them the tape, but before that, I asked them straight: Do you think you followed me?”

And follow Black’s instructions they did.

Rabeh Al-Hussaini finally got his shots inside the paint while Jai Reyes found his range outside as the duo orchestrated what they did in Game One, powering the Eagles to their second back-to-back title romp in UAAP history.

Al-Hussaini pumped in 11 of his game-high 21 points while Reyes hit three triples to combine for a total of 16 points in the third quarter. This was a direct opposite of UE’s measly 4 points in the second period.

The Warriors lost their rhythm after the Eagles dropped an 8-0 bomb with 3:16 left in the opening period.

The Eagles hiked their lead to as much as 20 before eventually relaxing in the final seconds of the fourth quarter when the game was already under wraps.

The win duplicated Ateneo’s back-to-back title in the 1987 and 1988 seasons, the first two of their five titles in the UAAP.

It was Ateneo all the way as they avenged their loss last Sunday to the Warriors. UE humiliated them with a big 88-68 win in Game Two.

Al-Hussaini capped his five-year collegiate career winning the Finals MVP after averaging 22.3 points and 11.7 rebounds in the series.

“Di talaga ako makatulog. Actually, 6 a.m. na ako kanina nakatulog just thinking na dapat manalo kami. ‘Di ako papayag na uuwing luhaan, last year ko na eh. All I was thinking was to play without no regrets,” Al-Hussaini said.

Paul Lee and Elmer Espiritu tried to carry the Warriors but they could not just overcome the championship-savvy Eagles.

Lee top scored the Warriors with 21 points while Espiritu, who played his last UAAP game, wound up with 16 points.

Espiritu’s front-court partner Pari Llagas was conspicuously absent in the motion of things, scoring only 3 points all from the stripes.

Llagas, who will also graduate this year, shot 0-for-8 in the face of Al-Hussaini’s dominant defense.

“Siguro it was not really meant for us. Kumbaga, sa law of averages, naabutan kami. No excuses, but we lost to a better team today.
They played as true champions, we were just pretenders,” said UE coach Lawrence Chongson.

“Mentally and emotionally, they (Eagles) were more prepared than my team,” he added. By Alder T. Almo

The scores:

ADMU 71 – Al-Hussaini 21, Reyes 16, Buenafe 10, Baclao 8, Salamat 7, Long 7, Salva 2, Monfort 0, Austria 0.

UE 58 – Lee 21, Espiritu 16, Acuna 8, Lingganay 5, Zamar 3, Llagas 3, Flores 2, Reyes 0, Duran 0, Ayala 0.

Quarters: 21-17, 40-25, 57-41, 71-58.