Rookie phenom Ravena helps Ateneo beat San Beda in preseason meet

Kiefer Ravena ended questions on whether the former high school phenom can live up to all the hype surrounding his young collegiate basketball career. In his second collegiate game wearing the blue-and-white Ateneo uniform, Ravena gifted the Blue Eagle faithful with 25 points and four assists - including a pivotal alley-hoop pass to Greg Slaughter in the final seconds - to lift the Katipunan-based squad to a 90-87 win over San Beda in the Fil-Oil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup at The Arena in San Juan. Ravena's timely feed to a streaking Slaughter, who made a two-handed slam, pushed Ateneo's lead to 87-82 with 25.3 seconds left in the game clock. More importantly, that play seemed to tell everyone that the former Blue Eaglet is living up to the hype. "I think his game speaks for itself," said Ateneo coach Norman Black. "That's the reason why we strongly recruited him." The 17-year-old son of ex-pro cager Bong and former volleyball player Mozzie, said that he was very nervous prior to the game although it didn't look that way as he shot 10-of-12 from the field, had three rebounds and two steals. "Kinakabahan talaga ako pero good thing coach Norman gave me an opportunity to help the team win," said Ravena, who actually played his first summer game in the Fr. Martin Summer Cup against St. Claire days ago. Slaughter paced Ateneo with 26 points and two blocks but only had two rebounds. Ateneo has just begun preparing for the collegiate tournament in the third week of March with Black admitting that Slaughter doesn't know the system yet. "We are not in good condition. This is just our second game this summer. Give us about a month and we will be in good shape," said Black. The Red Lions were able to close in at 77-79, with two minutes and 30 seconds left in the game. Ravena took over for Ateneo after that. A Ravena fade-away jumper and Nico Salva's two free throws gave Ateneo an 85-79 spread, 48.3 ticks left in the clock.0 Anthony Semerad drained a triple for San Beda for an 82-85 count, but Slaughter's jam, from a Ravena feed, sealed the outcome of the contest. “Hindi pa talaga kami nakakalaro together pero iba talaga kapag malaki ka, kahit anong bato, masasalo," said Ravena, referring to his alley-hoop pass to Slaughter. Nigerian Ola Adeogun had a game-high 30 points, while Garvo Lanete and Melo Lim scored 15 and 10 each for the Red Lions. Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Renauld "Sonny" Barrios led the ceremonial toss to open the game with SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan at the sidelines to watch the game between the teams that he financially supports. In the second game, University of Santo Tomas had a rousing Premier Cup debut in posting a 79-70 triumph over La Salle. Jeric Fortuna finished with 20 points, shooting 4-of-9 from beyond the arc to go with his eight rebounds and seven assists. "Kahit papano nahuhulog 'yung mga tira nila," said UST coach Pido Jarencio. Carmelo Afuang added 19 markers and nine boards, while Clarke Bautista finished with 16 points despite a 4-of-13 shooting from the three-point range for the Tigers. The Tigers enjoyed a 47-33 halftime spread, but allowed the Green Archers to cut the deficit to three points (68-65) in the final quarter. Fortuna kept UST out of harms way when he buried a running shot, while UAAP juniors division MVP Kevin Ferrer drained a step-back triple to push the Tigers' lead back to eight, 73-65. Jovet Mendoza led La Salle with 15 points, while Norbert Torres and Simon Atkins netted 11 apiece. - Reuben Terrado, JVP, GMA News