ALLAN THE MAN

MANILA, Philippines - The Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles made sure that there will be no repeat of 2006 as they defeated the University of Sto. Tomas Growling Tigers, 65-62, in Game Two of the UAAP Season 75 Finals to win their fifth straight men's basketball championship.

Over 20,000 fans trooped to the Araneta Coliseum Thursday to watch Game Two, with the Growling Tigers looking to pull off their most epic comeback yet and force a do-or-die Game Three.

Ateneo de Manila University used a monster second half start before relying on its championship composure in the endgame to upend University of Santo Tomas, 83-78, in Game One of the UAAP Season 75 finals Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The Blue Eagles opened the third quarter with a 17-0 run that turned a 38-31 halftime deficit into a 48-38 lead. The Growling Tigers came back to briefly retake the lead in the fourth, but several Ateneo players, including Kiefer Ravena who scored with 8.8 seconds to clinch the game, made crucial baskets late as the Blue Eagles took an early lead in their best-of-three championship series.

Ateneo Blue Eagles see University of Santo Tomas as its toughest finals foe yet in in a dream run in the UAAP seniors basketball championship that has put the Eagles on the threshold of a fifth straight title.

“This might be the hardest championship to win because UST is a tough opponent,” said Ateneo team manager Paolo Trillo during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Shakey’s Malate.

“To close out a championship mahirap at nakakapagod kaya focus right now is prepare the best we can,” Trillo added.

The NCAA is the most-watched Philippine collegiate basketball league on television, according to Nielsen television data.

Since its transfer to AKTV this season, NCAA games have averaged 200,000 viewers from games on June 23 to August 18, according to Nielsen’s national urban television audience measurement (NUTAM) data. This translates to 13 percent more viewers for NCAA over UAAP.