FilOil: Ateneo trips UE despite Ravena's poor shooting

Ateneo survived Kiefer Ravena's poor shooting to beat University of the East, 79-73, on Wednesday in the FilOil Flying V Preseason Cup at The Arena in San Juan City.   Ravena only shot 30 percent from the field but led the Blue Eagles in scoring with 16 points thanks to a 9-of-10 clip from the free throw line while Oping Sumalinog added 15 markers.   UAAP Finals Most Valuable Player Nico Salva and big man Justin Chua also finished in double digits for Ateneo with 14 and 10 points each.   Rookie guard Roi Sumang paced the Red Warriors with 16 markers, while Chris Javier and Pedrito Gallanza had 11 points apiece.   UE, trailing 60-59 entering the fourth quarter, went on an 8-2 run to retake the lead since the two-minute mark of the opening period.   Ateneo guard Tonino Gonzaga completed a three-point play to move the Blue Eagles within to, 67-65.   A Salva lay-up tied the count but Sumang countered with a deuce at the other end to keep UE on top with three minutes and 34 seconds remaining. Salva's hook shot knotted the count once more.   Ravena's completed three-point play put Ateneo on top up for good, 72-69. The Katipunan-based dribblers, with the Red Warriors already in the penalty, continuously attacked the basket sending a Blue Eagle to the free throw line.   The Warriors failed to score after that with Javier's consecutive baskets ending the drought in the final minute, which later became the final tally.   Ravena and Salva scored Ateneo's last 14 points, nine of which came from the free throw line. Ateneo made 32-of-37 from the stripe against UE's 8-of-11, four of which came from Sumang.   Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga used nine players that saw at least 15 minutes of floor time. "One of the luxuries we have is having a deep bench, although the chemistry's not quite there yet."   In the first quarter, Salva scored inside and out, tallying six straight points to put Ateneo on the scoreboard. Sumang had five points as UE matched Ateneo's every basket for a slim 11-10 edge with 3:50 left in the first period.   Chua continued to be the Blue Eagles' force inside the paint at the start of the second period, making back-to-back baskets and finding an open Sumalinog for a 10-3 exchange.   Ateneo used its size to score inside while UE was content to bomb away from outside with Sumang nailing the Red Warriors' fourth three-pointer to keep the game close, 25-20.   Ian Valdez made another trey in the last minute, with Ravena answering with a triple in Ateneo's next possession to keep the Blue Eagles ahead, 37-32, at the turn.   Ateneo notched its third straight win for a 5-1 card while UE dropped to 1-3 with its third consecutive loss. — JVP, GMA News Scores: