After UAAP Season 79’s surprise runner-up finish, the Ateneo Blue Eagles entered Season 80 as one of the favorites to win it all. It was finals or bust for the team. However, the Katipunan-based squad found themselves on the brink of elimination when they trailed against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 72-75, in game two of the UAAP Men’s Basketball Semi-finals.
After the Blue Eagles suffered a heartbreaking loss against De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers in the final game of the elimination round, the Blue Eagles missed out on an outright finals berth. As a result, Ateneo needed to go through the usual Final Four format, entering the semi-finals with a twice-to-beat advantage against a familiar foe in the fourth-seeded FEU Tamaraws.
Hungover from their loss against the Green Archers in the elimination round, Ateneo played a mediocre outing in game one. The Blue Eagles shot a meager 36% from the field while also tallying 16 turnovers, leading to a shocking 67-80 loss to the Tamaraws. “We came [out] flat footed. We were [already] looking forward to La Salle,” shared skipper Isaac Go.
In the do-or-die game two, Ateneo once again found themselves on the verge of a disappointing finish as they trailed FEU, 72-75, with 14.5 seconds remaining in regulation. After Isaac Go missed the game-winner against DLSU in the elimination round, he did not expect Coach Tab Baldwin to trust him with the game-tying shot. “I remember coach Tab calling a timeout, and the first thing he said is, ‘George, you’re gonna shoot this. No questions asked.’” shared Go.
With FEU’s bigs in foul trouble, Coach Tab took advantage of Go’s 6’8” frame, as he knew that the Tamaraws would go small. “[Coach Tab said to me], ‘They’re going to switch, so you could probably shoot over these guards.’” recalled Go.
Off the time-out, Go received the inbounds pass in the high post and handed the ball off to Matt Nieto. As Go popped behind the arc, Nieto quickly swung the ball back to the sweet-shooting center. Catching the ball with his feet firmly planted, Go gave FEU’s Ron Dennison a quick pump-fake, then shot a high-arching three-pointer over Richard Escoto. Nothing but net. With their season on the line, Go redeemed himself.
With 8.5 seconds remaining and the game tied at 75-all, Go continued his heroics on the defensive end as he stripped Arvin Tolentino’s potential game-winning shot.
Go once again stepped up to the occasion during overtime. Ateneo led FEU, 85-82, with around 23 seconds remaining, a missed three from Matt Nieto bounced into the hands of Go while being entangled with FEU’s Jasper Parker. While kneeling on the floor, Go surprisingly shot the ball and banked in a crucial basket to bring Ateneo’s lead to five. “In that split second, the decision I made was that I had to shoot it,” shared Go.
Ateneo went on to win the game, 88-84, to advance to the finals. In the championship series, they bested archrivals DLSU in three games to grab their first championship in five years.
From the loss to DLSU in the elimination round to a lackluster start in the semifinals, one thing is for certain. Isaac Go’s game two performance against FEU in the semifinals is one of the foundations of the Blue Eagles’ eventual three-peat run.
