THIRDY Ravena came up with the big baskets in a tough start for Cignal-Ateneo before the Eagles found their rhythm to score a 100-73 rout of Valencia City Bukidnon-SSCR on Thursday and reach the PBA D-League Finals at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The two-time UAAP Finals MVP dropped 14 of his 19 points in the first half as the Blue Eagles bucked a slow start which saw them crawl fall behind by 12 points, 26-14.
Ravena also had five rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block to lead Cignal-Ateneo in sweeping the best-of-three semifinals series.
The Blue Eagles got their act together after the halftime break, going on a 20-2 eruption to start the third period to grab a 70-47 lead, which would swell to as high as 29 points, 81-52, on an Isaac Go triple in the early goings of the fourth.
Go wound up with 13 points on 3-of-8 shooting from downtown, to go with six boards, as Ivorian slotman Ange Kouame had a double-double of 12 points and 18 rebounds.
"Everything that were doing is in preparation for the UAAP. It's a big help for us entering the Finals, but we can't be happy with just that," said deputy coach Sandy Arespacochaga.
Cignal-Ateneo reached the championship round in its maiden foray in the developmental league. It faces either Centro Escolar University or St. Clare College Virtual Reality in the best-of-five titular showdown.
Valencia-SSCR lost Allyn Bulanadi early in the game, with the versatile forward dislocating his right shoulder at the 8:05 mark of the first quarter.
RK Ilagan was the shining light for the Golden Harvest with 22 points on a 4-of-12 shooting from threes, to go with 11 rebounds and five assists, as Alvin Capobres had 14 in the defeat.
The scores:
Cignal-Ateneo 100 - Ravena 19, Go 13, Kouame 12, Andrade 11, Ma. Nieto 9, Mendoza 8, Belangel 8, Mi. Nieto 7, Daves 6, Wong 4, Tio 3, Navarro 0, Credo 0.
Valencia-SSCR 73 - Ilagan 22, Capobres 14, Calma 13, Bonleon 8, Are 6, Villapando 3, Tero 3, Sumoda 2, Altamirano 2, Dela Cruz 0, Desoyo 0, Calahat 0, Bulanadi 0, Loristo 0.
Quarterscores: 19-28; 50-45; 78-52; 100-73.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph