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Source: Joey Villar, philstar.com

-- Ateneo and Far Eastern U pulled off contrasting victories over separate rivals yesterday to finally seal an aborted UAAP finale in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City.

The Eagles bucked the absence of UAAP finals MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini as the rest stepped up to tame the San Beda Lions, this year’s NCAA runners-up, 81-69.

The Tams leaned on RR Garcia in the dying seconds to repulse the NCAA champion San Sebastian Stags in a gripping 86-83 overtime win to arrange what promises to be an explosive best-of-three title series beginning tomorrow.

Chris Sumalinog, Jai Reyes and Eric Salamat each fired 14 points while Ryan Buenafe and Noy Baclao added in 13 and 11 points, respectively, as they more than made up for the absence of Al-Hussaini, who is with Smart Gilas Pilipinas.

The twin wins thus set a championship duel between two teams tipped to dispute this year’s UAAP crown before University of the East foiled their bid and snatched the other finals berth.

“We’re hoping to play a little bit better in the finals. We’re still not complete but we’re doing the best we can to make for it,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black, whose charges topped this same event two years ago.

The Stags and the Lions, who also figured in the NCAA finals, dispute third place honors in their own series.

Garcia fired a game-high 28 points, including 10 in overtime to help power the Tams to the hard-earned win.

“He played big time, he just saved us in this game,” said FEU coach Glenn Capacio of his talented rookie guard from Zamboanga.