Game on Sunday (Ynares Sports Arena)
3:30 p.m. — FEU vs. Ateneo

Ateneo came back strong from a disappointing loss last Wednesday by dismantling Far Eastern University, 90-63, Thursday to force a rubber match for the 2009 Philippine Collegiate Champions League crown at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Sophomore forward Nico Salva put on a huge offensive splurge along with veteran guard Eric Salamat as the Blue Eagles denied the Tamaraws' bid to win a record third PCCL championship.

By extending the series to a winner-take-all third game, the Loyola-based squad can add a third championship in this calendar year with a victory on Sunday.

The Eagles, who squandered a 14-point first half lead in Game 1, needed just a 17-0 blast in the second quarter to set the tone for the Game 2 rout.

"I think we played much better defense and more focused and that was the key. Even though we were winning majority of Game 1, we really didn't play defense the entire game," Ateneo head coach Norman Black said.

Salva poured 26 points on 11-of-18 shooting and hauled down eight rebounds in a performance Black described as a career game for the formed San Beda Red Club.

"He's one of the players that will be very prominent in our future in the UAAP and I'm happy for him that he played a great game," Black said.

Salamat banged in 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting along with two rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while big man Nonoy Baclao added 11 points and eight rebounds.

The scores:
ATENEO 90 — Salva 26, Salamat 20, Baclao 11, Sumalinog 8, Buenafe 6, Long 5, Reyes 5, Gonzaga 3, Chua 2, Austria 2, Monfort 2, Golla 0, Burke 0, de Chavez 0, Tiongson 0.
FEU 63 — Cawaling 18, Ramos 12, Cervantes 12, Sanga 8, Vinluan 4, Exciminiano 2, Knuttel 2, Manalo 2, Garcia 2, Noundou 1, Guerrero 0.
Quarters: 17-15, 42-33, 69-49, 90-63.