We didn’t really talk about 16-0 this season because we don’t want it to be our goal.

THIRDY Ravena delivers a masterful performance in his final game for Ateneo. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG @tribunephl_dvd

Ateneo de Manila University completed the first perfect season in the Final Four era en route to its third straight crown.

The mighty Blue Eagles showed their championship composure down the stretch against a different University of Santo Tomas (UST) squad, 86-79, in Game 2 of Season 82 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball finals to sweep their best-of-three series last night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Unlike in its 91-77 win in Game 1, Ateneo had to dig deep in the second game and had to bank on SJ Belangel’s timely three-pointers when the Growling Tigers threatened to overtake them with their defense.

Thirdy Ravena ended his collegiate career with another Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) performance, netting 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists while Belangel added a career-high 15 markers, all beyond the arc, where he shot 5-of-10.

“It’s been great five years. Thank you Ateneo,” said Ravena, who exploded for 32 points in Game 1 to bring home his second straight Finals MVP award.

The graduating Matt Nieto also put up solid numbers in his farewell game with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Blue Eagles, who finished Season 82 with a 16-0 win-loss record and the only school to score two three-peats in the Final Four era.

“I can probably talk all day about this team but I won’t. We didn’t really talk about 16-0 this season because we don’t want it to be our goal,” Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin said.

“This season has made me a better season and working with these guys made me a better person,” he added. “It’s very humbling when these men sacrificed their ego, their time. One thing they didn’t sacrifice is their love of the game.”

Ravena and Nieto had to thank Belangel as his timely baskets in the second half doused the uprising of UST.

“This is really for the seniors. At halftime, we talked about it. To give our all for the seniors,” said Belangel, referring to Ravena, Matt and Mike Nieto, Isaac Go and Adrian Wong who all played their final game as Blue Eagles.

UST trailed 10 at the half, 32-42, and made a run in the fourth period as CJ Cansino’s basket put his team within one, 66-67 with 7:49 left in the game.

Belangel then drilled a huge triple in the next play and Ravena added with a drive to restore order for Ateneo, 72-66, 6:11 remaining.

Sherwin Concepcion’s triple capped another uprising by the Growling Tigers to slice the Blue Eagles’ lead to 71-75 but Ateneo answered with a decisive 8-0 blast capped by the alley-oop slam by Ange Kouame for an 83-71 spread with 2:20 left.

UST never recovered from those blows and though it cut the lead to single digit in the closing seconds as time was not on its side to settle for the runner-up finish.

Rhenz Abando paced the Growling Tigers with 16 points, a much better effort from his three-point output in Game 1 while Rookie of the Year winner Mark Nonoy added 14 markers.

Season 82 Most Valuable Player Soulemane Chabi Yo had 11 points and 19 rebounds for UST, which had three players graduating this year in stepladder semis hero Renzo Subido, Zach Huang and Enrique Caunan.