DLSU forces a decider
La Salle Green Archers down Ateneo Blue Eagles, 92-83
THE best-of-three University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80 men’s basketball finals affair is going the full route after the defending champions De La Salle Green Archers came from behind to take Game Two, 92-83, yesterday at a jam-packed Smart Araneta Coliseum to level the series.
Had it rough in the opening half of the match that saw them fall by as much as 21 points at one instance, the Archers turned the tables on the Eagles in the second fold to come back and force a winner- take- all on Sunday.
The game got off to a tight start with the two teams fighting to a 6- 5 affair early with Ateneo on top.
The Eagles though would explode from beyond the arc, led by guard Anton Asistio, and started to create some distance.
Ateneo established a 21-7 lead halfway into the opening frame and eventually wound up with a 32-15 cushion at the end of the quarter.
The Katipunan-based Eagles would continue to hold sway to begin the second quarter, taking a 21-point advantage, 49-28, in the last few minutes of the quarter.
But La Salle would finish strong, behind Ben Mbala and Aljun Melecio, outscoring Ateneo, 14-3, to narrow its deficit to just 11 points, 51-42, by the halftime break.
Taking cue from their run as the first half drew to a close, the Archers kept crowding the Eagles to start the third canto and slowly chipped away on the latter’s lead.
La Salle’s efforts paid off as the quarter progressed as it was able to tie the count at 56-all with three minutes remaining.
It would use it as a springboard to build a 62- 58 lead with 1: 44 to go before settling for a 68-59 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes.
The Eagles opened the fourth period with five quick points in the first minute to come within 68-63.
La Salle steadied its ship thereafter, re- establishing control and taking a 76-70 lead with five minutes to play. It then extended its advantage in the next minute, 85-72, as Ricci Rivero waxed hot.
Ateneo tried to claw its way back, coming to within seven points, 90- 83, with 34 seconds left on the clock.
But La Salle would stand its ground to complete the comefrom-behind victory.
Mbala led La Salle with 20 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks with Rivero adding 18 points.
Guard Andrei Caracut bounced back from a so-so performance in Game One to finish with 13 points while Melecio added 12.
Ateneo, meanwhile, was paced by Thirdy Ravena with 20 points, with Aaron Black and Asistio tallying 15 and 13 points, respectively.
Isaac Go and Matt Nieto were the two other Ateneo players who scored in double-digits.
“In the first half the players were overeager. But we told the boys to settle down and focused on what we needed to do,” said La Salle assistant coach Miggy Solitaria in the postgame press conference.
“The players really played with a lot of heart in the second half and we’re happy to be able to pull off the victory and send the game into a winner-take-all match,” he added.
Game Three of the finals will also be at the Big Dome at 3:30 p.m.
Meanwhile earlier in the day, Mbala officially claimed his second consecutive UAAP most valuable player award.
Compiling 77.29 statistical points and averaging 26 points, 13.1 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.5 blocks in the elimination round, Mbala proved once again that he is the best player in the UAAP right now.
He also led the Mythical Five Selection which also includes Alvin Pasaol of the University of the East, Jayjay Alejandro of National University, La Salle’s Ricci Rivero and Ateneo’s Ravena.
Winning rookie of the year, meanwhile, was Juan Gomez de Liano of the University of the Philippines.