DE LA SALLE TAKES GAME 1
Games Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 11 a.m. - La Salle vs NU (Women’s) 4 p.m. - Ateneo vs La Salle (Men’s)
Jeron Teng’s desire of ending his UAAP career with a championship was in full display when push came to shove last night.
Teng scored the go-ahead basket before producing a crucial block on the other end as the La Salle Green Archers moved a win shy of capturing the crown by surviving the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 67-65, in Game 1 of their best-of-three series at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The undisputed face of the Green Archers gave his team a 66-65 lead with 15.1 seconds left before blocking Aaron Black’s jumper on the return play to pull off an escape act after losing leads of 14 in the first quarter and 13 in the third.
He had only 10 points on 5-of-13 shooting but his heroics during the cardiac moments of the series opener watched by 16,712 fans put La Salle on the cusp of a ninth championship in school history.
“Yung basket siguro instinct na lang ‘yun eh. Ben (Mbala) did a good job sealing, I saw an opening kaya nakuha ko ‘yung layup,” said Teng.
“Yung (block) kay Aaron, wala na crunch time na ‘yun, parang adrenalin na ‘yun, buti na lang natamaan ko ‘yung bola.”
La Salle coach Aldin Ayo, who is closing in on fulfilling the mission of winning the championship after guiding Letran to an improbable NCAA title run, admitted that he was at a blur when asked about the moments that led to the victory.
Ayo had every reason to after Ateneo took its only lead at 65-64 when Matt Nieto scored off a Aljun Melecio foul with 34.6 seconds. Nieto missed the bonus free throw, but the Blue Eagles kept the possession when Chibueze Ikeh beat Mbala during the rebound play.
However, Thirdy Ravena lost the ball – his second turnover during the homestretch – when he was stripped by Kib Montalbo, setting the stage for Teng to have his finest hour.
Teng drove past Mike Nieto for the layup that put La Salle ahead for good. But he was far done as he swatted Black’s shot from the right side, leading to a split by Montalbo with three seconds remaining for the final count.
That set the stage for Teng to have his finest hour, first driving past Mike Nieto for the go-ahead layup. But Teng was far from done as he foiled Black’s shot from the right side, leading to a split by Kib Montalbo with three seconds remaining for the final count.
“Gustong manalo,” Ayo said, saying his team was very focused in the days leading up to the series after playing uninspired in the narrow Final Four victory over Adamson.
Mbala finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds for the Green Archers, who can finish off their archrivals with another victory on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Black was the only double-digit scorer for Ateneo with 12 points, Ikeh had eight points and nine rebounds as he made a good account of himself after Final Four hero Isaac Go struggled with only six points and two rebounds.
Losing coach Tab Baldwin rued his team’s terrible start that saw Ateneo trailing, 16-2, before settling in the next three quarters to turn it into what the former Gilas Pilipinas tactician described as a “classic battle.”
Scores: LA SALLE 67 — Mbala 20, Melecio 12, Teng 10, Sargent 7, Torres 5, Montalbo 4, Rivero P. 3, Tratter 3, Rivero R. 2, Caracut 1, Perkins 0, Baltazar 0. ATENEO 65 — Black 12, Wong 9, Ravena 8, Ikeh 8, Nieto Mi. 8, Go 6, Verano 5, Nieto Ma. 5, Tolentino 2, Asistio 2, Porter 0, Mendoza 0. Quarters: 19-6; 36-26; 52-52; 67-65.