Ateneo takes Game 1
The Ateneo Blue Eagles’ resolute effort to slow down La Salle machine Ben Mbala left one of them bloodied. But it was all worth it in the end as the Eagles drew first blood in their showdown with the Archers for the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball crown, 76-70, last night before a huge crowd at the MOA Arena.
Mbala, who had a monster game when DLSU beat AdMU in their last meeting, struggled with eight points – a career low – on a three-of-seven clip from the floor and was hardly a factor in winning time. The two-time league MVP’s efficiency was also hampered by foul trouble, having committed his fourth early in the fourth.
AdMU assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga said it was a defense “by committee” against the Cameroonian star.
“It was a team effort,” said Arespacochaga after the pulsating Game One victory before a 15,114-strong crowd. “We couldn’t play Ben straight up, one on one; we needed to come up with a scheme where all our five guys will have to come up and do their roles in the overall scheme to slow down Ben. That’s important for us.”
The Eagles held the Archers to a meager 12 in the payoff period and a season-low 70 this season as they now put themselves in good position to dethrone their rivals with another win in Game Two on Wednesday.
Starting guard Matt Nieto was a casualty of an accidental elbow from Mbala while trying to draw an offensive foul, suffering a cut above his left eye.
The sight of his twin brother bloodied fueled Mike to rack up 11 straight points bridging the third and fourth as he helped AdMU take a 69-59 cushion.
As expected, the Archers mounted a fightback and threatened at 70-71 but the Eagles were ready to counter. Thirdy Ravena followed up an Anton Asistio missed trey to give Ateneo breathing room, then sealed it with a pinpoint assist to Isaac Go, who made good on the opportunity this time and knocked down the insurance three-point play, 76-70, with 10.4 seconds left.
“When I saw my brother down and bloodied, it motivated me. I wanted to retaliate at La Salle not by hurting them physically but helping the team win and stepping up,” said Mike.
“I’m willing to sacrifice my face, my body, just to help the team win possession,” said Matt.
The Nieto twins finished with 11 apiece to backstop Thirdy Ravena’s 12.
With Mbala held down, Aljun Melecio took scoring cudgels for DLSU with 24, but he was also shut down in the last 2:27.