La Salle takes game 1 of UAAP Finals despite a late run of Ateneo
Manila, Philippines — La Salle draw first blood of their best of 3 games of the UAAP season 79 final against Ateneo Blue Eagles in a crucial win (67-65).
La Salle Green Archers nearly collapse at the end, but prevailed as the winners when Jeron Teng delivered a clutch lay-up in the dying seconds of the game.
Photo by Jonathan Cellona via ABS-CBN News
First Quarter
La Salle, who show early their skills why they are in number 1 seed this UAAP Finals Season 79. They easily pushed 14-2 run under 4:06 minutes to play 6 of them from Jeron Teng. That leads extend to (19-4) after a monster dunk of Ikeh assisted by Ravena, but La Salle still managed by 13pts lead (19-6) in the opening period.
Second Quarter
Aaron Black open the quarter with a triple but the presence of Mbala in La Salle puts the Blue Eagles a lot of trouble when they must double team the big man. Ateneo slowly trims the lead as they are now behind by 4pts (26-22) under 4:33 minutes in the second period, but that leads easily balloon to double digit (32-22) under 2:34 minutes and La Salle holds a double digit lead going into the break with (36-26).
Third Quarter
La Salle pushed again and went 5-2 run to open the period and lead balloon to 13pts (41-28). Ateneo also had a major run that trims the lead by 2pts (44-42). La Salle always had an answer and went (6-2) run again to (50-44). Despite the dominance of Green Archers, Ateneo had a chance to even the score twice (51-51) and ended with (52-52) before the final period.
Fourth Quarter
Melecio open a triple and La Salle went 7-0 run in the final period (59-52). Blue Eagles slowly trim the lead (59-60) but Melecio easily answered again with a triple (63-59) under 5 minutes of play. With just under 2 minutes remaining La Salle only lead by (64-63).
Ateneo got their first lead since the openinq quarter after Tab Baldwin’s time out and Nieto converted a basket under 34.6seconds to play. They nearly had a chance to seal a win after Ikeh’s tapped the ball in the next position but Ravena turns the ball over that leads Jeron Teng on a break away lay-up in transition (66-65) with 15.1seconds left, then Jeron Teng block Aaron Black jump shot that leads the Ateneo to foul Montalbo and split his free throw.
Mbala finished with 20 points and 15boards, Melecio also finished with 12pts. Despite the hot start of Jeron with 6pts in the opening quarter only finished with 10pts including the clutch layup on the final seconds.
Aaron Black lead the Ateneo and the only player who scored in double figure, Wong only finished with 9pts.
Game 2 of the finals will be on December 7, 2016 (Wednesday) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Quarter scores: 19-6, 36-26, 52-52, 67-65
DLSU (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.
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