THE ATENEO Blue Eagles lost to the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers in the first game of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) finals, 65-67, on Saturday, December 3 at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Green Archers now take a 1-0 lead against Ateneo in the best-of-three finals series.
The Blue Eagles were led by Aaron Black, who scored 12 points, grabbed eight boards, and dished three assists. Adrian Wong added nine points to the tally, while Thirdy Ravena and Mike Nieto scored eight apiece. Meanwhile, Chibueze Ikeh had a near double-double with eight points and nine rebounds.
Ben Mbala led the Green and White with a huge double-double, scoring 20 (on 12/18 FT shooting) and grabbing 15 rebounds. Aljun Melecio followed with 12 points that all came from the three-point line. Next top scorer was Jeron Teng who had 10 points, including the go ahead bucket with 15.5 seconds left in the game, which capped the victory for DLSU.
The Green Archers began the game with a 6 unanswered points, courtesy of baskets by Torres, Teng and surprise starter Julian Sargent. Ateneo then responded through a Vince Tolentino two, but DLSU then went on an 11-0 run highlighted by a Kib Montalbo three and two Teng baskets. The Blue Eagles broke the run with an Ikeh slam dunk through a Ravena dish. After both teams traded points, the first period ended with DLSU leading by 13 (6-19).
Ateneo began the second period with a 7-2 run started by a Black triple and capped by a soft hook shot by Isaac Go. DLSU responded with a Melecio triple, but Go scored again to cut DLSU’s lead to single digits (15-24). Midway through the period, Black went on a 5-0 solo run capped by a fast break and-1. However, Mbala responded with four straight of his own, through inside baskets. After some back-and-forth action from both squads, the first half ended with DLSU up by 10 (26-36).
Isaac Go opened the third quarter with a hook shot off a pick-and-roll with Mike Nieto, but had to be subbed off the court moments after as he picked up his third foul. Mbala immediately took advantage with Go out by scoring inside. Midway through the period, Kib Montalbo tripped Mike Nieto which earned him an unsportsmanlike foul. Mike Nieto’s freebies from this foul was followed by an energized performance from the Ateneo team, making a 7-2 run that was capped by a Black three, and it cut the Ateneo deficit to two points (42-44). La Salle answered with an and-1 from Mbala and another Melecio three to bring their lead to six points. However, the Blue Eagles ended the quarter on an 8-2 run through three points apiece by Raffy Verano and Matt Nieto, which ended the third quarter with the game tied at 52-all.
The Green Archers wasted no time in breaking the deadlock as Melecio hit a triple to begin the final quarter. Mbala and Teng followed with two free throws and a basket, respectively, that stretched the DLSU lead to seven points (52-59). Mike Nieto made two free throws and a triple that brought the Blue Eagles to within two points. After an Mbala free throw and an Ikeh putback, Melecio hit his fourth triple of the game that extended DLSU’s cushion to four points. Mbala hit his twelfth free throw moments after, but Ikeh then scored four unanswered points that cut DLSU’s lead to a single point (63-64). After a Jeron Teng baseline jumper was waved off with 39 seconds left in the game, Matt Nieto banked in a shot, plus the foul, that gave Ateneo its first and only lead of the game (65-64). Unfortunately for the Blue Eagles, Matt Nieto then missed the bonus FT and Thirdy Ravena enforced a turnover, which gave the opportunity for Teng to drive and score a go-ahead basket with 15 seconds left in the game. Black was then blocked by Mbala in the ensuing possession and Montalbo made a charity after that sealed the victory for DLSU, 65-67.
After the game, Blue Eagles Team Captain Gboy Babilonia emphasized that the team needs to move on from the loss because the series is not over yet. “We have to re-focus. We have to set the game plan. We have to watch film to get ready for the game on Wednesday.” He also mentioned that the team must start strong in the next game to prevent DLSU from easily gaining the advantage early in the game.
The second game of the best-of-three finals series will begin at 3:30PM on Wednesday, December 7 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Quarter Scores: 6-19, 26-36, 52-52, 65-67
Box Score:
Ateneo: Black- 12, Wong- 9, Ravena- 8, Mike Nieto- 8, Ikeh- 8, Go-6, Verano- 5, Matt Nieto- 5, Tolentino- 2, Asistio- 2
DLSU: Mbala- 20, Melecio- 12, Teng- 10, Sargent- 7, Torres- 5, Montalbo- 4, P. Rivero- 3, Tratter- 3, R. Rivero- 2, Caracut- 1
