RETURNING FROM a tough opening day loss, the Ateneo Blue Eagles steal a massive win against longtime adversaries De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, 77-72. The reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champions grabbed their first Season 86 victory in an instant classic earlier tonight at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City.

With today’s comeback win, the Blue and White moved to an even 1-1 record for the tournament, good for a four-way tie for third place.

Star veterans Kai Ballungay and Chris Koon willed the Blue and White with statlines of 18 points and 16 rebounds, and 19 points and seven rebounds, respectively.

Rookies Mason Amos and Joe Obasa shined in big bounce-back games, with the Gilas standout dropping 12 points on 66% shooting and the Nigerian big man collecting 11 points, 16 boards, and three blocks.

After displaying lackluster fight in the paint in their loss to NU, the Blue Eagles played with renewed energy and intensity against their fabled foes. With its inside attack, the Blue and White opened the match with an 11-3 spurt after Koon’s and-one poster slam and Ballungay’s second chance bucket with just under two minutes played in the quarter. The Blue Eagles continued to ride with Koon and Ballungay’s shotmaking as they kept the margin at eight with 6:43 to go in the frame, 17-9. 

The Green Archers heightened their on-ball defensive pressure, forcing the defending champions to turnovers in a 10-3 run to trim the Blue Eagles’ lead to 20-19. In spite of the Taft-based squad’s fierce blitz, the Katipunan-based unit ended the quarter up 25-23, after Amos drilled a triple plus the whistle. 

Co-Captain Koon continued his barrage at the start of the second, knocking down two instant triples to stretch the Blue Eagle lead, 31-26, with 7:53 to go in the half. Beyond their primary studs, Ateneo received scarce offensive outputs from the supporting cast—as they conceded a 12-2 run to their archrivals led by Kevin Quiambao and Evan Nelle. Both squads were called for a multitude of fouls in the half, with Jared Brown and CJ Austria exchanging charity shots to end the second quarter with Ateneo trailing, 37-39.

With a renewed sense of urgency, the Blue Eagles came out the halftime break and smothered DLSU’s attempts at driving to the basket. The Blue and White then utilized both luck and hustle offensively, starting with a rare Joe Obasa triple followed by his authoritative dunk that gave Ateneo a 42-39 lead with 7:17 left. 

The duel remained tight down the stretch of the quarter, after Quiambao’s field goal off the offensive rebound saw a lead change in DLSU’s favor, 44-45. Koon’s corner two on the Blue Eagles’ last possession of the quarter was the only field goal the Tab Baldwin-led squad made in the final three minutes of the canto, giving Ateneo a 47-54 hill to climb in the final ten minutes.

The start of the final frame saw a massive momentum shift breathe life into the Blue Eagles. The 12-time champions banked on offensive rebounds and Ballungay’s big night to orchestrate an 8-0 blitz with the Filipino-American’s tomahawk jam putting Ateneo on the driver’s seat, 55-54. It was only until the 7:11 mark when the Green Archers tallied a point, with Mike Phillips splitting a trip to the charity line to tie the game at 55-all.

As Ballungay’s offensive onslaught kept piling on, Evan Nelle momentarily silenced the Ateneo faithful with a four-point play, putting the Blue Eagles at a 57-59 hole. Following multiple baskets from Koon, Quiambao, and Obasa, the game saw the back-and-forth affair go in the Blue and White’s favor, 62-61. Amos then caught fire from the field, sinking three consecutive field goals consisting of two treys to hand the Blue Eagles a 70-64 advantage. After Quiambao’s retaliating three-ball, Ballungay rocked the rim for the third time in the fourth to put Ateneo ahead, 72-67, with 1:29 to go. Nursing a two-possession lead, the defending champions drew successful defensive stops and drained several free throws for a cardiac 77-72 victory.

Offensive hustle proved to be vital in the defending champions’ victory, as Ateneo outproduced La Salle in offensive boards, 27-15, and second chance points, 18-9. 

The Blue Eagles will seek to build momentum from tonight’s thrilling win, as they face the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Saturday, 11:00 AM at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Box scores:

Ateneo (77): Koon – 19, Ballungay – 18, Amos – 12, Obasa – 11, Brown – 8, Espinosa – 5, Lazaro – 2, Quitevis – 1, Chiu – 1

La Salle (72): Quiambao – 17, Nelle – 15, Abadam – 11, Nonoy – 9, Austria – 5, Cortez – 4, Manuel – 3, Nwanko – 3, B. Phillips – 3, M. Phillips – 2

Quarter scores: Ateneo-La Salle: 25-23, 37-39, 47-54, 77-72