Ateneo survives large La Salle scare in UAAP rivalry showdown, stays solo on high

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After an outstanding begin, Ateneo almost blows a 33-point lead however weathers a La Salle fourth-quarter storm to stay undefeated within the UAAP Season 88 males’s basketball event

MANILA, Philippines – Not even its archrival might cease Ateneo’s undefeated begin within the UAAP Season 88 males’s basketball event.

In a extremely anticipated first-round matchup between the 2 longtime foes, the Ateneo Blue Eagles withstood a livid fourth-quarter fightback by the La Salle Inexperienced Archers to remain excellent, 81-74, on the packed Mall of Asia Enviornment on Sunday, October 5.

With the victory, Ateneo stored its maintain of the solo high spot with a 4-0 document, whereas additionally snapping a three-game dropping skid to La Salle relationship again to their second-round encounter in Season 86.

“Clearly, full credit score to La Salle and the comeback they made within the fourth quarter,” stated Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin as La Salle reduce a whopping 33-point Blue Eagles result in only a two-possession affair late within the contest.

“I feel we have now a alternative to speak about three quarters of basketball or one quarter, and we’ll do each within the confines of our dugout and our subsequent apply.”

“We’ll discuss that the best way we performed within the three quarters is nearly pretty much as good as an Ateneo staff has performed for me I feel, and that’s an enormous assertion. After which within the fourth quarter, we performed about as badly as an Ateneo staff has performed for me. Fortuitously, it was just one quarter,” Baldwin added.

Because of a 15-point first-half efficiency by Ateneo’s one-and-done standout Dom Escobar and a fiery second-quarter exhibiting by Josh Lazaro, the Blue Eagles stretched a slim 14-11 benefit on the finish of the primary quarter to an enormous 36-19 cushion at halftime of the rivalry showdown that drew a crowd of over 17,000.

Coming off the break, it was Ateneo’s different one-and-done star Kymani Ladi who took over for the Blue Eagles, scattering 10 of his 15 factors — together with a few spotlight dunks — as they managed to increase their result in its greatest at 33 the dying seconds of the third interval, 68-35.

With Ateneo nicely on its technique to a press release blowout win, La Salle refused to go down and not using a struggle because it instantly unloaded a blistering 22-0 blast to tug inside simply 11 factors, 57-68, capped by a Vhoris Marasigan free throw with nonetheless 3:54 to play within the contest.

La Salle even bought to as shut as simply 5 factors with 24 ticks left, 72-77, however time was merely not on its facet anymore as Ateneo’s Andrew Bongo and Shawn Tuano iced the ugly win for the Blue Eagles with 4 straight free throws.

Other than their 15 factors apiece, Escobar and Ladi additionally hauled down 9 rebounds every for the Blue Eagles.

Tuano likewise got here up with 15 factors on a near-perfect 4-of-5 taking pictures, with 9 of these coming within the fourth and ultimate interval alone to douse chilly water on La Salle’s late surge.

For the Inexperienced Archers – who dropped to a fair 2-2 slate – Mike Phillips carried the struggle with 17 factors on 5-of-10 taking pictures, 20 rebounds, and 6 assists.

After sitting out their earlier recreation in opposition to the FEU Tamaraws with an ankle damage, Kean Baclaan delivered his best recreation but for La Salle with 13 factors, whereas his fellow star transferee Jacob Cortez poured in 10 markers.

In his first UAAP recreation in opposition to his former college following his shock switch to La Salle in 2024, Mason Amos — who bought booed by the Ateneo crowd — completed with 6 factors on 2-of-7 taking pictures within the loss.