Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Exhausted Nelle finds comfort in ‘mutual respect’ between Ateneo, La Salle


Ever since he was a kid, Evan Nelle always wanted to play in an Ateneo-La Salle game. After a so-so debut for La Salle against Ateneo in the UAAP Season 84 Men’s Basketball Tournament’s first round, he finally came to life in the second round against the Blue Eagles tonight with 20 points in 30:20 minutes of action.

However, all of Nelle’s hard work went for naught as the Green Archers folded 68-75 after a hard-fought contest. The win looked far-fetched for La Salle when Ateneo went on a rampage after halftime.

“They made a huge run in the third quarter,” said the NCAA Season 95 Mythical Team member. “We were in the game but bumigay kami. We couldn’t convert lalo na sa mistakes namin so crucial. Yun run talaga nila third quarter, sayang talaga.

“Kinapos but we’ll get them next time.”

As a transferee from San Beda, Nelle is expected to provide the La Salle backcourt with winning experience. While he held the fort for as much as he can, he eventually found the Blue Eagles too hard to handle.

It was so frustrating for him but it just pushes him to work harder.

“Pagod,” said the 22-year-old floor general. “Coming into the game, focus ko talaga si SJ (Belangel) at si Tyler (Tio). I know SJ’s been shooting bad but come big games he really shows up and Tyler he’s been the game-changer so I really had to step up my defense.

‘That was on my mind kanina. Just to stop these two. Pero look, SJ had 15 points, Tyler had six points man. It was tiring. Next time.”

La Salle was able to keep things close in the first half especially since the Green Archers forced Gilas center Ange Kouame to succumb to foul trouble. However, that was as good as it got as they failed to properly take advantage of the situation.

#ReadMore  Official UAAP Men's Basketball second round schedule

Kouame came back in the third quarter and while he did not produce his usual numbers, the Blue Eagles held on enough to win the game in the end.UAAP-84-Mens-Basketball-ADMU-vs-DLSU-Evan-Nelle-1-scaled Exhausted Nelle finds comfort in 'mutual respect' between Ateneo, La Salle Basketball DLSU News UAAP  - philippine sports news

“He has a good backup with Geo (Chiu), Raffy (Verano), and Matthew Daves. When you take out Ange, you have Geo, Raffy who still controls the inside. You can’t count anyone out. They have this saying na next man up. So they’re really living up to it,” said Nelle.

“It was our fault that we couldn’t capitalize. That was our game plan. You have to attack Ange so we could get him out of the court. Yun nga, we didn’t capitalize.”

Nelle is in a unique situation wherein he played in the collegiate game’s biggest rivalries – Ateneo-La Salle and San Beda-Letran. While it will be a lengthy discussion as to what rivalry is more intense, it definitely takes thick skin to survive each of them.

He simply enjoyed the moment and has some thoughts about what sets them apart.
UAAP-84-MBB-ADMU-vs.-DLSU-Raffy-Verano-0450 Exhausted Nelle finds comfort in 'mutual respect' between Ateneo, La Salle Basketball DLSU News UAAP  - philippine sports news
“I’ve always dreamt of playing in an Ateneo-La Salle game ever since I was a kid. Siyempre, this is a dream come true for me. For Beda-Letran kase, they get to your skin. The crowd gets to your skin and they say different things,” said Nelle.

“But Ateneo-La Salle? Did you see when we were doing the Alma Mater? Ateneo was like cheering for us. They were giving us claps. Mutual respect. That’s different if I can put it in a good way.”

UAAP-84-MBB-ADMU-vs.-DLSU-Joaqui-Manuel-0502 Exhausted Nelle finds comfort in 'mutual respect' between Ateneo, La Salle Basketball DLSU News UAAP  - philippine sports news

All UAAP games stream live on GigaPlay presented by Yamaha. Download it now on Android or IOS.SMART-x-Yamaha Exhausted Nelle finds comfort in 'mutual respect' between Ateneo, La Salle Basketball DLSU News UAAP  - philippine sports news

Written By

Lorenzo's a frustrated author who knows a thing or two about Football and Basketball. Went all green from Ortigas to Taft. Supports Liverpool FC, FC Bayern Munich and the Alaska Aces


You May Also Like

ADMU

As Tab Baldwin enters his 10th year in Philippine basketball, his influence on the sport here in the country remains undeniable. Since arriving at...

Basketball

The sight of Kevin Quiambao and Joshua David with tears in their eyes as they ended their careers at De La Salle University is...

Basketball

In lives that seemed forever intertwined, it was a fitting conclusion to the collegiate careers of best friends JD Cagulangan and Joshua David. Although...

Basketball

Phoenix finally broke through into the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup win column after handing NorthPort its first loss of the conference by way...

Basketball

Topex Robinson took full responsibility after De La Salle University’s bid for back-to-back UAAP titles fell short in a 62-66 loss to the University...

Basketball

JD Cagulangan dreamed of a life full of green – but challenges and circumstances prompted him to change his shade of green and mix...

Basketball

Not all collegiate greats get the ending they yearn for. Remember the heartbreaking end to Alyssa Valdez’s senior year? Or Marck Espejo’s final season?...

Basketball

As Kevin Quiambao’s career in the UAAP may have reached its end, he is already looking ahead to the future of De La Salle...

Advertisement