Big time players step up in the biggest of moments
Behind Jeron Teng’s heroics, the De La Salle University Green Archers sent back arch-rivals Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, taking a 67-65 Game One win, Saturday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Teng scored four of his 10 points in the final frame, including the game-winner. La Salle’s skipper went 5-for-13 from the field while adding four rebounds, three assists, and a crucial block to his tally.
“Winning time. ‘Pag end game, crunch time, ang mga beterano ang magste-step up. Hindi magpapatalo ang mga ito e,” first-year La Salle head coach Aldin Ayo said.
After Ateneo had taken their first lead of the ball game with 34.6 seconds remaining, a costly turnover by Thirdy Ravena led to a breakaway layup by the King Archer to retake the lead for La Salle, 66-65. A block by Teng on an Aaron Black attempt with 3.3 ticks left, and a split on the stripe by Kib Montalbo, sealed the win for the Green Archers.
“Yung basket siguro instinct na lang yung. Ben did a good job sealing. Yung block naman, crunch time na yun e, adrenaline na yun. Buti natamaan ko yung bola,” Teng reflected.
The Green Archers stormed to an early 17-2 lead in the opening frame as the Blue Eagles had a tough time breaking their opponent’s press. However, the Blue Eagles stormed back in the third frame.
Adrian Wong led Ateneo’s comeback, scoring seven points in the quarter. Ravena then sparked a 7-1 rally capped by a split on the stripe by Matt Nieto to tie the game at 51-all.
“Yung difference ng game namin na ito compared sa laro namin sa Adamson ay nung kelangan namin kumuha ng puntos, hindi kami nag-rely sa individual capabilities namin,” Ayo shared. “‘Pag individual masyadong predictable.”
Rookie Aljun Melecio tried to halt Ateneo’s rally, nailing cold-blooded three-pointers with 8:32 and 4:41 left in the game, to extend their lead to three and four points respectively. The soon-to-be-crowned Rookie of the Year finished the game with 12 points, all from distance.
But four straight points by much-maligned big man Chibueze Ikeh gave Ateneo some hope, cutting the lead to 64-63 with 1:56 left. A basket by Teng with 37 seconds remaining was called off due to a shot-clock infraction with 37.6 seconds remaining. Three seconds later, sophomore Matt Nieto drove through the lane, knocking down a tough floater to give Ateneo their first lead of the game. Then Teng came up clutch.
Ben Mbala added 20 points, 12 coming from the charity stripe, and 15 rebounds.
La Salle shot 38 percent from the field compared to 31 percent for Ateneo. Moreover, they were able to win the rebounding department, 49 to 43.
Black paced Ateneo with 12 points, eight rebounds, and three dimes. Adrian Wong added nine markers, while Ikeh almost picked up a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds.
Game Two of the series will be played on Wednesday, December 7, at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Scores:
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.
ADMU (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.
Quarterscores: 19-6, 36-26, 52-52, 67-65.
