The greatest rivalry in Philippine collegiate sports is all even after 100 games in the UAAP.
De La Salle University delivered a strong finish to take down rival Ateneo de Manila University, 83-76, in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The victory marked the Green Archers’ fifth win in their last six meetings with the Blue Eagles, leveling their head-to-head record in the UAAP at 50-50 after 100 games.
“We really discussed this prior to this game, how important it is for everyone, and we just stuck to what we prepared for. We did something that we committed to, and we said whatever happens, as long as we stuck to what we prepared for, we’ll have no regrets,” said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson, who won his first rivalry matchup against Ateneo interim coach Louie Alas.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
The game was as close as it could get through the first three and a half quarters, but it was the Blue Eagles who blinked first.
Jared Bahay’s triple, followed by an and-one play by Grayson Rogers, pulled Ateneo within two, 72-70, with 4:34 remaining. But La Salle quickly pulled away from there.
Rookie Joaquin Tovera twice found a way to draw fouls, resulting in four made free throws. Jcee Macalalag was also fouled while attempting a three-pointer and sank all three freebies to give the Green Archers a 77-70 lead with 3:42 remaining.
Mason Amos and Jacob Cortez then put the icing on the victory, drilling a three-pointer apiece to give La Salle an 83-72 advantage with 2:14 left. The Green Archers notched their second straight win and improved to 3-2, tied for second with Ateneo and National University.
“It’s embracing the moment because ever since I was a kid, my dad used to play for La Salle and growing up, I used to watch games like this. I used to be that kid in the crowd wanting to play. Now I’m embracing the moment,” said Cortez of playing in the middle of the best rivalry in collegiate sports.
Tovera, an 18-year-old rookie out of Chino Hills, California, led the Green Archers in his first taste of the rivalry. He had 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists in 21 minutes and 44 seconds on the floor.
Macalalag also finished with 15 points, while Cortez contributed 12 points, five assists, and three rebounds and posted a game-high plus-16 rating in 31 minutes.
La Salle’s next game will be against another rival as it faces University of the Philippines in a Finals rematch on Sunday at the same Pasay venue.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Shawn Tuano paced the Blue Eagles in the loss with 17 points and five steals, while Bahay added 14 points, three rebounds, and three assists.
Prized rookie Kieffer Alas, who came from De La Salle Zobel, struggled throughout his first rivalry game. He finished with just five points on 2-of-11 shooting from the field.
Ateneo will look to return to its winning ways on Saturday against a resurgent Far Eastern University side at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
DLSU 83 — Tovera 15, Macalalag 15, Cortez 12, Dungo 10, Marasigan 6, Amos 6, Pablo 6, Gagate 6, Agunanne 4, Abadam 3, Sardon 0.
Ateneo 76 — Tuano 17, Bahay 14, Rogers 9, Roberts 9, Espinosa 8, Kapihe 6, Cainglet 6, Alas 5, Baruwa 2, Leal 0, Bongo 0, Urbina 0.
Quarterscores: 21-24, 45-43, 63-62, 83-76.
