THE green and white faithful came in droves last night and were gifted with a gutsy victory by La Salle over archnemesis Ateneo.
With Schonny Winston proving to be a menacing force, the Green Archers brought down the Blue Eagles 83-78 for their second straight win in the 85th UAAP basketball tournament before a wild and roaring crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
La Salle leaned on a telling 12-3 blitz capped by a Winston jumper that made it a 79-73 game with 1:42 left in the final stanza.
A Rence Padrigao triple pulled Ateneo to within 76-79 before Winston answered with a jumper that pegged an 81-76 count, only1:19 to go.
After a Kai Ballungay basket, the Blue Eagles failed to score in their ensuing thrusts, with Evan Nelle sealing the deal with two free throws.
In front of 12,056 fans, Winston shone with a game-high 25 points, to go with five rebounds, and six assists, while Nelle chipped in 10 markers, three boards, and three dimes.
The triumph served as a big follow-up to the Archers’ 83-63 thumping of University of Santo Tomas five days ago and hiked their card to 2-1 in a tie with Ateneo and National University for second.
It was also La Salle’s first win over the Eagles since Game 2 of their title battle in 2017.
The Eagles came off a 77-60 drubbing of the Bulldogs last Wednesday.
“I think the boys worked really hard. They believed that they could beat Ateneo, and it really worked. We prepared for Ateneo. Even though we were down, we were able to re-group noong second quarter and were able to tie,” Archers coach Derrick Pumaren said.
“I think we even cut the lead noong second quarter so hats off to my guys. I told them to never doubt that we can match up with Ateneo and it showed in today’s game,” he added.
Earlier, National University pipped University of Santo Tomas 69-63 to get back on track.
Former Growling Tiger Kean Baclaan haunted his former team with 16 points, a rebound, seven assists, and four steals, while John Lloyd Clemente also added 16 markers and three boards for the Bulldogs.
Omar John and Michael Malonzo also had eight points each for NU.
UST fell to 1-2.
“Luckily, we got that win kasi kahit papaano nakakatakot itong UST, hanggang dulo hindi sila bumibigay. At least, medyo kahit papaano nasolusyunan namin iyong third quarter namin,” Bulldogs tactician Jeff Napa said.
“In the past few games namin, we’re flat in the third quarter so ngayon kahit papaano nakahanap kami ng paraan para makagamay na namin iyong third quarter up to (end) although medyo nag-relax pero siyempre iyon iyong kailangan namin i-address.,” he added.
NU took a 35-23 lead at the half and stayed in the driver’s seat 57-42 going into the fourth period.
The Bulldogs padded their edge to as much as 62-44 with eight minutes to go before the Tigers last threatened at 63-67 on Nic Cabanero’s two free throws, only 10.2 ticks left.
But that proved to be UST’s last stand as NU held its ground the rest of the way.
Adama Faye led the Tigers with 20 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, while Cabañero had 16 points and 12 caroms.
La Salle fell 46-47 at the halfway mark but grabbed a 64-62 edge going into the fourth canto.
Reigning MVP and naturalized Filipino center Ange Kouame carried the fight for Ateneo with 22 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks, while Ballungay had 19 and 10. — With Abby Toralba
