La Salle’s Game 1 win all about defense, says Ayo

La Salle head coach Aldin Ayo gives out instructions to his players during their game against Ateneo in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball Finals Saturday, Dec 3, 2016 at Mall of Asia Arena. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

It may have come down to the last few seconds and for head coach Aldin Ayo, La Salle’s Game 1 victory over arch rival Ateneo all boiled down to a defensive stop.

Jeron Teng scored the go-ahead layup and Kib Montalbo helped seal the match with a split from the free throw line to lift the Green Archers 67-65 in the first game of the UAAP Season 79 seniors’ basketball tournament but Ayo knows they had more than 300 days to prepare for one vital defensive stop.

“One year na nating ginagawa ‘to (We’ve been doing this for one year), one step away from taking Game 1 and it will depend on how you defend,” said Ayo Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena in the fifth UAAP Finals series between the two storied teams.

And that defense Ayo wanted was provided by Teng as he came up big with a block on Aaron Black with around 10 seconds left in the game.

Teng, who had 10 points on 5-of-13 shooting, said his defensive play was the result of having desire to protect their slim 66-65 lead.

“Yung stop ko kay Aaron, crunch time na yun eh, adrenaline na yun buti tinamaan ko yung bola (My stop on Aaron, that was in crunch time, and it was all adrenaline good thing I hit it),” said Teng.