Junior Archers trip Blue Eaglets
MANILA—La Salle pulled off an early surprise, turning back reigning three-time champion Ateneo, 78-75, in overtime as juniors basketball action of the UAAP kicked off Tuesday.
Gabby Reyes led the Junior Archers with 21 points and Isaac Lim contributed 16 points, six rebounds and six assists for La Salle-Zobel, which finished third last season behind Ateneo and University of Santo Tomas.
In other matches, National U stunned UST, 63-59, also in overtime; Far Eastern U beat University of the East, 98-68; and Adamson whipped University of the Philippines Integrated School, 83-64.
Reyes calmly sank two charities for a 76-73 La Salle-Zobel breather, before the Junior Archers forced the Blue Eaglets to a 5-second inbound violation in the next play inside the final half-minute.
Axel Torres split his charities to make it 78-75 with 18.6 seconds. The Junior Archers then played solid defense after that, forcing Blue Eaglets’ Gerald Austria’s desperation triple to miss its mark.
Eaglet Thomas Ramos sank two free throws to force overtime at 67-67 with two seconds left in regulation.
