MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo punctuated a sensational UAAP basketball elimination run by conquering again arch rival La Salle, 65-57, on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Blue Eagles led all the way, mixing enough firepower and a gritty defense to spoil the Green Archers’ bid for the second semifinal bonus.

“Our defense really won the game for us, particularly in the second half,” said coach Norman Black after the Eagles topped the elimination round with a 13-1 record.

The loss relegated the defending champion Archers to a tie for second place with the Far Eastern Tamaraws at 10-4 which they will break on Thursday.

The winner will get the No. 2 spot and the remaining twice-to-beat advantage when both teams clash anew in the Final Four.

Ateneo’s Rabeh Al-Hussaini made another strong case for the MVP plum with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Nonoy Baclao collected 11 markers, six boards and four blocks.

Top La Salle gunner JV Casio had an off game, finishing with only five points and as many turnovers after averaging 17.9 points in his last 13 outings.

A paying crowd of 22,136 was recorded, with some reportedly paying as much as P7,000 for each patron ticket originally priced at P250.

Scalpers caught

During the game, the NBI Special Task Force Unit apprehended 15 scalpers, including a security guard of a nearby establishment and a former policeman.

Overshadowed by the blockbuster match was the farewell game of reigning Most Valuable Player Jervy Cruz, who openly wept at the buzzer after powering University of Santo Tomas to a 71-63 victory over the University of the Philippines in the first game.

Cruz buried 21 points and hauled down 18 rebounds as the Tigers ended their heartbreaking run this season with a fifth-best 6-8 record.

The scores:

First Game
UST 71—Cruz 21, Ababou 19, Mirza 10, Allera 8, Camus 3, Cuan 3, Taylor 2, Canlas 2, Fenequito 0, Vargas 0, Fortuna 0, Bautista 0.

UP 63—Agbayani 20, Reyes 14, Astorga 8, De Asis 5, Sison 4, Lopez 4, Pajela 2, Gamboa 2, Co 2, Hipolito 2, Marfori 0, Dela Victoria 0, Maniego 0, Braganza 0, Sorongon 0.

Quarters: 17-19, 33-35, 56-51, 71-63

Second Game

ATENEO 65—Al-Hussaini 18, Baclao 11, Reyes 10, Tiu 9, Salamat 8, Baldos 4, Escueta 3, Buenafe 2, Salva 0, Burke 0, Austria 0.

LA SALLE 57—Maierhofer 16, Atkins 9, Barua 8, Malabes 7, Casio 5, Villanueva 4, Mangahas 4, Walsham 2, Ferdinand 2, Webb 0, Revilla 0, Bagatsing 0.

Quarters: 21-12, 36-28, 54-41, 65-57