Archers all together now

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

La Salle coach Aldin Ayo had no illusions that the UAAP Season 79 Finals series against heavy underdog Ateneo was going to be a cakewalk for his Green Archers.

Not after watching his star-studded team struggle in the Final Four against Adamson, where he questioned his players’ willingness to sacrifice for the greater good of the team.

The narrow 67-65 victory over the Blue Eagles in Game 1 last night put the Archers on the cusp of their second UAAP championship in four seasons. But winning felt more satisfying for Ayo as he saw his players get their acts together at crunch time before a raucous crowd of 16,712 at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Archers rode on Ben Mbala’s shoulders for long stretches and Jeron Teng delivered on both ends down the stretch in the series opener, where they almost squandered a 14-point advantage against an Ateneo team that simply refused to quit.

“These players are going to do whatever it takes to win,” said Ayo, whose team can wrap up La Salle’s ninth crown with a victory at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.

“These are stars in high school. The fact that they were moving the ball and executing plays speaks of their willingness to sacrifice for the team. We didn’t have role players to start the season, but we’re seeing the players buy into our system.”

The statement speaks volumes for the Archers, arguably one of the most talented the Taft-based school has fielded in years. But after a scintillating start to the season, the signs of slippage started to appear when they lost to the Eagles, 81-93, in the second round and struggled against the Falcons, 71-66, in the Final Four.

Struggling for most of the game, Teng came alive with two of the game’s biggest plays late in the contest. He completed a layup with 15.6 seconds remaining off a steal by Kib Montalbo to give the lead back to La Salle, 66-65, before blocking a potential game-tying jumper by Aaron Black on Ateneo’s next play.

“I just had to step up,” said Teng, who had 10 points and four rebounds and three assists. “I wasn’t getting my flow in the game, and I needed to make up for it on the defensive end.”

Teng feels that Game 2 will be even more difficult for the Archers to win.

“I told my teammates that we have to play better because we looked nervous today,” he said. “We kept our supporters very nervous today.”
UAAP FINALS – GAME 1: LA SALLE 67 – ATENEO 65
LA SALLE 67—Mbala 20, Melecio 12, Teng 10, Sargent 7, Torres 5, Montalbo 4, Rivero P 3, Tratter 3, Rivero R 2, Caracut 1, Perkins 0, Baltazar 0.
ATENEO 65—Black 12, Wong 9, Ravena 8, Ikeh 8, Nieto Mi 8, Go 6, Verano 5, Nieto Ma 5, Tolentino 2, Asistio 2, Porter 0, Mendoza 0.
Quarters: 19-6, 36-26, 52-52, 67-65