Teng, Archers just a win away

The dream La Salle-Ateneo encounter that started like a mismatch and developed into a classic ended with Archer Jeron Teng emerging as hero on both ends of the playing court.

The son of former PBA player Alvin Teng, who was known more as a tough defender in his long stint in the pro league, reasserted himself after a brilliant start, firing six points in the last quarter capped by a drive with 15 seconds left that eventually doomed the Eagles at the start of the best-of-three series for the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball championship last Saturday.

And Jeron, whose crucial basket for a 66-65 La Salle lead came after his long jumper from a corner was nullified by officials who ruled it failed to beat the 24-second shot clock, showed he also has the defensive genes of his father by blocking Ateneo’s Aaron Black on the next play.

A foul on Kib Montalbo after La Salle gained possession resulted in a free throw that finalized the count of the 67-65 cliffhanger before a crowd of 16,712 crowd at the MOA Arena.

“I just had to step up. Next game, I expect to play better,” said the King Archer, who finished with just 10 points, six of them as La Salle got going with a 17-2 spurt opening this fifth title confrontation between the country’s bitter collegiate cage rivals in the league.

Tied with Ateneo with eight titles overall, La Salle tries to move ahead in the championship count by going for the series clincher this Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

It will be the fourth meeting between the two arch rivals this season with La Salle’s Aldin Ayo now enjoying a 2-1 edge over Ateneo’s Tab Baldwin, the former Gilas Pilipinas mentor, in this duel between coaches debuting for their respective teams.

While he lacks the superb credentials of Baldwin, Ayo is seeking the rare honor of becoming the first coach to win titles in the country’s top collegiate tournaments as a rookie mentor.

A Bicolano from Sorsogon who played for Letran’s back-to-back NCAA champion teams in 1998 and 1999, Ayo raised many eyebrows when he was tapped to coach the Knights last year. He went on to guide the Knights to the championship over the heavily favored San Beda Red Lions

It didn’t take long for Ayo to accept the offer to coach La Salle this year and prove his worth. He steered the Archers to a 12-0 run in the eliminations that raised speculations of an undefeated surge to the title playoffs before the Eagles ended La Salle’s streak in the second round to pave the way for a Final Four stage leading to the title series.

Still La Salle finished with a 13-1 slate with Ateneo needing a late resurgence, capped by a Final Four conquest of defending champion Far Eastern to reach the finals.

Teng, whose clutch baskets ousted the Adamson Falcons in the Final Four, mysteriously disappeared in offense in the second and third periods against the Eagles, who tied it twice in the third, the last at 52-all.

But Cameroonian Ben Mbala kept the Eagles at bay with clutch help from Aljun Melecio before Teng took over at crunchtime.

“These guys just don’t want to lose,” said Ayo of Teng and Mbala, who top scored for La Salle with 20 points on top of 15 rebounds.