Ateneo sweeps first round, outlasts La Salle

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Ateneo pulled off a first round sweep after taking down defending champion La Salle, 76-75, in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament Sunday night at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Blue Eagles exacted revenge from last season’s championship round to finish the first half of the tournament with a 7-0 record while the Green Archers slipped to 5-2.

Matt Nieto came through in the clutch for Ateneo tapping away Kib Montalbo’s inbound pass before hitting two free throws to win the game with 3.9 seconds left

Montalbo threw a last-second heave that was way off.

Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga said his team was fortunate enough that they had a good start. The Eagles led, 28-16, after the first period before the Archers attempted several rallies and almost took the victory.

“There were times that La Salle looked like they wanted it more, especialy in the second and third quarters and it became a grind in the fourth,” said Arespacochaga.

“Good thing we shot the ball in the first quarter and that gave us the cushion that we needed in the fourth.”

Ateneo had a 59-48 lead late in the third quarter but the Green Archers managed to cut it to one, 63-62, heading into the fourth after mounting a 14-4 run.

Nieto had a team-high 16 points to go along with two steals for the Blue Eagles while Anton Asistio added 14 points, 12 of which came from beyond the arc.

Ricci Rivero led the Green Archers with 19 points while Mbala had an 18-point, 13-rebound double-double.