Mike Nieto steps up after twin bro Matt goes down in Game 1

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Twins usually have a distinct bond and brothers Matt and Mike Nieto are no exception. 

As Matt laid bloodied on the floor after taking an inadvertent elbow from Ben Mbala, his twin brother Mike had to be restrained on the sidelines.

Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga talked sense into Mike after the forward threw his towel on the playing floor during the first game of the Finals of the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament.

“To be honest, when Matt fell down, when Ben hit him with the elbow I felt that I also got hurt,” said Mike in Filipino after the Blue Eagles’ close 76-70 victory Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“I didn’t want to see my brother get hurt.”

Mike got his moment of vengeance in the fourth, although Matt was already playing after team physicians covered up the wound above the left eye, when he put on a personal 7-0 run that gave Ateneo a 67-59 lead midway through the final frame.

“I didn’t want to retaliate by hurting La Salle physically or punching them, I just wanted to win the game,” said Mike, who finished with 11 points and five rebounds. 

“I just got really motivated to win the game when Matt went down and I know he didn’t do it on purpose. I really needed to step up because the game was close and we had to enjoy those types of games.”