La Salle needed Ben Mbala to be his usual self in Game 2 to extend its finals series with Ateneo.
But the Green Archers also needed the big lift provided by Andrei Caracut to do so.
Like Mbala, Caracut also redeemed himself after a listless Game 1.
READ: La Salle rallies to stun Ateneo, forces UAAP title decider
Caracut went scoreless in the finals opener on Saturday but he quickly put that forgetful outing behind with a stellar performance in Game 1.
The third-year guard wound up with 13 points and was a game-high +17 when he was on the floor.
READ: Mbala back to his old dominant self in Game 2 win
“While I was playing, I didn’t want my teammates to feel down,” he said in Filipino. “So in the third quarter, I just said to myself that I need to set a good example to my teammates.”
“I just did everything I could for my teammates and for the La Salle community.”
READ: Baldwin: We won’t think about Game 2
Caracut scored seven points in the third quarter alone, where the Archers outscored the Blue Eagles, 26-8, to take a 68-59 lead heading into the fourth period.
“We just trusted each other,” he said.