Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Twins Matt and Mike Nieto were both instrumental in Ateneo’s 76-70 Game 1 win over De La Salle in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball finals.
Both finished with 11 points with Matt starting strong with seven points in the first while Mike played closer with seven in the fourth.
Come Game 2, however, the twins barely struck a chord.
Matt labored his way to 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting while Mike went scoreless on six field goal attempts as Ateneo lost to La Salle 92-83.
Both, however, promised that Game 3 would be different.
“Game 3 will be another opportunity for us to showcase our talent, more importantly it’s a do-or-die game for both Ateneo and La Salle,” said Mike in Filipino Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “We promise you guys that we’ll fight and we’ll get that on Sunday.”
“We know that we’re tougher and we know we can handle that challenge against La Salle,” said Matt. “We know we can trust in ourselves and we trust in our team, and of course we trust in coach Tab [Baldwin]. He can lead us to the promised land.”
What made things worse for the twins was Ateneo held a 21-point lead midway through the second, 45-24, only to have it deteriorate into the second half.
The Green Archers mounted a 40-10 run heading into the fourth to take a 68-59 lead.
“I think what hurts here was we had a 21-point lead and it was gone,” said Mike. “You guys saw that we played our best and worst game in one single day.”