Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Games between Ateneo and De La Salle always bring in the hype but the first meeting between the two teams in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament saw one squad handle the ballyhoo better than the other.
The Blue Eagles handled the Green Archers convincingly, 81-69, Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum in a game La Salle active consultant Jermaine Byrd felt his wards were undisciplined.
“I think the second quarter killed us, we put them on the foul line and I thought we were not disciplined,” said Byrd. “They’re a championship ball club with a championship coach and they took advantage of that.”
“They lived at the free throw line in the second quarter while we only scored eight points. We couldn’t keep them off the offensive glass and that was the story of the game.”
The Green Archers trailed by just two at the end of the first, 23-21, but what they didn’t expect was a white hot Ateneo that outscored them 28-8 in the second frame.
Ateneo took a 51-29 lead heading into the break thanks to a 21-1 run to end the first half.
The Blue Eagles also grabbed 27 offensive boards, eight more than La Salle’s 19, and scored 24 second-chance opportunities.
Nevertheless, Byrd believes his team can still turn things around since their loss to Ateneo was only their first game of the season.
“I think we have a lot of talent on this team, it’s on myself and coach Gian [Nazario] and I’m confident, I mean it was just one game.”