La Salle’s Schonny Winston leads the Green Archers past Ateneo. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Schonny Winston came through in the clutch with a pair of key jumpers as the De La Salle Green Archers shot down the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 83-78, on Sunday at the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.
Winston pulled up with a short stab that gave them a breather and dropped in a floater from the corner to put the Archers comfortably ahead by six before La Salle’s defensive crackdown doomed the Blue Eagles for good.
Evan Nelle, instrumental for pushing La Salle ahead and restraining Forth Padrigao all game long, swished a pair free throws to ice the win, the Green Archers first since the Game 2 of the Season 80 finals that Ateneo won five years ago.
“I used that as motivation the other day in practice. Hats off to my guys. We really prepared for Ateneo and really worked hard,’’ said La Salle coach Derrick Pumaren.
The Green Archers brought down Ateneo’s pillar around the rim in Ange Kouame, who banged his way for 22 points and had 10 offensive boards only to get bottled up in critical moments.
La Salle Green Archers. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
“Part of the game plan was the defend the perimeter. We’re glad we were able to do that in the last three quarters,’’ said Pumaren.
Padrigao, the starting guard that led the Blue Eagles to victory in their first two games before absorbing a piercing setback in their epic rivalry, only made two of his 18 shots from the field, including going one of 12 from the three-point range.
“We did a good job containing the paint and defending their three-point shots. We were able to get Padrigao out of his comfort zone,’’ said Pumaren.
Winston finished with 25 points and Nelle added 10, his three and fastbreak off a steal in the fourth altering the complexion of the match for good.
The Scores
DLSU (83) — Winston 25, Nelle 10, Cortez 8, Quiambao 7, Abadam 7, M. Phillips 6, Austria 6, B. Phillips 6, Estacio 5, Nwankwo 3, Nonoy 0, Manuel 0.
Ateneo (78) — Kouame 22, Ballungay 19, Andrade 8, Ildefonso 7, Padrigao 7, Gomez 5, Lazaro 4, Garcia 3, Chiu 2, Koon 1, Daves 0, Quitevis 0.
Quarterscores: 18-28, 46-47, 64-62, 83-78