Point guard Even Nelle and Schonny Winston delivered the big plays at endgame, lifting La Salle to its first over archrival Ateneo in five years, 83-78, on Sunday in the 85th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.
Back in action after missing their game with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers because of fever, the 5’10 Nelle stopped Rence Padrigao from making a final basket for the Blue Eagles, before sinking the winning charities with 7.1 seconds to go.
Earlier, Winston, banged in a game-high 25 points for the Green Archers, including a driving shot against Dave Ildefonso with 1:19.3 to go to give La Salle a five-point cushion, 81-76, in a game witnessed by a crowd of 12,056.
Their efforts handed the Green Archers their second straight triumph against a setback, putting them in a three-way share of second spot with their victims and the National University Bulldogs.
The Blue Eagles, with Angelo Kuouame firing a team-high 22 points, tried to tie the game for the last time after Bryson Ballungay drove in past defender Michael Philips, 78-81.
But Padrigao muffed a three-point attempt off Nelle’s screening.
“The boys really worked hard. They believed they can beat Ateneo. We prepared for this. And when we were in the first half, we were able to regroup,” said Green Archers’ coach Derrick Pumaren.
The Archers, who drew eight and seven points, respectively, from Raven Cortez and Kevin Quiambao, marked their first victory over Ateneo in five years.
The last time La Salle won over Ateneo was in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 80 finals, a 93-82 triumph.
The Green Archers last tied the count, 72-all, off Nelle’s basket with 5:10 left, before pushing ahead, 77-72, in the final 3:07, off freebies from Winston, a charity shot from Earl Abadam, and Michael Philips’ putback on Abadam’s miss.
Meanwhile, the National University Bulldogs survived a close call with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 69-63, earlier in the day.
The Bulldogs squandered a 15-point, 57-42 edge at the start of the fourth, but hung on for their second triumph in three matches.
Freshman Kean Baclaan came up with his best game in Bulldogs’ uniform with 16 points, seven assists, and four steals. John Lloyd Clemente also made 16 points.
“We’re lucky we got that win, kasi kahit papaano nakakatakot ‘yung UST hanggang dulo hindi sila bumibigay,” said Bulldogs’ coach Jeff Napa.
The Growling Tigers fell into a three-way logjam for fifth with Adamson University and University of the East at 1-2.