Ricci Rivero had four fouls after the first half.
But prayers help him stay composed for the last two quarters as the defending champion La Salle Green Archers fought off foul trouble and a 21-point deficit to turn the tables on the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 92-83, on Tuesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.
“Sa bench. I was praying. Siya (God) na ang gumawa ng turning point at nanalo kami,” said the 6’1 Rivero, who awarded for being part of Season 80’s Mythical Five earlier in the day.
With most of their key players struggling with foul trouble, the defending champion La Salle Green Archers found great answers to their dire situation.
“It was about wanting it more, iyung discipline on defense. We didn’t gamble on this in the second half. We played with our hearts in the second half, and in the last two minutes of the second quarter,” said La Salle assistant coach Miggy Solitaria.
Then they turned to an unlikely source of baskets–Andrei Caracut,and Aljun Melecio .
Caracut, a third year veteran of the squad, banged in 13 points, including seven crucial points that fueled La Salle’s successful effort to tie their best-of-three title series at 1-all in Game 2 of the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.
He joined the 19-year old Rivero during a big run in the third period, knocking in a three-pointer and a three-point play that put La Salle within reach, 54-56,with 4:03 left.
Then Santi Santillan knocked in a putback that allowed La Salle to go into the first of two deadlocks, 56-all, with 3:02.
After that, season MVP Ben Mbala, who was in foul trouble like teammates Ricci Rivero, Santillan and Abu Tratter, scored past Isaac Go to move La Salle ahead, 62-58.
The Rivero brothers, Prince and Ricci, came in with baskets that widened their lead, 64-59.
Caracut’s two charities with 8:11 left then saw La Salle hang on to seven-point edge, 70-63, for most of the last period.
Melecio shot 12 points and came into the picture in the fourth with six key points.
His triple in the remaining 4:38, allowed La Salle to stop an Ateneo led by Aaron Black, and they stayed in front, 76-70.
Mbala still led La Salle with 20 points and 16 rebounds while Thirdy Ravena tallied 20 for Ateneo.
The young Rivero went on to finish with 18 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Foul trouble bugged the Green Archers in the first half.
Mbala was already bothered by two fouls in the first period.
He got his second foul in the last 3:13 off Ravena, who handed Ateneo a 24-9 spread, 40 seconds earlier.
Ravena and Asistio had 13 points apiece in the first half. Ravena’s putback, an assist to Go and two charities, allowed Ateneo’s edge to get bigger, 45-24,
Melecio had six points with Santillan and Rivero in the first 20 minutes of the game, with his drive and three charities in the last 41.6 seconds allowing La Salle to cut down Ateneo lead to 11, 40-51.
Mbala’s putback at the end of the first half allowed La Salle to move within nine points, 51-42.
Rivero took his fourth foul in the last 3:23 of the second period, and Anton Asistio’s charity had Ateneo up by 21, 49-28.
Tratter had four points and took his third foul with less than five minutes remaining, Ateneo enjoying a 45-24 spread.
The Blue Eagles started strong in the first period, taking a 19-7 edge in the first five minutes.
Thirdy Ravena of Ateneo (0) tries to score against La Salle's Ben Mbala (23) and Ricci Rivero(6). PETER ATENCIO