The Ateneo Blue Eagles secured a hard-fought victory against their archrivals, the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, with a final score of 77-72.
This win marked the reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champions' first triumph in Season 86.
Returning from a challenging opening day loss against NU Bulldogs, the Blue Eagles displayed resilience and determination as they overcame their adversaries at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
The Ateneo de Manila University squad, led by veterans Kai Ballungay and Chris Koon, showcased their skills and leadership. Ballungay contributed 18 points and an impressive 16 rebounds, while Koon added 19 points and seven rebounds to propel the Blue and White to victory.
Rookies Mason Amos and Joe Obasa also had standout performances in this crucial bounce-back game. Amos, a Gilas standout, contributed 12 points, while the Nigerian big man, Obasa, collected 11 points, 16 rebounds, and three crucial blocks.
On the opposing side, despite some early foul trouble, Kevin Quiambao led the Green Archers with an all-around performance, tallying 17 points, 14 boards, seven assists, and two blocks. Evan Nelle and Earl Abadam also made significant contributions with 15 and 11 points, respectively, in a valiant effort for La Salle.
This victory marked the ninth time the Blue Eagles have triumphed over the Green Archers in the past ten Ateneo-La Salle rivalry games, dating back to 2017, solidifying their dominance in this storied rivalry.
Looking ahead, the Ateneo Blue Eagles will aim to build momentum from this thrilling win as they face the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Saturday at 11:00 AM at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Meanwhile, the DLSU Green Archers will regroup after a tough loss to their rivals. With the competition in UAAP Season 86 just getting started, the Green Archers will seek to regain their momentum when they face the UST Growling Tigers this Saturday, October 7, at 3 pm at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The rivalry continues, and basketball enthusiasts can expect more electrifying moments in the games to come.
Stats: Ateneo vs. La Salle
Ateneo shot at a 33% from the field, making 27 out of 81 field goals. DLSU, on the other hand, had a slightly better field goal percentage at 30%, with 22 successful attempts out of 73.
The Blue Eagles converted 28% of their three-point attempts, making 9 out of 32 shots from beyond the arc. The Green Archers had a similar three-point shooting percentage, also hitting 28%, with 10 successful shots out of 36.
At the free-throw line, Ateneo had a 48% success rate, making 14 out of 29 free throws. DLSU had a better free-throw percentage at 62%, making 18 out of 29 attempts.
Ateneo dominated the boards, outrebounding DLSU by a significant margin of 66-50. This advantage in rebounding played a crucial role in their victory.
Ateneo committed more turnovers than DLSU, with 14 turnovers compared to DLSU's 11. Points off turnovers favored DLSU, with the Green Archers capitalizing on Ateneo's mistakes to score 8 points, while Ateneo managed 6 points from turnovers.
Both teams recorded 19 assists, showcasing their ability to move the ball effectively and create scoring opportunities.
DLSU had a slight edge in steals, with 6 steals compared to Ateneo's 4.
In the blocking department, Obasa recorded all of the 3 blocks for Ateneo, while DLSU had 5.
The Scores:
Ateneo 77 – Koon 19, Ballungay 18, Amos 12, Obasa 11, Brown 8, Espinosa 5, Lazaro 2, Quitevis 1, Chiu 1, Credo 0, Bongo 0, Nieto 0, Gomez 0.
DLSU 72 – Quiambao 17, Nelle 15, Abadam 11, Nonoy 9, Austria 5, Cortez 4, Manuel 3, Nwankwo 3, B. Phillips 3, M. Phillips 2, David 0, Escandor 0, Gollena 0.
[Full Game Stats]
