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[av_heading heading=’La Salle sweeps Ateneo to capture ninth UAAP crown’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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De La Salle University Green Archers import Benoit Mbala (23) surges against perennial rival Ateneo Blue Eagles in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 79 men’s seniors’ basketball best-of-three finals. The La Salle cagers claimed their ninth UAAP championship on Wednesday, sweeping Ateneo in the finale series. ABS-CBN
MANILA – The De La Salle University Green Archers did not waste time as it captured the UAAP Season 79 men’s seniors’ basketball crown with a 79-72 win over the Ateneo Blue Eagles in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals on Wednesday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Finals MVP Jeron Teng led the way with a conference-high 28 points, 19 coming in the first half, for the Green Archers, which captured its ninth UAAP crown, its first since 2013.
Cameroonian import Benoit Mbala chipped in double-double 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Bacolod-native Kirell Montalbo contributed nine markers for the Green Archers, which only lost once in the entire season.
Both teams went on a tight exchange early on with the Blue Eagles slightly ahead, 16-14. But the Green Archers strung up consecutive points from Montalbo, Go and Jason Perkins for a 22-16 lead.
With the Green Archers hanging on to a slim 25-22 advantage, it went on a 11-1 scoring run behind Aljun Melecio, Mbala and Teng to build a 36-23 edge. The Blue Eagles, however, kept it to within 10 points at halftime.
The Green Archers continued its surge in the third frame as it built its largest lead at 54-40 on hits by Teng and Mbala. The Blue Eagles then made a slight run to come to within 59-52 heading into the final quarter.
Ateneo was able to pull to within 65-59 early in the final frame but the Green Archers widened the lead anew to 67-59 on five straight points by Rookie of the Year awardee Melecio.
The Blue Eagles made its last push to come to within 69-65, but the Green Archers refused to relinquish its chance of bagging the UAAP crown with hits from Teng, Mbala and Torres.
Michael Nieto top-scored with 18 points, while Adrian Wong and rookie Raffy Verano added 10 markers each for the Blue Eagles, which also lost the series-opener to the Green Archers, 67-65./PN
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