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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Matt Nieto scored the go-ahead free throws for Ateneo Blue Eagles to escape with a 76-75 win against De La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball yesterday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
After squandering a 13-point lead, Ateneo trailed 74-75 following free throws from Green Archers center Benoit Mbala, but Blue Eagles made a huge steal from an inbound pass that led to the marginal free throws by Nieto.
Green Archers had a chance to bag the victory but Mbala lost the ball on his way to the basket due to the defense of Nieto and Thirdy Ravena, while team captain Kib Montalbo tried a close-range hit but misfired.
Nieto finished with 16 points while Anton Asistio and Jolo Mendoza contributed 14 and 10, respectively, for Blue Eagles, which ended the first round of eliminations with an immaculate 7-0 record.
“It was an Ateneo-La Salle game many expected. Both teams played hard,” said Blue Eagles assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga. “We were asking for a better D from our guys. Good thing we were able to do that in the last play.”
Blue Eagles opened the match with a 16-7 lead on early triples by Asistio. De La Salle managed to rally to within 8 points but Ateneo pulled away 41-28 on a trey by Asistio and a reverse basket by Nieto.
Green Archers had a strong run early in the third to come to within 44-50 but a Nieto triple followed by a basket by Ravena widened the lead 55-44 before another Green Archers rally to trim the deficit 54-59 heading into the fourth.
Ateneo stayed ahead 69-66 when Green Archers had another rally courtesy of Ricci Rivero to take a 73-71 lead. Blue Eagles regained the lead 74-73 on free throws by Chibueze Ikeh and Nieto but Green Archers again went on top courtesy of Mbala.
Rivero led the way with 19 points. Mbala had double-double 18 points and 13 rebounds while Jollo Go contributed 11 markers on three triples for Green Archers, which slid to 5-2./PN
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