JERON TENG HITS GAME-WINNER, LIFTS LA SALLE OVER ATENEO IN UAAP FINALS OPENER
By Maxine Louise Lagman
3 December 2016
THE De La Salle University survived the wrath of the Ateneo Blue Eagles on the Game One of the UAAP Men’s Basketball Finals on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena, a heart-stopping game that ended with 67-65 before a huge amount of supporters from both teams.
After eight years, the rival teams face each other once again in the UAAP Finals. From Jvee Casio and Chris Tiu, this season was led by standout players Jeron Teng and Ben Mbala versus Aaron Black and Thirdy Ravena.
But out of them, Teng was the hero of the basketball court, who made two big plays on both ends during crunch time that helped La Salle make it through the Blue Eagles and seal the win in Game One.
“Eto yung mga players na hindi magpapatalo,” said DLSU Head Coach Aldin Ayo, who looked filled in with pride for his players during the post-game interview in the press room.
La Salle definitely brought in their game as they stopped Ateneo from scoring as much in the opening period, with 19-6. However, Ateneo made a run by the second, limiting the Green Archers’ lead by 10 points.
It was in the second half that things began to heat up the crowd as Ateneo tied up with La Salle in the third, 52-52.
By the last quarter, Teng was able to block Black’s shot that could have helped Ateneo lead again in the game. And to end the match, with only 15 seconds left on the clock, Teng was able to hit a layup down the stretch that pushed the Green Archers to win the first game on the best-of-three series.
Mbala, despite a scoreless first period, put on still a great play by the next quarters, and had a game-high 20 points for La Salle. While rookie Aljun Melecio, who was also scoreless in the first period made a comeback in the next quarters and had 12 points.
Teng finished with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists.
On the Blue Eagles’ side, Black had a team-high 12 points and eight rebounds with Adrian Wong and Thirdy Ravena who finished with nine and eight points, respectively.
The Game 2 of the best-of-three series of the UAAP Men’s Basketball Finals will take place on the Big Dome on Wednesday, from where the crowd will have to witness a new UAAP Basketball Champion or a new Game 2 winner and a possible Game 3.
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