Ateneo defeats La Salle, is the UAAP men’s basketball champion!

The Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles defeated its archrival De La Salle Green Archers in an exhilarating do-or-die Game 3 to emerge as victors, 88-86.

The Katipunan squad started off strong, forcing turn overs from La Salle and converting them, ending the first quarter with a 10-point lead, 24-14.

The Green Archers put up quite a fight, with incredible defense and fast rallies. Season MVP Ben Mbala cut Ateneo’s lead to four, 25-21, while Ricci Rivero gave the game its first tie at 25-all in the second quarter.

Ricci Rivero of DLSU attacks the basket against the defense of Matt Nieto of Ateneo during their game 3 Finals of the UAAP Season 80 Basketball tournament in Araneta Coliseum on Sunday. Photo by KC Cruz

But Ateneo isn’t having any of that. After three deadlocks, and La Salle taking a one-point lead, the Blue Eagles ended the first half strong with Asistio’s buzzer beater of a three, extending their lead 45-38.

The third quarter saw a typhoon of threes, with both Ateneo and La Salle scoring successful outside baskets one after another.

There were at least three lead changes in the third quarter.

La Salle was on the brink of a comeback, with a powerful dunk from Rivero giving the Green Archers a one-point lead 60-59 followed by Abu Tratter extending it to 62-59, giving La Salle its biggest lead of the game, 62-59.

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But Ateneo showed they wanted it more. Successive three points from Matt Nieto and Anton Asistio gave Ateneo the lead 74-68.

It ballooned to ten but at less than 2 minutes, La Salle converted and managed to get a foul, trimming Ateneo's lead 82-77.

A run from La Salle got them back from the grave, with a killer three from Andrei Caracot to put the Green Archers within striking distance, 83-80.

With 30 seconds felt, Ateneo responds with its one three-pointer courtesy of Isaac Go to give them a five-point lead 85-80.

After Asistio gave Ateneo breathing room at 86-80, La Salle fouls Nieto, who converts to give the Blue Eagles a five-point lead, 88-83, with four seconds in the clock.

La Salle scored another three but there was too much space for Ateneo to bring home the trophy. — LA, GMA News