UAAP: La Salle escapes Ateneo to stay in the hunt for Final Four bonus

De La Salle University escaped Ateneo de Manila University, 72-69, on Saturday in UAAP Season 86 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

After trailing 51-46 at the end of the third quarter, the Blue Eagles caught up and cut its deficit to one, 66-65, after a Jared Brown triple at the 2:07 mark. Evan Nelle and Mike Phillips salvaged La Salle's run, but Chris Koon made a basket with 36.9 seconds.

Brown attempted another triple late, but a foul by Sean Quitevis put Evan Nelle on the line where he sank two freebies and sealed the deal for the Taft-based squad despite Obasa's late basket. 

With the win, the Green Archers improved to 11-3 and completed a second round sweep to bolster its bid for a twice-to-beat bonus heading into the Final Four. The Blue Eagles, meanwhile, slipped to 7-7.

Most Valuable Player frontrunner Kevin Quiambao had 14 points, nine rebounds, six assists, a steal, and a block for La Salle, while Mike Phillips had a double-double performance of 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Joe Obasa flirted with a double-double of 21 points and nine rebounds, while Kai Ballungay and Mason Amos had 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Ateneo's fate in the Final Four race will still be determined on Sunday as it waits for the result of the game between Adamson University and University of the East.

Scores:

DLSU (72) – Quiambao 14, Nelle 10, M. Phillips 10, Nonoy 10, Policarpio 9, Austria 6, David 6, Abadam 4, Cortez 2, Escandor 1, Manuel 0, Macalalag 0.

Ateneo (69) – Obasa 21, Ballungay 12, Amos 10, Koon 9, Credo 4, Espinosa 4, Quitevis 4, Brown 3, Lazaro 2, Nieto 0, Chiu 0.

Quarterscores: 14-17, 35-32, 51-46, 72-69

—JKC, GMA Integrated News