THE 100th Ateneo-La Salle showdown could not have been tighter in the history books. On Wednesday inside the SM Mall of Asia Arena, La Salle made sure to get even.
The defending champions beat their fiercest foes, 83-76, to level the all-time head-to-head series at 50-50.
Both teams also left with identical 3-2 records in UAAP Season 89.
The game remained a back-and-forth affair for much of the evening before a 13-2 Green Archers run, stretching from the latter stages of the third quarter into the fourth, where they finally created separation.
The green-and-white maintained control through the middle of the final frame, but the Blue Eagles cut the deficit to four before Jcee Macalalag and Mason Amos came through with back-to-back three-point plays in the final three minutes to pull away for good.
Then, just before the two-minute mark, Jacob Cortez buried a dagger three of his own to call game.
Green light for green-and-white
For La Salle, the victory was a statement loud and clear. After losing two of its first three games, they responded by sending Ateneo back to earth and getting their title retention bid well back on track.
"We really discussed this prior to this game, how important it is for everyone, and we just stuck to what we prepared for," said head coach Topex Robinson.
"We did something that we committed to, and whatever happens we stuck to what we really prepared for. Again, there will be no regrets. These guys really delivered down the line. We're just fortunate and blessed to be winning this afternoon or this evening."
Macalalag and Joaquin Tovera turned in matching 15-point efforts to pace the Green Archers, with Cortez adding 12 and Doy Dungo having 10.
The result also erased the Blue Eagles' surprise lead atop the standings, leaving both teams with plenty to prove as the season moves forward.
Shawn Tuano paced Ateneo with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting, while Jared Bahay chimed in 14. Kieffer Alas, however, struggled to find his rhythm in his first game on the blue side of the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry, finishing with just five points on 2-of-11 shooting.
The Scores:
LA SALLE 83 – Tovera 15, Macalalag 15, Cortez 12, Dungo 10, Marasigan 6, Amos 6, Pablo 6, Gagate 6, Agunanne 4, Abadam 3, Sardon 0.
ATENEO 76 – Tuano 17, Bahay 14, Rogers 9, Roberts 9, Espinosa 8, Kapihe 6, Cainglet 6, Alas 5, Baruwa 2, Leal 0, Bongo 0, Urbina 0.
Quarters: 21-24, 45-43, 63-62, 83-76.
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