FOR the first 20 minutes, it looked like the rivalry game everybody was hyped up for.
Then came halftime.
La Salle broke loose from Ateneo in the third quarter, turning what was initially a close contest to a 74-61 blowout Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Defense did the trick for the Green Archers, holding the Blue Eagles to just four points after the break to pull away and coast to a 3-0 start in their title defense in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
Kevin Quiambao and Michael Phillips were in full control throughout the game, both stuffing the stat sheet as they put on a superb show for the Taft faithful by building up a lead as high as 20.
Quiambao flirted with a triple-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals, while Ateneo just had no answers to Phillips’ might down low as he collected 13 points and 14 boards.
“We just reminded ourselves na if it’s gonna be La Salle-Ateneo, there’s no advantage, there’s no strength. We just have to make sure to come out with all of our hearts because we were pressured at the start, so we need everybody’s help,” said coach Topex Robinson of that second half turnaround.
“I just told them once you come out of this dugout, you got to be ready to slug it out with them.”
Indeed, it was a complete 180-degree turn for the green-and-white, holding their rivals to a 20-percent clip from the field in the second half, while dominating the boards all throughout, 62 to 38.
Baldwin's bleakest beginning
The result of the season's first rivalry game sent Ateneo, which won four titles in five seasons, to its worst start under Tab Baldwin at 0-3. This is the first time they sport such slate since 2013 when coach Bo Perasol was still calling the shots back in Season 76.
Shawn Tuano was the only one who breached double figures for the Blue Eagles, nabbing 18 points and six boards in the defeat.
The Scores:
LA SALLE 74 – Quiambao 13, M. Phillips 13, Macalalag 9, David 8, Gonzales 7, Gollena 6, Abadam 6, Dungo 6, Ramiro 2, Agunanne 2, Marasigan 2, Konov 0, Rubico 0.
ATENEO 61 – Tuano 18, Bongo 9, Porter 8, Bahay 8, Lazaro 6, Espina 6, Balogun 3, Quitevis 2, Espinosa 1, Gamber 0, Ong 0.
Quarters: 21-18, 44-40, 59-44, 74-61.
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