#UAAP79 Finals Roundup: Green Archers clinch ninth men’s crown!

Jeron Teng ends his UAAP playing days a champion once again.

The De La Salle Green Archers did it. Pegged as heavy favorites for the entire season, the Taft quintet fulfilled their potential by completing a series sweep of arch-rival Ateneo de Manila to clinch the UAAP Season 79  men’s basketball title — their second in four years and ninth overall. 

Here are comprehensive game recaps (adapted from Interaksyon): 

DLSU over ADMU, 79-72
Box scores. 

The De La Salle Green Archers completed their quest for the UAAP Season 79 championship as they edged arch-rival Ateneo, 79-72, in Game 2 of the finals on Wednesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

#UAAP79 Finals Roundup: Green Archers move one away from title!

Ben Mbala led DLSU to a 1-0 series lead in the #UAAP79 Finals.

The De La Salle Green Archers had to weather a spirited rally by bitter rivals Ateneo to prevail in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 79 Men’s Basketball Finals. DLSU is now needs to get just one more win to notch their ninth UAAP Seniors’ Division hoops crown.

Here are comprehensive game recaps (adapted from Interaksyon): 

DLSU over ADMU, 67-65
Box scores. 

The De La Salle Green Archers needed to play until the final possession before they could finally put away their hard-fighting rivals Ateneo but got the job done, 67-65, to claim Game One of the UAAP Season 79 Finals on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The DLSU Green Archers definitely redeemed themselves and are inches away from that Championship title, 67-65! Player of the game is @JeronAlvinTeng, with a statline of 10pts 4rebs 3assts 1blk. Don't miss the finals game 2 on Wednesday, December 7, 3pm at the Big Dome! See you there! 🏀 #Mayhem #UAAPLXXIX #UAAPSeason79 #UAAPDareToDream

A photo posted by ABS-CBN Sports (@abscbn_sports) on Dec 3, 2016 at 2:43am PST

Despite La Salle jumping out to a huge first quarter lead, Ateneo was able to take the lead in the final minute but Jeron Teng made the go-ahead basket with 15 seconds.

Ben Mbala scored 20 points to lead the Green Archers while Teng scored 10 markers, including the clutch layup that put La Salle in the lead, alongside four rebounds and three assists.

DLSU now leads the series, 1-0, and is one game away from winning the championship.

Aaron Black was the only Ateneo player in double-figures with a dozen markers.

🎉🏹

A photo posted by Go Archers (@goarchers) on Dec 3, 2016 at 5:32am PST

Lines of the Game:
Ben Mbala (DLSU) - 20pts, 15rebs, 2stls, 1ast, 1blk.
Aaron Black (ADMU) - 12pts, 8rebs, 3asts, 2 triples.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:



All images are by Roy Afable.

PHOTO GALLERY HERE.


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#UAAP79 Roundup: Ateneo wins Battle of Katipunan as DLSU survives UE on Day 11!

Images by Josh Albelda/ABSCBN Sports.

Day 11 had Ateneo beating UP in the first round of Battle of Katipunan this season, while the Green Archers had to stave off the stubborn Red Warriors in the main game.

Here are comprehensive game recaps (adapted from Interaksyon): 

ADMU over UP, 79-64
Box scores. 

The Ateneo Blue Eagles allowed a gutsy UP team to hang around for three quarters before putting them away in the fourth for a 79-64 victory in UAAP Season 79 play on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Thirdy Ravena led the way for Ateneo with 22 points, 10 rebounds and three assists as the Blue Eagles improved to 4-2 for the season, good for solo second place behind only undefeated La Salle (5-0).

The Games That Play Us: We Go Anyway

(Image by Roget Callueng/HoopNut)

*This was composed on Monday, October 3, 2016.


Sometimes, we don’t know where we’re going, but we go anyway. 

That’s the feeling I have with the S79 version of the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles. 

This edition of the Blue and White feels like an exercise in spontaneity — it feels equal parts exhilarating (like when Thirdy Ravena and Aaron Black exploded on the UST Growling Tigers on opening weekend), exasperating (like when the same Ravena and Black combo sputtered against the NU Bulldogs in their next game), rousing (like when Ateneo put together back-to-back wins to move into solo second spot last week), and despairing (like when De La Salle opened the Eagles up like a can of sardines yesterday). 

#UAAP79 The Good and the Bad: Ateneo vs De La Salle - October 2, 2016

The Ateneo Blue Eagles tried their best to slow down Ben Mbala and the De La Salle Green Archers. Only ADMU stood in the way of a first round sweep for the boys in green. Unfortunately, even the suspension of Coach Ayo and injury of Jeron Teng could not prevent DLSU from running allover the Blue Eagles. 

Ben Mbala could not be stopped

The BAD

• ADMU could not solve the Mayhem press defense; they scrambled and panicked often
• They had 30 turnovers which led to 33 turnover points for DLSU
• Only 2 fast break points for the Eagles which meant they could not break the press
• Ateneo was called for 3 unsportsmanlike fouls (Ravena, Tolentino, Matt Nieto) 
• Mike Nieto struggled with his jumper (1 of 7)
• Ben Mbala dominated with 28 points, 13 rebounds, 5 steals and 1 block
• Andrei Caracut scored 14 points and was +41 
• Chiz Ikeh had 7 points and 5 boards but was -43
• DLSU recorded 16 steals while ADMU had only 4
• La Salle was awarded 21 of 33 free throws, ADMU just 14 of 24
• Points in the paint were 54-28 for DLSU
• Mbala had 3 monstrous dunks including a wicked alley-oop 

Mbala made sure that everyone would remember his ferocious alley-oop dunk

The GOOD

• The score was tied at 20 after the 1st quarter
• ADMU had their biggest lead at 26-20, then it went downhill afterwards 
• Perimeter shooting was clicking at 13 of 28 from downtown 
• Ravena had 10 points in the first half, but only 1 point in the 2nd 
• Ravena had a double-double of 11 and 11 (his 2nd of the season)
• Kris Porter hit 2 threes and had 6 points in less than 9 minutes
• Matt Nieto went down hard and appeared to hurt his knee BUT he came back to play and he was solid with 13 points and 2 threes
• Ateneo had more assists 20-17
• Eagles were only out-rebounded by 8
• ADMU had more bench points, 44-35 

Final Thoughts 

Ateneo battled and tried their best. They kept it close for one period, but that was it. DLSU is just too deep, too fast, too big and too strong right now. Ben Mbala is unstoppable. He can probably play in the PBA as an import. 

Still, ADMU should be happy with their 4-3 record after the first round. They are certainly in the hunt for a final four slot. 

Hopefully, they continue to improve because they can beat the other schools except La Salle. 

Lastly, Aaron Black did not play and we all hope that we receive good news regarding his leg/foot injury. #OBF


Click HERE for more game photos between Ateneo vs La Salle! 

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#UAAP79 Game Photos from Ateneo vs De La Salle - October 2, 2016

Jason Perkins had a productive 2nd game of the season

Thirdy Ravena and the Blue Eagles had difficulties breaking the press defense of DLSU

Matt Nieto shook off a knee injury to finish with 13 points

Abu Tratter made sure Jeron Teng's absence was barely felt

Prince Rivero saw some minutes off the bench

Thomas Torres had 8 points and 8 rebounds

Adrian Wong led ADMU with 15 points

Ben Mbala had a spectacular alley-oop jam

Mbala dominated with 28 points and 13 rebounds

Ateneo's coaching staff had no answers

Mike Nieto struggled to hit shots all game long

ADMU tried many things to slow down Big Ben

See you in Round 2

                                               ***All photos by ROGET CALLUENG***