After 8 long years, the greatest rivals in Philippine sports finally met again in the UAAP season 79 men’s basketball finals- the De La Salle Green Archers and the Ateneo Blue Eagles. The last time they met, ADMU Blue Eagles won the crown in their first win for a 5-peat reign in UAAP Men’s basketball.
This year, the top-seeded DLSU Green Archers are on the verge of taking back their 2013 championship but ADMU Blue Eagles will stop at nothing to topple the Green Archers. An exciting and promising match-up, I went to my first La Salle-Ateneo basketball game on December 3, 2016 with Dyrham Palfrey of National University. We first watched the game 1 triumph of NU as they beat DLSU in the women’s basketball, 77-74.
Before the game started, I had some photo-ops with DLSU and ADMU players including Aljun Jay Melecio who spent his junior years playing for De La Salle Zobel, and Thirdy Ravena, the younger brother of two-time UAAP season MVP Kiefer Isaac Ravena.
The Dream Match
A double-double performance from Ben Mbala lifted La Salle Green Archers over Ateneo Blue Eagles in game 1 of their best-of-three UAAP season 79 men’s basketball finals on December 3, held at Mall of Asia Arena.
Ben Mbala scored 20 points with 20 rebounds while 2013 finals MVP Jeron Teng added 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. La Salle’s scorching offense and superb defense proved to be too strong for the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the first half with a hammering 36-26 by the Archers.
Aaron Norman Black led all Eagles with 12 points and 8 rebounds while Thirdy Ravena chipped in 8 points and 4 rebounds. Chibueze Ikeh had 8 points and 9 rebounds with a slam dunk in the second quarter. George Go, the hero of their match against FEU, added 6 points and 2 rebounds.
The Quarters: 19-6, 36-26, 52-52, 67-65
*Photo courtesy of Francis Quinto of Powcast.net
By: Paolo Manuel C. Fule
Pow Salud Studio 