Ateneo beats rival La Salle

Games today:

2 p.m. – FEU vs. UE

4 p.m. – UP vs. Adamson

THE ATENEO Blue Eagles stood their ground and held off their blood rivals La Salle Green Archers, 71-61, in their much-anticipated first matchup this season in the 75th UAAP basketball tournament yesterday at the packed Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Ateneo wasted an early 16-point advantage but showed the poise that has made it champion for four straight years, as it rattled off a 9-3 run early in the fourth to take control of the lead and never looked back.

Former University of the Visayas ace Greg Slaughter scored 20 points in spite of the double teams that he kept on getting all afternoon long from the big men of La Salle.

Kiefer  Ravena added 16 points, four rebounds and two steals while last year’s Finals MVP Nico Salva chipped in 16 markers.

LA Revilla had a gutsy performance for La Salle with 16 points, five rebounds and seven assists while playing with a sprained ankle.

The Blue Eagles started off hot and raced to a 26-10 lead in the second canto as Ravena scored eight in the opening 10 minutes of play.

La Salle rallied behind the play of guards Luigi dela Paz and Revilla and Ateneo had to settle for a 35-26 lead at halftime.

The Green Archers kept the pressure on in the third and finally took over the lead after rookie sensation Jeron Teng made a three-pointer with 4:05 left in that stretch.

However, Ravena refused to let his squad enter the fourth canto without the lead as he made two freethrows and a layup to put the Eagles in front, 53-50./Correspondent Jonas Panerio