THE REIGNING champions Ateneo Blue Eagles clinched one of the two twice-to-beat advantages in the Final Four and they did it at the expense of their bitter rivals La Salle Green Archers, 79-62, in the 74th UAAP basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
It was the 90th win for Ateneo head coach Norman Black at the helm of the Blue Eagles and more importantly, it put them within three wins away from sweeping the elimination round and attaining an automatic slot in the finals.
La Salle, meanwhile, dropped its third straight loss and remain winless in the second round, dimming their chances of making it to the next round.
Nico Salva bounced back from his 0-for-12 performance in their last game against the University of the East Red Warriors and scored 19 points to lead the way for Ateneo, which got little from leading MVP contender Greg Slaughter because of foul trouble.
Meanwhile, the University of Santo Tomas rode on the momentum off a huge victory and gave University of the East the boot from final four contention, 54-45, in the curtain-raiser. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio