SCHONNY Winston produced the game’s biggest plays as La Salle outlasted Ateneo, 83-78, to force a three-way tie in second place in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament last night before 12,056 fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Green Archers ended the Blue Eagles’ seven-game losing streak which started in Game 3 of the 2017 Finals.

“It was added motivation for the guys,” said La Salle coach Derrick Pumaren.

Trailing 62-67, the Green Archers unloaded a telling 10-0 run capped by a Mike Phillips putback to gain a five-point cushion, with 3:12 remaining.

Winston then kept Ateneo at bay with his key jumpers, including one over Dave Ildefonso, to give La Salle a 81-76 advantage, with 1:19 remaining.

The Blue Eagles cut the deficit to 78-81 on a Kai Ballungay basket and had a chance to send the game into overtime, but Fourthsky Padrigao bungled a three-pointer.

Evan Nelle, who only rejoined the team Friday after missing the previous match, then sealed the Green Archers’ win by nailing two free throws off Ballungay’s foul in the final seven seconds.

Winston finished with 25 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals while Nelle contributed 10 points, three assists, three boards and two steals for La Salle.

“They really worked hard and prepared for Ateneo. Even though we were down, we were able to regroup in the second quarter,” said Pumaren.

A Ben Phillips triple put the Green Archers ahead at 14-11 when the Blue Eagles unloaded a 13-0 run capped a Gab Gomez three-pointer to build their first double-digit lead at 24-14 with 2:36 in the first period.

La Salle then rallied from a 12-point hole to cut the deficit to one at the break.

Ange Kouame registered his third double-double of the season with 22 points and 12 boards to go with four blocks while Ballungay had 19 points and 10 boards for Ateneo.

Earlier, Kean Baclaan and John Lloyd Clemente had 16 points apiece as National University rediscovered its winning ways with a 69-63 win over University of Santo Tomas.

The Bulldogs moved up to 2-1 along with the Green Archers and the Blue Eagles, while sending the Growling Tigers to their second straight defeat.

Defending champion University of the Philippines became the only unbeaten team at 3-0.

Meanwhile, defending six-time women’s champion NU squandered a 17-point lead before escaping with a 78-75 victory over UST to stretch its remarkable winning streak to 99 games. Ann Pingol, Camille Clarin and Angel Surada teamed up for 38 points for the Lady Bulldogs.

Lee Sario dropped 11 of her 19 points in the final period and grabbed 11 rebounds as La Salle repulsed Ateneo, 75-67, to tie UST and UP at 2-1.

Baclaan, who also had team-highs seven assists and four steals, knocked down a triple for NU to post a 62-44 advantage with 8:02 remaining.

The Growling Tigers then unloaded a 14-2 run to cut down the deficit to 58-64, but the Bulldogs were able to preserve on to the lead in the final 26.7 seconds.

“We’re lucky we got that win kasi kahit papaano nakakatakot yung UST hanggang dulo hindi sila bumibigay eh,” said NU coach Jeff Napa.

Senegal’s Adama Faye had a double-double effort of 20 points and 10 rebounds to go with four assists and two blocks while Nic Cabañero chipped in 16 points and 12 rebounds, but the Cebuano swingman went 5-of-11 from the free throw line, including key misses in the final two minutes that could have turn things around for the Growling Tigers.

Baclaan, who made a controversial move to NU after playing for UST in the preseason league, did not mind the outside noise.

“Sadyang naglaro lang talaga ako. Focus lang ako, kailangan lang naming manalo,” said Baclaan.

The scores:

First game

NU (69) — Baclaan 16, Clemente 16, Omar 8, Malonzo 8, Figueroa 7, Padrones 4, Yu 3, Minerva 3, Mahinay 2, Manansala 2, Palacielo 0, Galinato 0, Tibayan 0.
UST (63) — Faye 20, Cabañero 16, Pangilinan 9, Garing 8, Manaytay 3, Calimag 3, Laure 2, Lazarte 2, Mantua 0, Duremdes 0, Herrera 0.
Quarterscores: 16-14, 35-23, 57-42, 69-63

Second game

DLSU (83) — Winston 25, Nelle 10, Cortez 8, Quiambao 7, Abadam 7, M. Phillips 6, Austria 6, B. Phillips 6, Estacio 5, Nwankwo 3, Nonoy 0, Manuel 0.
Ateneo (78) — Kouame 22, Ballungay 19, Andrade 8, Ildefonso 7, Padrigao 7, Gomez 5, Lazaro 4, Garcia 3, Chiu 2, Koon 1, Daves 0, Quitevis 0.
Quarterscores: 18-28, 46-47, 64-62, 83-78.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Theodore P. Jurado