La Salle sweeps Ateneo to become UAAP Season 79 champion

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – After only 3 years, the title goes back to Taft.

De La Salle University overwhelmed longtime rival Ateneo de Manila University in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 79 Finals, 79-72, on Wednesday, December 7 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to sweep the series and become champion of a season in which they were expected to win it all even before it started.

Graduating forward Jeron Teng was named Finals MVP for the second time in his UAAP career after averaging 19 points on 52% shooting along with 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

Teng, who won his second UAAP crown, had a defining game-high 28 points on 60% shooting from the field in Game 2 to lead DLSU.

Ben Mbala posted 18 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks while Kib Montalbo added 9 markers, all of 3-point range.

The Green Archers claimed their 9th UAAP title and have now won two of their 5 finals duels against the Blue Eagles as they fulfilled every expectation for them this year, with highly-touted big man Mbala also clinching the Most Valuable Player honor.

La Salle, which last won the title in 2013, failed to sweep the season, however, after Ateneo dealt them their only loss this season in the second round. That defeat also turned out to be the Archers’ lone blemish all year as they went 26-1 in competition including the FilOil preseason tournament.

Head coach Aldin Ayo also became a back-to-back champion coach in the UAAP and the NCAA, after he led the Letran Knights to the title last year. Ayo gravitated toward the two biggest collegiate rivalries in the country as he likewise went to battle with Letran against fierce rival San Beda last season.

Ayo is the first coach to win titles back-to-back in the UAAP and the NCAA in the UAAP Final Four era.

Coach Aldin Ayo taking a quick moment to himself to pray after the win. He wins again after leading Letran to the title last year in NCAA pic.twitter.com/bHb5bewSKE

— Jane Bracher (@janebracher) December 7, 2016

This veteran La Salle squad, led by Mbala and Teng and with its “Mayhem” mentality, outplayed the younger Ateneo side, which was not expected to reach the finals as it rebuilds in the post-Kiefer Ravena era.

The Archers raced to a 13-point lead in the first half and controlled the tempo of the game from then on, responding emphatically every time the Eagles came close.

The lead grew to 14-point bulges in the third before Ateneo rallied to within 6 midway in the final frame. Rookie of the Year Aljun Melecio, who wound up with 7 points and 4 rebounds, then converted an impressive fastbreak layup, avoiding the outstretched arms of Thirdy Ravena to stop the bleeding.

True to their ethos all season long, the Eagles fought until the end, trimming the deficit to 4 with over a minute remaining, but it wasn’t enough to force a deciding Game 3.

Mike Nieto paced Ateneo with 18 points and 3 rebounds, while Adrian Wong and Raffy Verano added 10 points apiece. Verano also pulled down 9 rebounds.

Scores:

DLSU (79): Teng 28, Mbala 18, Montalbo 9, Melecio 7, Caracut 5, Perkins 4, Torres 3, Tratter 2, Rivero P 2, Sargent 1.

Ateneo (72): Nieto Mi 18, Wong 10, Verano 10, Asistio 9, Go 8, Ikeh 6, Nieto Ma 4, Ravena 3, Black 2, Tolentino 2, Porter 0, Babilonia 0.

Quarter scores: 22-16, 45-35, 59-52, 79-72.

 – Rappler.com