MANILA -- Ateneo inched closer to the UAAP men's basketball title after subduing La Salle, 76-70, in Game 1 of the best-of-three finals at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on Saturday night.
The Nieto twins showed heart as the Blue Eagles survived a hot game from Aljun Melecio and take a 1-0 lead in the race-to-two series.
Ateneo waxed hot in the first quarter, dropping 26 points to take a 12-point lead.
La Salle, however, slowly crawled back as Melecio helped the team come to within four, 39-43, at halftime as Matt Nieto had to leave the court after getting hit by Ben Mbala.
The Archers would take the lead late in the third, but a blistering 9-1 run to start the fourth anchored by huge baskets from Mike Nieto put the Eagles ahead, 69-59.
La Salle still put up a fight, cutting the lead down to one, 71-70, with less than three minutes left, but Ateneo's defense shut the team down in the end.
Thirdy Ravena led the Eagles with 12 points, but it was the twin brothers' points that mattered a lot.
Matt Nieto showed that he can still be a key player despite the wounded eye as he finished with 11, while Mike's crucial baskets in the fourth period led him to an 11-point finish as well.
Melecio finished with 24 markers for the Archers, but he was virtually by his lonesome as Ricci Rivero was limited to only 10 points, while Mbala only scored a UAAP career-low eight.
Box Scores:
Ateneo 76–Ravena 12, Ma. Nieto 11, Mi. Nieto 11, Asistio 10, Tolentino 9, Black 7, Verano 5, Go 5, Ikeh 4, Tio 2, Mamuyac 0, Mendoza 0, Porter 0
La Salle 70–Melecio 24, R. Rivero 10, Mbala 8, Tratter 7, Santillan 7, P. Rivero 7, Baltazar 4, Montalbo 3, Caracut 0, Go 0, Tero 0, Paraiso 0
Quarterscores: 26-14, 43-39, 60-58, 76-70 (PNA)
