Quick Fire: Ateneo Blue Eagles lock down De La Salle Green Archers to move one win away from championship

(Photo Credit: Christopher Cancio, The GUIDON) 

Ateneo Blue Eagles def. De La Salle Green Archers 76-70

Notable Players:

Thirdy Ravena, Ateneo (12 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists): What a way for Thirdy to start off his second Finals campaign. His stats may not pop-out, but this was one of Thirdy's best games yet. Controlled, smart play from the best local in the league.

Mike (11 points, 5 rebounds) and Matt (11 points, 3 assists) Nieto, Ateneo: Matt was his usual steady self despite nursing a nasty cut in the left eyebrow, while Mike played some tough, smart basketball despite his lack of height to push Ateneo during the fourth quarter. These twins are special.

Chibueze Ikeh, Ateneo (4 points, 9 rebounds): Offensively, Ikeh was terrible. He showed us how NOT to run a hi-low play (seriously, a pass to Raffy Verano from the top with two defenders on Raffy) and missed a ton of gimmes. But defensively? He was INCREDIBLE. The very fact that he held his ground versus Mbala and limited him to just single digits is note-worthy in itself.

Aljun Melecio, La Salle (24 points, 3 assists, 3 steals): He ended the game with an airball so it's easy to brand him as a choker. Nope. Don't. The kid has big balls, and he showed it by coming up big in the grandest stage of them all. What a time for him to breakout.

Quick Analysis:

- The biggest reason for Ateneo's victory was how they managed to limit Ben Mbala to just seven shot attempts and just six free throw attempts. Yes, him scoring eight points is ridiculous, but limiting his number of shot attempts and free throw attempts is a testament to how well Ateneo defended him. Ikeh played some terrific one on one defense, while his teammates threw quick BUT aggressive doubles that stifled Ben enough to think that he was being doubled hard. The results were limited shot attempts and messed up offensive sets by La Salle.

- If it weren't for Aljun Melecio's heroics, this game would have been over by the third quarter. The beauty with how Ateneo defended was that it shut down not just Ben down low, but attempted attacks by other players as well. The paint was essentially a no-shoot zone with how well the Blue Eagles committed on defense. Even when they were doubling on Ben, the help defender always had help behind him (helping the helper) if ever the helpers man ended up being free for a shot. Translation: The Blue Eagles played some mean defense.

- Ateneo's performance in the clutch was noteworthy as well. We continue to praise Isaac Go for making such a shot, but I believe Thirdy Ravena deserves just as much love for making that play happen. He had the ball at the top of the key, and slowly but surely, La Salle sent in Abu Tratter to doible Thirdy. Thirdy knew this, and he calmly drove to the rim, saw the defense collapsing and dished it off to Isaac for the and-1. Great finish by Isaac, but an even better read by Thirdy. That is the Thirdy Ravena that Ateneo needs in the clutch. Calm, but ready to attack whether it be to score or to pass.

- To La Salle's credit, they did get some open looks from outside courtesy of the doubles off Ben. The problem was, they couldn't make these shots, save for Aljun Melecio (5/13 3FG). Ricci Rivero needs to get going once again, while Kib Montalbo, Andrei Caracut and Jollo Go's outside sniping will be badly needed come Game 2.