As if there were still doubts on Ateneo’s re-emergence as power, the wards of coach Tab Baldwin flushed all those with an emphatic performance versus their archrivals.
The Blue Eagles snapped a two-year losing spell against the La Salle Green Archers, 81-74, and stayed perfect in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament before more than 17,000 fans last night at the MOA Arena.
Ateneo erected a lead as big as 33 points that proved more than enough separation to hold off La Salle’s furious fourth-quarter avalanche that included a 22-0 run.
And the Eagles scored a fourth straight win ahead of another gigantic clash against title holder UP (2-2) on Wednesday.
Earlier, Far Eastern U doused cold water on Adamson’s last-ditch rally to escape with a breakthrough 64-58 win.
Janrey Pasaol drilled in the dagger trey in the final minute as the Tamaraws averted a meltdown from an 11-point lead in the payoff period to enter the winner’s circle at 1-3.