La Salle defeated Ateneo, 83-76, in the 100th game of their storied UAAP men’s basketball rivalry at Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday night.
The Green Archers’ victory evened the rivalry series at 50-50 and pulled them level with the Blue Eagles at 3-2 in the Season 89 standings.
‘We really discussed how important this is for everyone, so we just toughed it out,’ said La Salle coach Topex Robinson.
‘We did something we committed to and we said whatever happens, we have to stick with what we prepared for.’ La Salle held a slim 72-70 lead in the fourth quarter before unloading an 11-2 rally, capped by a triple from Jacob Cortez with 2:16 remaining for an 83-72 lead.
Cortez scored eight of his total 12 points in the payoff period to carry the Green Archers, with five assists, three rebounds and a steal.
Joaquin Tovera and JC Macalalag turned in 15 points a piece to give La Salle its second straight win.
Shawn Tuano scored 17 while Jared Bahay had 14 in the loss that snapped Ateneo’s two-game winning streak.
The Blue Eagles’ prized rookie Kieffer Alas, meanwhile, struggled with only five points on a 2-for-11 shooting night.