UAAP finals: Ateneo lifer Matt Nieto comfortable with any role if it leads to winning

MANILA, Philippines—After tallying a career-best 27 points in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 81 men's basketball finals, Matt Nieto was limited to just six points in Game 2 on Wednesday and yet the Ateneo guard could not be happier about it.

Nieto was the hero of the Blue Eagles' 88-79 triumph over University of the Philippines in last Saturday's Game 1, as he knocked down big shot after big shot in the fourth quarter to hold off the Fighting Maroons.

In Game 2, however, Nieto finished with only 6 points on 3-of-9 shooting, though he added 3 rebounds and 5 assists in 26 minutes of action. The Blue Eagles didn't need him to hit clutch shots, as they routed UP 99-81 to secure a second straight men's basketball title.

"First quarter pa lang, they put a defensive player sa akin, si Jarell (Lim), but you know that scoring isn't the first option for me, so I was really happy that they were guarding me, because I can set up my teammates," said Nieto.

Nieto spent the game setting the table for his teammates, with Ange Kouame and Thirdy Ravena being his primary beneficiaries. The highlight of the game came with 62 seconds left, when he dished off to Ravena for a two-handed jam.

"I saw Thirdy, he was in the zone, so I really tried to look for him," said Nieto, who added that he would have loved for Ravena to reach 40 points. Ravena, the eventual finals MVP, settled for a career-best 38.

"He really deserves that, kaya binigay ko sa kaniya 'yung points na 'yun. Because we know, deserving siya."

Ravena was no slouch in Game 1, putting up 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists. He and Nieto were hailed as the heroes then, but Nieto didn't mind ceding the spotlight to his teammate for the title-clinching game.

"Sabi niya nga, kaming dalawa 'yung nagdala ng Game 1. Sabi ko wala 'yun," he said.

" 'Yung Game 2 dapat, gusto ko kahit mababa 'yung score ko, basta 'yung lead namin malaki," Nieto stressed. "Mas pipiliin ko na manalo kami na 'yung margin (ganito), kesa 'yung hard-fought game na nag-27 ako."

"So I will choose to win in a blowout, kesa 'yung gitgitan na 27 points ako. I will take that every time."

Nieto, an Ateneo student since the preparatory level, has now won two championships on the collegiate level after winning one title in high school. He is hoping that in his final year in Season 82, he and twin brother Mike will graduate as champions.

"I wanna end my college career on a winning note," said Nieto. "Kasi after next year, 16 years in Ateneo, I will be graduating already, and I wanna end on a winning note, and I hope that my teammates will be there for me."

"(But) now, it's time to celebrate," he added.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

La Salle repulses late UP fight to give Abanilla first UAAP win

For a few tense moments, La Salle rookie Jeron Teng and the Green Archers looked as if they about to give the game away.

Despite leading by as much as 15 points late in the third quarter, La Salle saw themselves down by one point, 68-67, with 44.7 seconds remaining. But Teng came up big in the clutch as the Green Archers outlasted the UP Fighting Maroons, 73-68, to open their UAAP Season 75 campaign with a win.

Teng finished with 15 points in his UAAP debut, including a crucial three-point play with 27.3 seconds that all but sealed the game. Center Norbert Torres finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds and La Salle co-captain LA Revilla finished with an impressive line of 15 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.

The Green Archers led 55-40 before UP’s Mark Lopez scored six points to close out the third period down by just 10 points, 56-46.

The Fighting Maroons, behind Mike Silungan and rookie Henry Asilum, cut the La Salle lead to four points after Teng was called on an unsportsmanlike foul with 2:21 left. Alvin Padilla then hit a huge three-pointer that brought UP within one, 67-66.

Teng, who scored 13 of his total in a big second half, stepped up to the free throw line for a chance to push their lead back up to three, but the rookie missed all three shots, including an extra free throw after a lane violation was called on the rebound play.

Padilla then put UP over the top with another jumper. But Teng made up for his miscues by finishing a tough layup from the baseline and sank the and-one free throw to give La Salle back the lead.

Yutien Andrada then came up big on the defensive end with a huge block on a Jet Manuel attempt from beyond the arc. Revilla sank two free throws and Torres added one more after another defensive stop to seal the final margin.

La Salle coach Gee Abanilla praised his prized recruit after the game.

“I know Jeron. Everytime we go into practice, we as a coaching staff, know what he can do, what he can provide for us,” he said about his decision to keep the rookie in the game despite the missed free throws.

“I think the one-two punch of LA Revilla and Jeron Teng is really good. We have to exploit this also and hopefully do a lot better in the next game.”

“I had a bad start to the first quarter,” said Teng about his debut. “Nag-adjust ako kasi yung FilOil iba sa UAAP. Mas mabilis yung UAAP. Buti sa second half nakabawi.”

Silungan scored 18 points to lead UP while Asilum had 12 is his own debut. Big man Alinko Mbah missed the game for the Fighting Maroons.

The scores:

La Salle (73) – Torres 16, Teng 15, Revilla 15, Andrada 10, Dela Paz 9, Mendoza 6, Webb 2, Van Opstal 0, Paredes 0, Vosotros 0, Gotladera 0, Tallo 0, Maguera 0.

UP (68) – Silungan 18, Asilum 12, Lopez 10, Soyud 8, Padilla 7, Manuel 5, Ball 4, Romero 2, Hipolito 2, Wierzba 0, Montecastro 0, Gamboa 0, Gallarza 0.

source: interaksyon.com