Eagles repeat over Archers

Not since 1987 has Ateneo swept La Salle in the elimination round of the UAAP.

Until last night.

With guns blazing and smoking from the outside, the Blue Eagles defeated the Green Archers in a high-scoring ballgame, 98-89, and formally clinched a hefty twice-to-beat advantage in the upcoming Final Four of the 66th UAAP season.

It was the first time in 15 years that Ateneo posted a two-game sweep of La Salle in the elims. The last Ateneo team to score the feat had players like Danny Francisco and Jun Reyes with Dindo Pumaren at the helm of the La Salle squad.

Ateneo defeated La Salle in the first round this year, 82-68, and was just as impressive last night in posting a season-high output. LA Tenorio and Magnum Membrere provided all the firepower needed to stop a big La Salle rally in the third quarter.

With its 11-3 record at the close of its elims schedule, Ateneo, because of a higher quotient, will emerge as the No. 1 squad even if it falls into a tie with FEU and UE. But in case of a two-way tie for first with either FEU or UE, a playoff will be held to determine the top two positions.

"That’s why we can’t relax. But what’s important is twice-to-beat na kami sa Final Four," said Ateneo coach Joel Banal, who’s looking at a nine-day rest before his team plunges back into action – be it in the Final Four or a playoff for the top spot.

La Salle, with a 7-6 slate and one game left against UE, will have to settle for the No. 4 spot for possibly another crack at Ateneo in the Final Four.

The Blue Eagles rattled off 10 triples last night with Tenorio hitting four, including three in a row in the fourth quarter, and Membrere nailing three, one of them leading to a rare four-point play off Ryan Arana in the third period.

A commotion took place just behind the Ateneo bench midway in the third quarter when a couple of La Salle alumni got entangled with the Ateneo crowd led by former players Enrico Villanueva and Jec Chia.

"I just didn’t notice it because I was focused on coaching," said Banal, whose charges enjoyed their biggest lead at 16 points midway in the fourth.

Earlier, University of the Philippines scored its final 11 points from the charity lane as it downed National University, 75-67, in a battle between the league’s tailenders.

The Maroons actually went 11-of-12 from the stripe in the final three minutes to register only their third win in 13 games.