MANILA, Philippines - De La Salle gained the headstart in its fabled rivalry with Ateneo in Season 74 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines as the Junior Archers nipped the reigning three-time champion Blue Eaglets, 78-75, in overtime as juniors basketball action kicked off Tuesday.
Gabby Reyes top-scored for 21 points and Isaac Lim contributed 16 points, six rebounds and six assists for La Salle-Zobel, which finished third last season behind Ateneo and University of Santo Tomas.
In other matches Tuesday, National University stunned last season’s losing finalist UST, 63-59, also in overtime; Far Eastern University beat University of the East, 98-68; and Adamson whipped University of the Philippines Integrated School, 83-64.
Reyes calmly sank two charities for a 76-73 La Salle-Zobel breather, before the Junior Archers forced the Blue Eaglets to a 5-second inbound violation in the next play inside the final half-minute.
A free throw by Kristiane Velhagen gave La Salle-Zobel more elbow room in overtime, but Ateneo, playing in their home-court in Katipunan, made it 75-77 on Gab Capacio’s putback.
Axel Torres split his charities to make it 78-75 with 18.6 seconds. The Junior Archers then played solid defense after that, forcing Blue Eaglets’ Gerald Austria’s desperation triple to miss its mark.
Eaglet Thomas Ramos sank two free throws to force overtime at 67-67 with two seconds left in regulation.
Kris Porter finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out in regulation.