UAAP: Buenafe leads Ateneo past La Salle

(Updated 7:08pm) He's back. UAAP Season 73 Finals MVP Ryan Buenafe scored a career-high 24 points, and together with the rest of the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, disposed of the De La Salle University Green Archers 77-67, Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, in the 75th season of the UAAP. In addition, Buenafe also grabbed eight rebounds for Ateneo. Kiefer Ravena followed in the score sheet with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Nico Salva tallied 12 points despite a 4-for-13 clip from the field, and Juami Tiongson added 10 points. Buenafe, the Season 73 Finals MVP, said that he felt like he had something to prove this season, especially after a first quarter ejection on Thursday against FEU. "Yung pangalan ko parang biglang nawala na, so kailangan kong ipakita na may kaya parin ako," the San Sebastian high school alum said after the game. Teng played the hero for La Salle in the fourth quarter, scoring six of their first eight. However Ateneo kept coming back, aided by multiple offensive rebounds. Salva completed an and-one halfway through the quarter, 66-54, but an undaunted Teng dropped five points to lead a 9-4 run that brought them within seven on a pair from the line, 70-63, with under three minutes to play. However, it would not prove to be enough. Ateneo replied with consecutive drives from Ravena and Salva, offsetting a lay-up by Vosotros. With under a minute to go, Buenafe and Tiongson were fouled and made 3-of-4 from the line. Teng made two charities in the final 20 seconds to complete the final tally. Teng, a product of Xavier High School, scored 13 of his side’s 21 fourth quarter points, but the bluechip rookie couldn’t quite close the gap between the two sides. In what could be his final Ateneo-La Salle game, Eagles coach Norman Black didn't downplay the importance of the victory. Black, who is moving on after this season to the bench of the PBA’s Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters said, "I know it's only one game, but we wanted to reestablish ourselves as the best team in the UAAP." Buenafe started for the second straight game, in an especially important move to Black. "Most teams use their small fowards to double-team Greg [Slaughter]," said Black. "So we decided to put Ryan in the line-up because he's very difficult to leave alone [on defense]." "Greg sacrificed for us today," added Black. "He didn't force his shots and let his teammates shine. Our team has balance and we don't have to rely on just one guy. We just let whoever's the star that night have his way, and that's one of the great things about our team." The Eagles were unflappable in the early game as repeated stops allowed them to launch their vaunted transition offense. Kiefer Ravena and Ryan Buenafee combined for seven points in an early 11-2 run, as a 16-foot jumper by Ravena forced DLSU coach Gee Abanilla into a timeout at 6:22. As if on cue, Almond Vosotros checked into the game and buried a triple for the Archers. In response, Nico Salva notched his third, fourth and fifth points, matching him with his own trey on the other end. La Salle continued to have difficulty connecting on long two’s, and Ryan Buenafe dialed in consecutive triples around the three-minute mark to impose a 20-5 lead. With both teams in the penalty, Teng drew a foul and split at the line. The Archers traded free throws and made four, to finally break double digits, but a running shot by Tonino Gonzaga and a drive by Juami Tiongson in the last 30 seconds lifted the Eagles to 26-10 after the first period. In the second quarter, Vosotros drained consecutive triples, the Archers' first field goals since halfway through the first period. Ateneo, on the other hand, found that it was their turn to struggle shooting-wise. A Ravena split at the line gave the Eagles some wiggle room, but Arnold Van Opstal completed a put-back play, capping an 8-1 run that cut the Ateneo lead to single digits, 27-18. With under five minutes to play both teams traded baskets, but Ateneo could not sustain the run despite attempts from all over the floor. Jed Manguera split at the line, then scored on the break to draw within nine again, 35-26. Oping Sumalinog converted on a three-ball with a minute and a half to go, but Teng found himself at the line anew. He split, then moments later, Van Opstal worked under the basket for two more. After a blistering 26 points in the first period, the Eagles managed just nine in the second period. Their lead had dwindled to six, 35-29. After the break, reserve wingman Jarelan Tampus carried the Archers' offense as they repeatedly attacked the rim. Buenafe knocked down his third triple for Ateneo and Juami Tiongson scored on the break during a heated exchange, but La Salle crept back as Tampus buried another jumper, 42-37, halfway through the third. Vosotros broke away for a lay-up after a timeout, and Teng followed it up with a three-ball, but Ateneo pushed back as its front court went to work. Buenafe scored four straight at the rim, followed by a baseline jumper from Chua. Greg Slaughter then made his first field goal of the game on a tip-in with three minutes to play. Suddenly, La Salle's defense turned porous, and Ateneo's guards made short work of it. Tiongson finished with four of Ateneo's last six to bring the lead back to double digits, 57-46. La Salle won the offensive boards battle, 18-13, but could not convert as they were limited to a 23-of-67 mark from the floor, or 34.3 percent. Jeron Teng finished with 22 points and five rebounds, while Almond Vosotros buried four from beyond the arc to finish with 20 points and seven rebounds. Jarelan Tampus and Arnold Van Opstal notched eight markers apiece, and the latter tallied eight boards. Both teams actually played without key personnel. ADMU's back-up big man JP Erram sat out due to a one-game suspension, while the Archers were without LA Revilla once more. Ateneo affirmed its grip atop the season standings and improved to 9-1. The Archers took a hit and dropped to 6-4. - RAF/AMD, GMA News The scores: ADMU 77: Buenafe 24, Ravena 18, Salva 12, Tiongson 10, Slaughter 4, Chua 4, Sumalinog 3, Gonzaga 2, Golla 0, Elorde 0 DLSU 67: Teng 22, Vosotros 20, Van Opstal 8, Tampus 8, N Torres 4, Manguera 3, Mendoza 2, Andrada 0, Paredes 0, T Torres 0, Tallo 0, Webb 0 Quarter scoring: 26-10, 35-29, 57-46, 77-67