Joseph Marata hit back-to-back triples in a span of 30 seconds to lift
De La Salle University to a pulsating come-from-behind victory over archrival
Ateneo De Manila, 66-63, in UAAP action Saturday at the jampacked Araneta Coliseum.
Marata's triples highlighted a searing 13-1 run by the Archers to close the game and seal La Salle's first win over the Blue Eagles since 2007.
Marata scored all his team-high 12 points from beyond the arc, and after the game he revealed he was dedicating this season to his late uncle, former pro Ric-ric Marata, who passed away earlier this year in New York.
Ateneo appeared to have the game in hand after Eric Salamat's basket gave the Eagles a 62-53 cushion with just under four minutes to go. That capped a 15-5 Ateneo run sparked by a double-pump, shot clock-beating three by Kirk Long. But rookie Jarelan Tampus hit back-to-back baskets and Joel Tolentino added two free throws off Long's fifth foul to cut the deficit to three, 62-59, time down to 2:12.
A split by Nico Salva with 2:04 left pushed the lead back up to four, 63-59, for what would turn out to be the Eagles' last point of the game. On the ensuing play, Marata buried a gutsy three practically on the run to bring the Archers to within one.
After an Ateneo miss, Marata sank his second three to give the Archers the lead for good at 65-63 with 1:28 left. The momentum having swung hard to La Salle, and with Long fouled out and Emman Monfort leaving the game with a thigh injury, Ateneo's offense stalled. The Archers forced Bacon Austria to try and beat them, and he missed on a triple and a runner.
With Ateneo needing a triple to tie, the Archers zeroed in on the Eagles' shooters, forcing Justin Chua to attempt two threes that missed badly.
After the final buzzer sounded, the Archers whooped it up on the court, celebrating the big win that not only ended a six-game losing streak to the Eagles, but also pushed them to solo second with a 3-1 record. The Eagles dropped to 2-2 and fell into a tie for third with the NU Bulldogs.
La Salle coach Dindo Pumaren was at a loss for words afterwards, except to say that he was very happy with the result. "That was all about heart. The boys didn't give up. I don't know what else to say," said the jubilant coach.
DLSU (66) - Webb 12, Marata 12, Atkins 9, Tampus 6, Andrada 6, Dela Paz 5, Tolentino 5, Mendoza 5, Vosotros 3, Villanueva 2, Ferdinand 1, Paredes 0.
ADMU (63) - Chua 16, Monfort 11, Long 9, Buenafe 7, Salamat 6, Salva 5, Golla 3, Escueta 2, Dela Cruz 2, Austria 2, Tiongson 0, Gonzaga 0.
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