Eagles drown Dolphins

Nothing, not even a hard, dangerous tackle by Leo Gaspi late in the game, could stop Rich Alvarez from dishing out his best.

Alvarez unleashed a power game as Ateneo, minus big man Enrico Villanueva, bashed Philippine Christian University, 86-73, yesterday to remain unscathed in the UAAP-NCAA Benefit Games at the Makati Coliseum.

With the Eagles already way ahead 18 seconds to go, the two-time UAAP MVP was attempting a reverse slam when the bulky Gaspi hijacked him in mid-air for an unsportsmanlike foul. Alvarez then charged straight to Gaspi in retaliation but was quickly stopped by teammate Marco Benitez. He was called for a technical foul.

Gaspi was then ejected from the game after getting assessed a technical for throwing a punch at Alvarez. It is not yet known if Gaspi, one of the players who were involved in the infamous fight-marred San Beda-PCU game in this year’s NCAA season, would be suspended for his misbehavior in this 18-day event which was supposed to be for a cause.

"I almost lost my cool but I don’t want to get suspended or anything. It’s just a game, I just want to play basketball," said Alvarez, who was adjudged best player of the game with 21 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

It was the Jimmy Mariano-mentored Dolphins’ second loss in a row.

Earlier, La Salle rode on the endgame heroics of BJ Manalo and Adonis Sta.Maria as it trounced Jose Rizal, 88-82, to break into the win column.

Manalo drained two straight three-pointers while the bullstrong Sta. Maria scored six unanswered points in a pivotal fourth quarter run that sealed the Archers their first win in two outings.

Getting more minutes this time, Mike Cortez had only two points but his backcourt savvy glued together the Archers. Mark Cardona, benched in La Salle’s 59-66 loss to reigning NCAA titlist San Sebasatian Sunday, made his presence felt with 11 points.