Jr Archers bag plum; Lady Eagles cop title

La Salle leaned on Bryan Manguera’s clutch-shooting as the Junior Archers repulsed their bitter rival, the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eaglets, 98-92, in overtime to clinch the 70th UAAP junior basketball title at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium yesterday.

Marco Fortuna and David Webb led the Junior Archers with 23 and 21 points, respectively, but it was Manguera, also one of the heroes in their 76-74 Game 1 win last week, who hit the biggest shots in the game.

Manguera himself sent the game into overtime with a triple with a second to go in regulation play.

“He (Manguera) was huge for us again,” said La Salle coach Boris Aldeguer. “We were down and out but the boys refused to give up. It was really all about heart.”

It was vindication for  La Salle, which won the title in 2005 but failed to defend the crown because of the school’s suspension by the league last year. Ateneo reigned supreme in La Salle’s absence.

“It was vindication for us because we didn’t get a chance to defend our title,” said Aldeguer.

On the distaff side, Ateneo accomplished what its junior team failed to do as it beat State U, 62-58, to complete a two-game sweep.

Aldeguer also lauded Webb, grandson of former senator and basketball great Freddie Webb, for his all-around play and leadership.

“He gave us two titles in his three years with us. He’s really our MVP,” said Aldeguer of the quick 6-foot-3 Webb, who also had 21 monster rebounds, two assists and the same number of steals and blocks.

Juami Tiongson led all scorers with 24 points while Keifer Ravena, son of 1992 PBA rookie of the year Bong, added 22 including nine in a 14-5 exchange that gave the Eaglets a 79-73 lead with a little over two minutes to go in regulation.       – Joey Villar