MANILA, Philippines—The De La Salle Green Archers gave their archrivals due credit after Ateneo de Manila University triumphed 71-55 in their first game of UAAP Season 81 at Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.

It was a defensive masterclass for the defending UAAP champions, as the Blue Eagles limited La Salle to season-lows in points (55), field goal percentage (29%), points in the paint (28), perimeter points (11), and assists (3).

Tellingly, they forced La Salle to a season-high 28 turnovers -- a brutal number for the Green Archers who only averaged 15.8 throwaways per game heading into their showdown with their rivals.

“Maganda 'yung defense nila, 'yun lang,” said La Salle’s Aljun Melecio, who scored a game-high 21 points but needed a combined 29 shots from the field and the free throw line to get to his total.

“I give it to Ateneo,” said La Salle coach Louie Gonzalez. “Talagang, they really played well tonight.”

Gonzalez explained that the Blue Eagles forced them to veer away from their system, as “everything is being covered" by the Ateneo defense. Unfortunately, his young team was not quite ready for that challenge.

“The decision-making on the attack, doon kami nahirapan, especially with the game kanina,” he said. “You have to play selfish muna then become unselfish. Eh sobrang kontra 'yun sa pine-preach ko sa mga players ko, na 'yung mga touches, you have to share the ball.”

Indeed, La Salle entered the game averaging 15.0 assists per contest. On Saturday however Ateneo had their every move scouted, leading Gonzalez to resort to other measures.

“Kanina, someone needed to take over,” he admitted. “Everything is being covered, lahat ng passing lanes . . . kumbaga, matigas talaga sila lahat eh.”

“So 'yung takbo ng laro kanina, 'yung ang bagay na kailangan na kailangan namin matutunan,” he added.

“All of my athletes right now, nakasandal sila sa sistema eh,” Gonzalez further explained. “Sa ganyang klaseng laro, you have to get away from the system, tapos saka ka babalik. Ayun ang kailangan naming matutunan.”

The Ateneo coaches, for their part, were obviously pleased at how their players implemented their game plan on defense. The Blue Eagles entered the game as the stingiest team in the league, allowing only 62.8 points per contest on 36.8% shooting.

“In terms of strategy, playing defense based on our personnel and based on what they’ve been running, that was a very big emphasis coming into this game,” said Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga.

“And we’re very happy especially on the defensive end, how we played defense, how we forced turnovers,” he added.

One of Ateneo’s concerns had been rebounding: La Salle is the second-best rebounding team in the league, at 48.0 boards per game. They already had 30 rebounds by the first half, including 13 on the offensive glass. The Green Archers still won the rebounding battle in the end, 54-43, but the Ateneo coaches were happier with the effort they showed in the second half.

“In the second half, more or less we stood toe-to-toe with them,” said Arespacochaga.

“You know, it’s an Ateneo-La Salle game,” he added. “It’s a very intense game with the rivalry and everything. But we’re happy with the way our players (responded). There are some ups and downs with the excitement, but more or less, we’re happy with the way our players played the game individually, and collectively as a team.”

Ateneo improved to 5-1 with the result, while La Salle dropped to 3-3.

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