MANILA, Philippines – All throughout the UAAP Season 79 men's basketball tournament, De La Salle University star Jeron Teng has talked about how special it would be for him to give his beloved school a championship in his final year.

"Mabibilang ko sa kamay ko, ilang games na lang ako sa La Salle," he said back in October, after a 78-72 win over University of the Philippines. "Every game, I just give my one hundred percent."

(I can count on one hand how many games I have left for La Salle.)

Teng came to La Salle's rescue anew on Saturday, when he made the biggest plays on both ends of the floor to lift the Green Archers to a 67-65 victory over arch-rival Ateneo de Manila University in Game 1 of the Season 79 Finals.

The former Rookie of the Year made the go-ahead lay-up on one end, then came up with a defensive gem against Aaron Black on the other end to preserve the win, which gave La Salle a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

• READ: Emotions flare up in DLSU-Ateneo series opener

La Salle now has a golden opportunity to clinch its first title since Season 76 when they play Ateneo in Game 2 on Wednesday, and Teng, for one, is hoping and praying that it will be the final game of his glittering collegiate career.

"Gusto ko na talaga na last game ko na," Teng said after scoring 10 points to go along with four rebounds in the victory. "Ayoko na magka-two games."

"Medyo funny 'yun, parang ironic na gusto ko na matapos," he acknowledged. "Pero we just want to end it on Wednesday."

(I want it to be my last game. I don't want the Finals to go two more games. It's funny and ironic that I want my college career to end, but we just want to end it on Wednesday.)

Teng knows it will be easier said than done. In Game 1, they raced off to a 15-point lead in the first quarter, only to see it fizzle out in the third frame as the Blue Eagles finally found their rhythm. Ateneo seized their first and only lead of the game with 34 seconds to go, before Teng put La Salle back on top for good.

"Siyempre, championship ito, and we know 'yung kalaban namin will make runs," said Teng, who was the Finals MVP when La Salle won the UAAP title in Season 76.

(Of course, it's the championship, and we know our opponent will make runs.)

"We just have to stay together and stay composed," he stressed. "We just have to play better next game."

Teng had called on his teammates to put on a better show in Game 2, but acknowledged that he will have to walk the talk as well after making only five of his 13 attempts from the field and failing to go to the line in almost 29 minutes of action.

"Next game, I expect to play better," he said.

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.