How La Salle defeated Ateneo in Game Two

Ben Mbala was again a tower of power for La Salle. KC Cruz

The De La Salle Green Archers overcame a 21-point deficit to defeat the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 92-83, on Wednesday and force a winner-take-all Game Three in the UAAP Season 80 men's basketball finals. Here's how the two teams performed by the numbers:

0 - The number of points scored by Ateneo's Mike Nieto. The Blue Eagles point guard played just 14 minutes, unable to connect on any of his six attempts. In contrast, he scored his 11 points in Game One.

20 - The number of points scored by Ateneo main man Thirdy Ravena. The athletic forward was efficient from the field, hitting 5 of his 10 attempts from the field. He was also splendid from the stripe, hitting 9 of his 10 freethrow attempts. Ravena, however, recorded seven turnovers along with six boards and four assists.

15 - La Salle center Ben Mbala's field goal attempts. After being limited by Ateneo's big men to just 3-of-7 shooting in Game One, the two-time reigning Most Valuable Player recovered to connect on nine of his 15 tries in Game Two for 20 points.

73 - Green Archers wingman Ricci Rivero's field goal percentage in Game Two. After going for 4-of-11 for 10 points in Game One, Rivero improved to an 8-of-11 clip for 18 points in Game Two. He did this in less than 24 minutes with five boards and four assists and just two turnovers.

8 - The number of points scored by Ateneo in the third quarter. After going up 32-15 in the first, the Blue Eagles crumbled in the next two periods as La Salle outscored them, 53-27, to take the lead for good.

2 - The number of successful field goal attempts form Aljun Melecio. After leading La Salle in Game One with 24 points on 8-of-19 shooting, Melecio combined for a modest 5-of-16 clip with Andrei Caracut in Game Two. The guard duo, however, hit a 12-of-13 from the free throw line to conspire for 25 points.

3 - The number of free throws awarded to Mbala in Game Two. The big man averaged close to 12 free throws a game in the eliminations, but the slew of big men sent by Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin has led to fewer trips to the line for Mbala. In Game One, he only had six free throw tries. —JST, GMA News