Fil-Oil: La Salle routs EAC for fifth straight win

After playing carelessly and losing their composure in the last outing against Lyceum, the DLSU Green Archers came out of the gates with an unselfish offense and tenacious defense, handily conquering the EAC Generals by 28 points at the Arena in San Juan.

After the team’s 91-63 triumph, La Salle head coach Gee Abanilla was satisfied with their performance but said that he expects more than just wins from his team. “The Fil-Oil is not about winning only but improving individually and as a team. If we win and do not improve, it defeats the purpose of the league. I think we are on the right track,” shares the second year mentor.

The Green Archers started out with a 9-0 advantage after Jason Perkins scored seven straight points, forcing EAC to call for a time-out. Perkins then ended the quarter with 11 points as La Salle took a comfortable 26-14 advantage over the Generals.

Early in the second quarter, the Green Archers continued their aggressive play, led by Robert Bolick and Arnold van Opstal. This surmounted to a short run for the Green Archers that allowed the team to grab an 18 point lead. EAC had a run of their own, though, as they were able to cut the lead down to single digits, 37-28, but the Green Archers managed to regain their composure by halftime as they settled with a 10 point lead, 47-37.

Both Kib Montalbo and Oda Tampus contributed 6 points each during the 16-3 run of the Green Archers, giving them a 22 point lead midway through the third quarter. EAC would not let the game get out of hand though as they did not quit, trailing by just 16 points as they headed into the last quarter.

As the Green Archers tried to seal the deal in the fourth quarter, they opened up the period with a pair of three pointers from Bolick and Perkins. The Green Archers kept on pushing the basketball as they stretched the lead to 28, their biggest lead of the game, at the end of four quarters. To end the game in convincing fashion, DLSU outscored EAC in the final quarter by 12, resulting to a 91-63 victory for the Green Archers who maintain a perfect streak in the Fil-Oil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup.

It was the fifth straight win in as many outings for coach Gee Abanilla’s squad and they won it with a complete team effort. There were no isolations or selfish plays to be seen as the youthful squad dismantled their rivals with precision passing and timely cuts to finish with a final score of 91-63.

After the game, the humble La Salle mentor shares, “There were stretches where we looked good but there are still aspects to improve in our game.”

Starting big men Perkins and Norbert Torres both finished with double-double performances, while Jeron Teng added 11 points of his own.

The rookie Perkins finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds while Torres tallied 10 points and 10 rebounds. “Jason [Perkins] is a very versatile player and he can work the ball inside and outside,” says Abanilla of his prized forward.

EAC was bannered by Noube Happi and Jan Jamon who both had 14 points, but the rest of the squad was unable to contribute in their resistance of the streaking Green Archers.

The Green Archers will next face UAAP rival UE on May 25, Saturday, in the same venue at 4pm. The Green Archers are looking to go for their sixth straight win and, after the encounter with UE, will have two more games before the end of the elimination round.