After a heartbreaking 63-58 opening day defeat at the hands of the UST Growling Tigers in overtime, the DLSU Green Archers look to pick up their first win of the season against the UP Fighting Maroons. In the loss, the team collectively missed ten free throws and committed 24 turnovers, and if these two statistics become commonplace, the Green Archers will have a difficult time qualifying for the top four by the end of the season.
Both teams are coming off loses in their first games and will seek their first wins when they go head-to-head on Wednesday, July 3, at 2 pm in the Mall of Asia Arena.
La Salle’s first win last year also came at the expense of the Fighting Maroons in Jeron Teng’s first ever UAAP game. Teng scored 15 points and made the go-ahead three point play to seal the game. Fast forward to this season and the reigning Rookie of the Year and Mythical Team member is coming off a sound 10 point and six rebound game in DLSU’s opener last Saturday, but it was tainted after he fouled out in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter, committed seven turnovers, and missed all three of his free throws. Teng is an essential factor for coach Juno Sauler’s attack and how he responds in this game will be a crucial factor for the Green Archers.
Almond Vosotros picked up from where he left off last season, making three three-pointers on his way to 13 points, but he needed 20 attempts, 15 from beyond the arc, to do so. Vosotros was not alone carrying the charge for La Salle as rookie forward Jason Perkins, who hails from Minnesota, scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds in his first game. Perkins was responsible for sending the game into overtime after he drained a long two pointer coming off a pass from LA Revilla following a pick-and-roll between the two with 11 seconds left in the game.
As a team, DLSU made just 30.6 percent of their field goals and 47.4 percent of their free throws, and their shooting woes were compounded by their inability to keep possession of the ball which led to 24 turnovers. Better shot selection and more discipline with the basketball will be essential for the Green Archers if they intend on picking up their first win against UP.
On the opposing side, despite their 79-67 opening loss at the hands of the AdU Soaring Falcons, the Fighting Maroons cannot be underestimated. Led by former DLSU forward Joseph Marata, who scored 20 points and added five rebounds, the Diliman-based team almost pulled off an upset in their opening game. Marata, who led La Salle to the Final Four in 2010, will look to lead UP to its first win ironically against his former team.
The matchup between Marata and Teng will be one to watch and the performance of these two swingmen will help dictate the outcome of the game. Aside from this marquee match-up, the battle underneath will be key. La Salle grabbed 52 rebounds in its opening game, 17 on the offensive end, and the big men will be wise to utilize their sizeadvantage against an undersized UP frontline that recorded only 29 rebounds against Adamson. As important as Teng and Vosotros are to La Salle’s winning chances, the way Norbert Torres, Arnold van Opstal and Perkins attack their counterparts will be the most crucial part of the game. An above average performance from at least two of these aforementioned players will almost guarantee a victory for Sauler’s team.
The Green Archers have not lost to UP since 2009 and they will look to extend their streak of dominance as they seek their first win of the season. Will the Green Archers finally barge into the win column or will the Fighting Maroons pull off an upset?
