The DLSU Green Archers Team B overcame a late surge by the UP Fighting Maroons Team B, 67-62, to win their second game of the Fr. Martin Cup at San Beda College Mendiola last July 24.
What seemed like a one-sided affair in the first three quarters, due mainly to DLSU’s fast-paced offense and uber athletic imports, proved to be a dogfight in the game’s waning minutes. In the fourth quarter, the Diliman-based dribblers finally found their groove and made a resilient effort to comeback, chopping down La Salle’s huge lead. The Green-and-White squad, however, kept their composure and gutted out a furious end game blitz by the Fighting Maroons to secure the victory for head coach Oliver Bunyi.
La Salle was up and running from the get go, leaving the baffled UP team scoreless for more than 5 minutes. Julian Sargent was on fire early on, scoring nine of his 16 points in the opening quarter. Unable to find a solution to the Green Archers twin towers inside, Ben Mbala and Abu Tratter, UP watched helplessly as they charged past them to grab a convincing double-digit halftime lead, 27-16.
Mbala then started the second half on a roll and showed his fearsome form. The 6’5’ Cameroonian big man proved to be a force on both ends of the court. An Mbala two-handed power dunk off a turnover fueled the Green Archers run along with three emphatic blocks on the other end. His stellar effort proved that he is definitely a force to be reckoned with and he finished with 17 points, 16 rebounds, and eight blocks.
The tables were turned in the 4th quarter though when the Green Archers offense started to slow down which the Fighting Maroons easily capitalized on. UP utilized a full court press which lead to a number of turnovers from the Taft-based team. However, the run came to an abrupt end with Chris John Lim making a clutch perimeter jump shot. Still, UP never conceded and made several much needed baskets down the stretch, but it proved to be futile as DLSU finished them off with two crucial free throws made by Terrence Mustre with 13 seconds left in the game.
