As UAAP action resumes on the hardcourt this weekend, the DLSU Green Archers will gun for their third consecutive victory against the UP Fighting Maroons on Saturday, August 24, at 2 pm in the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Fresh from a successful 75-66 victory in their preceding game versus the number one-seeded team in the league, FEU Tamaraws, the revitalized La Salle squad currently holds solo fourth place in the standings with a 5-4 win-loss record. On the other hand, the Fighting Maroons still find themselves struggling at the bottom of the standings after losing all of their eight games in the season so far.
Moreover, the squad from Taft looks to spoil the debut of the newly-appointed UP head coach Rey Madrid who will be stalking the sidelines for the first time.
The first encounter
During their first round face-off last July 3 in the Mall of Asia Arena, the Green Archers whitewashed the Fighting Maroons, 94-86. In that game, DLSU manhandled the stats throughout the game. The boys in green grabbed a total of 51 rebounds, while UP collected just 32. Furthermore, DLSU stepped on the gas late and ended the game with a 24-16 lead in the fast break points department. Both teams forced 14 turnovers each, with La Salle converting 18 points off turnovers, while UP made just 11.
Reigning UAAP Rookie of the Year Jeron Teng and newbie forward Jason Perkins led La Salle’s charge with 20 points apiece in the first battle. Perkins and team captain Norbert Torres both had double-doubles, with the rookie appending 13 rebounds to his stats while Torres finished the game with 14 points and 17 rebounds. Ace guards Almond Vosotros and Thomas Torres scored 15 points and 14 points respectively as all five starters scored at least 14 points in the victory.
Star Maroon forward Joseph Marata led the attack for UP with 21 points and knocked down five out of 12 three-point shots in his first meeting against his former DLSU teammates. Xavier alumnus and leading Rookie of the Year candidate Kyles Lao finished with 18 points, five rebounds, and three assists, but the efforts of the two scorers were wasted in the loss.
Ending the streak
UP will aim to notch its first win of the season and terminate their eight-game losing streak against coach Juno Sauler’s squad. The last time the Fighting Maroons defeated the Green Archers was in UAAP Season 72, specifically on August 23, 2009. In the said game, the Katipunan-based team came up victorious against La Salle, 73-68, and Marata was still donning a La Salle jersey back then as a rookie. Getting into the win column for the first time this season could prove to be a driving force for them in their remaining games.
DLSU, however, will certainly not allow the Fighting Maroons to obstruct their road to their third straight win as they aim to continue rising up in the league standings. Another win will help the Green Archers inch towards a spot in the Final Four and will keep their title hopes alive. Will the streaks continue for both teams? The Green Archers will do everything that they can to pick up win number 6.
