Live by the three, thrive by the three.
The DLSU Green Archers shot down the LPU Pirates with a barrage of three-point baskets that blew the game wide open in their FilOil Flying V matchup at the San Juan Arena earlier today, scoring 90-69 and earning them their first victory while keeping LPU winless in three games.
![KBP_6719 []](http://thelasallian.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/KBP_6719-.jpg)
“Basta open. If ever they are open, I told them to take it,” explained Green Archer head coach Juno Sauler on his team’s 33 three-point shot attempts, 12 of which were converted into baskets.
A well-balanced offense propelled the Taft-based squad as five players managed to post double-digit scores, led by prized rookie Andrei Caracut with 15 markers, three coming from downtown.
Fellow Archers Joshua Torralba and Jolo Go posted 13 and 11 points, respectively, while big men Abu Tratter and Prince Rivero contributed 10 points each.
Jeron Teng struggled from the field, making only three of 14 attempts. However, he made up for this with hustle and unselfishness by grabbing nine boards and dishing out a game-high four assists.
The consistent scoring in the game’s opener led to a grinding battle for the first seven minutes of the match as DLSU and LPU were tied at 15 apiece. With 2:27 left to play at the first quarter, two free throws from Abu Tratter extended the lead for DLSU. This would also mark the last time the Pirates would edge out the Archers in scoring for the rest of the game.
Four of their 12 three-pointers were fired by the Green Archers, ending the first quarter with a nine point lead, 24-15.
La Salle’s second quarter was similar to their first, edging out Lyceum and again, shooting four three-pointers to give them a 48-32 lead by halftime.
The Pirates’ middle man, Jean Nguidjol, became a handful to guard throughout the game, scoring a game-high 16 points on 55 percent shooting, and grabbing seven rebounds.
Other aspects of the Green Archers’ play have been impressive for this game, outrebounding the Pirates, 51-42. Their free-throw shooting has also improved, shooting 18 of their 22 attempts for an 82 percent efficiency rate in the charity stripe.
The Green Archers continued to cruise past the Pirates at the start of the second half, with the lead booming to as much as 30 points. A balanced scoring for the rest of the game earned the Archers their first win of the preseason with 90-69.
Next up for the Green Archers are the UP Fighting Maroons on Friday, 5pm at the FilOil Flying V Arena.
The scores:
DLSU 90 — Caracut 15, Torralba 13, Go 11, Tratter 10, Rivero 10, Navarro 8, Teng 8, Perkins 8, Montalbo 5, Pascual 2.
LPU 69 — Nguidjol 16, Gahanna 14, Baltazar 9, Mbida 8, Sunga 7, Malabanan 7, Taladua 3, Marata 2, Alanes 2, Caduyac 1, Soliman 0, Elmejrab 0, Ayaay 0, Magbuhos 0, Lacastosantos 0.
Quarterscores: 25-15, 48-32, 73-52, 90-69.
