UAAP: Green, Lady Archers face high-flying Soaring Falcons

The DLSU Lady Archers, who are currently 3-1, look to build off momentum from their bounce-back win against the UST Growling Tigresses coming into their next matchup against the AdU Lady Falcons. On the other hand, Coach Aldin Ayo and the Green Archers will defend their unbeaten run against former DLSU Coach Franz Pumaren and the AdU Soaring Falcons. Both games will be held in the Mall of Asia Arena, with the women’s game at 8 am, while the men’s game tips-off at 2 pm on Saturday, September 24.

Lady Archers look to continue momentum

Snow Penaranda, who leads the league with 5.0 assists per game, will look to set the pace for her teammates. She currently leads the team with averages of 11.0 points, and 9.8 rebounds per game. In their last outing, Penaranda recorded a near triple-double, finishing with 10 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds, and her consistency will be a major factor if the Lady Archers are looking to defeat one of the better teams in the league. Fresh from a hot shooting performance, Khate Castillo will also look to build off her scoring outburst of 20 points from 4-of-8 shooting as she heads into Saturday’s game.

As a team, the Lady Archers will depend on the good ball movement they have showcased so far in the season. Collectively, they average 18.5 assists per game. Additional offense, however, will not be a problem for the Lady Archers, as their bench has consistently dominantly outscored their opponent’s benches. On the defensive end, currently averaging 8.3 steals per game, they will need to continue to force turnovers from their opponents and convert these turnovers into points on the fast break. In addition to this, they will need to keep Adamson from scoring near the basket, since the Lady Falcons currently lead the league in points in the paint.

Green Archers battle for the top

Both fresh off wins against the NU Bulldogs, the Green Archers and Soaring Falcons will leave it all on the court as they face off for a spot atop the UAAP standings. While DLSU’s mayhem defense has been getting all the attention, Pumaren’s vaunted pressure has vaulted Adamson to second in the league in points allowed at just 68 a game. DLSU will again have to rely on the UAAP’s two top scorers, Ben Mbala and Jeron Teng, to carry the offensive load for the Archers.

This game, however, will be fought on the boards, as two of the league’s best rebounders, Mbala and Papi Sarr, will face-off in the paint. At 17 and 12.8 rebounds per game, respectively, the two imports will face their biggest challenges yet as they face each other for the first time in the UAAP.

The Green Archers will have to be wary of a very potent three-point shooting team in the Falcons. Currently shooting a league best 41.7 percent from distance, they are scoring almost 14 percent better than the team in second place, UP. In the middle of it all for Adamson is rookie Jerrick Ahanmisi, who has been tremendous for Pumaren, scoring 17 points a game in the early part of the season. To counter AdU’s style of play, La Salle will again have to rely on its defense to force turnovers. The team so far has been able to average 31 points off turnovers, which has been by far the highest mark in the UAAP. Look for the Green Archers to also set up sophomore Jollo Go for more opportunities from distance, as he has been shooting so far at a league-best 56 percent.

Former coach Pumaren will love nothing more than to end La Salle’s undefeated start. A DLSU win, in contrast, will allow the Green Archers to further assert their position as the UAAP’s best team.