Winning has never meant so much to two teams coming from opposite sides of the UAAP standings. The DLSU Green Archers have answered every challenge thrown their way so far, entering the week as the only undefeated team in the league. Meanwhile, the UE Red Warriors continue to pile on the losses despite their best efforts, with late-game slumps hounding them so far this season.
When UE and DLSU square off at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, September 28, at 4 pm, expect them to pull out all the stops for a win that will provide different implications for each team that wants the victory for different motivations.
The Green Archers are riding a wave of momentum dating back to opening day, as they took their fifth straight win at the expense of the AdU Soaring Falcons, 91-75. Ben Mbala had another solid outing as he finished with 21 points, 16 rebounds, four steals, and three blocks, while Jeron Teng added 15 points.
UE is coming off another tough loss, this time surrendering an 84-69 loss to the ADMU Blue Eagles. Alvin Pasaol top-scored for the Red Warriors with 22 points and eight rebounds, and Bon Bon Batiller added 11 points on 11 shot attempts.
![IMG_7847 []](http://thelasallian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_7847--705x470.jpg)
Outcomes of previous encounters
La Salle swept the season series in UAAP Season 78, with the Green Archers clinching a 71-64 win over the Red Warriors in the first round. Despite staring at a 17-point deficit, UE came back to cut the lead to single digits, only to see their rally cut short behind the efforts of Thomas Torres and Andrei Caracut.
Caracut and Teng scored 16 points in the victory, while Larry Muyang finished with 11 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks in a strong effort in the paint. Nick Abanto led UE with 14 points, while Batiller missed all his shot attempts but finished with two points from the free throw line.
DLSU managed to contine their mastery over the Red Warriors in the second round, taking a 72-64 win behind Teng’s 20 points and their dominance in the rebounding department. Chris Javier and Emil Palma had 14 points each but it wasn’t enough to avenge their first-round loss to La Salle.
Keys to victory
Turnovers will once again be the Green Archer’s biggest area of concern as they surrendered 30 turnovers to UE in one of their past games dating back to Season 77. They finished with 26 in their most recent victory over AdU, most which came from traveling miscues and errant passes. Against the Red Warriors, DLSU will have to be careful with the ball while also taking note of UE’s pressure defense.
The Red Warriors will have to focus on taking down their size disadvantage against the Green Archers. With Javier having already played out his eligibility years, UE will have to find ways to exert pressure on the more experienced and more versatile DLSU lineup. Pasaol scored more than 20 points in his most recent outing, so expect the pressure on Batiller to be lifted with the first round approaching its end.
With the midway point of Season 79 right around the corner, the pressure on all teams is set to go up a notch. Though DLSU is in a more comfortable position, any letups this early into the season may put a dent into the momentum they have built over the course of the previous five games. For UE, a win will help them get on the right track prior to the crucial stages of the tournament. As both teams are known for their pressure defense, expect an exciting game from both teams eager to get the win.
