Fresh off a 43 point victory against UST, the DLSU Green Archers delivered yet another decisive win as they defeated the UE Red Warriors, 95-66, earlier today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Now holding a perfect 12-0 record, the Green Archers will have to lose their next two games to lose their hold on the Final Four’s first seed. UE, conversely, has officially been eliminated from Final Four contention.
After the game, coach Aldin Ayo emphasized that it was not only scoring that was getting La Salle on the win column. “It’s really about the little things. Rebounds, passing, executing on defense. It’s not just scoring.”
Ben Mbala was once again spectacular, scoring 26 points, grabbing 20 rebounds, and blocking four shots. Jeron Teng was great in support as he provided 20 points in the winning effort. The point guard duo of Thomas Torres and Aljun Melecio were effective as well, combining for 20 points.
“I’m happy. Winning makes everything better,” says Teng, who has played great in his final year of eligibility.
Alvin Pasaol posted a final stat line of 17 points and five rebounds in the losing effort. No other Red Warrior scored in double digits, as Wil Bartolome and Clark Derige were UE’s next best scorers, scoring nine points each.
First half
Making his first start of the season, Jason Perkins immediately made his presence felt scoring on a three pointer in the game’s first possession. It was then Mbala’s turn to go to work as he left his mark on the quarter, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds.
On the other hand, UE, for a team that was struggling for points, did not do itself any favors as it went just a lowly two of eight from the stripe in the period. The team, however, began to show some life as it went on an 8-5 run right before the first quarter’s buzzer. Though DLSU led by as much as 14, the lead was only nine, 24-15, for the Green Archers entering the second quarter.
While DLSU dominated for most of the game’s beginning, the Red Warriors were able to make up some ground during the seven minute stretch that Mbala spent resting on the bench. Outscoring La Salle, 14-8, in that span, a Shannon Gagate jump shot eventually cut the DLSU lead to just six at the 5:57 mark of the second quarter.
From that point on, both teams began to tighten up on the defensive end. It was a struggle for both to score as evidenced by the sub-34 percent field goal shooting DLSU and UE both had in the first half. A Teng lay-up right before the quarter’s buzzer restored La Salle’s lead to double digits, 37-27.
Second half
Coming out of the halftime break, it was evident that La Salle’s strategy was to feed the ball to their top scorer. In turn, Mbala delivered, scoring 12 points before the third quarter even reached its midway point. UE was unable to stop the Cameroonian as he seemed to be gobbling up every rebound in sight, while drawing fouls and getting the opposition to the penalty.
At the 5:51 point of the period, it was Teng’s turn to spark the DLSU run. He scored eight of ten unanswered La Salle points that ballooned the Green-and-White lead to 20. While Pasaol hit two three-point shots to try to keep the Red Warriors in it, it was to no avail as the lead had grown even more by the quarter’s end, 70-48.
The Green Archers never took their foot off the gas pedal, even with a 22 point lead, as they continued to stay relentless on defense. UE went on an 8-0 run early in the period, but that was its last gasp. Whoever was on the floor for the Green-and-White just continued on the tone the team’s starters set. By the end of the quarter, it was La Salle that was declared the victor after an impressive final period in which it outscored UE, 25-18.
DLSU utterly dominated in the rebounding category as it was able to out rebound UE, 71-34. With 34 of these rebounds coming on the offensive glass, La Salle was able to convert the extra possessions into 30 second chance points. The Red Warriors did not ever hold a lead in a game its starters were outscored, 64-13, by their counterparts. While UE did force La Salle into more turnovers, DLSU did not let the Red Warriors take advantage of the mistakes, with the Pumaren coached team only scoring 23 points of turnovers as compared to La Salle’s 24.
On La Salle’s current win streak, Ayo said that he is just doing his job and his players are executing. “I just do what I think is best for the team. Kung puro point guards, kung puro centers, kahit ano para manalo.”
He does say, though, the team still has plenty to improve upon. “We have 74 plays. Offense palang yun. We can still improve on executing each of these.”
DLSU’s 32 turnovers and 38 percent shooting are things the coach sees possible improvement in.
Two games away from an undefeated season, Ayo still stresses that his goal is for the team to continue improving. “We take it one game at a time. We don’t look that far ahead. We focus on who’s next, and for us that’s Ateneo.”
The Green Archers, like all UAAP teams, will have this weekend off due to the upcoming national holidays. The team will resume action on November 5 against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“It’s just another game but I can’t wait,” Mbala said.
The Scores:
DLSU 95 – Mbala 26, Teng 20, Torres 11, Melecio 9, Perkins 7, Tratter 6, R Rivero 5, P Rivero 5, Sargent 4, Baltazar 2, Montalbo 0, Caracut 0, Paraiso 0, Dyke 0
UE 66 – Pasaol 17, Bartolome 9, Derige 9, Batiller 8, Abanto 6, Varilla 5, Charcos 4, Gagate 4, Manalang 2, Olayon 2, Palma 0, De Leon 0, Armenion 0
Quarterscores: 24-15, 37-27, 70-48, 95-66
