After months of grueling battles, UAAP Season 79 has reached its halfway point. DLSU is currently in its bid for its fourth overall General Championship (GC) and is also seeking to earn back-to-back titles. With the team from Taft gearing for another championship, The LaSallian gives an overview of the Green-and-White’s numbers so far this season.
GC Overview
149 – The total number of GC points DLSU has gained throughout the UAAP season so far. This puts the Lasallians at second place, behind UST who has put up 161 points so far. The team from España holds a 12-point advantage over the Green-and-White. UP, on the other hand, trails in third place with 123 points.
13 – Number of wins the DLSU Green Archers had in the elimination round. This marks the only time since Season 65 that the Men’s Basketball Team won 13 games. La Salle, however, failed to conclude that season with a championship. Rivals ADMU Blue Eagles edged the Green Archers in three games in the Finals.
3 – The total number of championships won by the teams from Taft so far. The three title finishes came from the tremendous efforts of the Lady Paddlers, De La Salle Taekwondo (DELTA) Poomsae Team, and the Green Archers. The Lady Paddlers earned their third straight championship, while the poomsae team improved on its third-place finish from last season. The Green Archers acquired another well fought championship over the Blue Eagles and stepped up their game to improve on last year’s fifth place finish. The three teams contributed a combined 45 GC points overall.
Moreover, the first runner-up finishes of the Green Tankers, Green Paddlers, and Lady Archers were beneficial to La Salle’s cause as well. The three teams managed to take home 12 GC points each.
4 – Four teams have bagged second runner-up finishes in the first half of UAAP 79. Although two places short of a championship, the third-place finishes of the Lady Spikers (beach volleyball), Lady Tankers, Lady Shuttlers, and the Green Judokas proved to be valuable contributions as they took home a combined 40 GC points.
Individual Awards
3 – The number of honors Ben Mbala earned this season. In his first season as a Green Archer, the Cameroonian earned a Mythical Five selection and took home the Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards.
3 – The number of Rookie of the Year (ROY) honors taken home by La Salle so far. Aljun Melecio of the Green Archers, Andrew Siasico of the Green Paddlers, and Carlo Dionisio of the DELTA Poomsae team made huge strides in their breakout season and lived up to expectations.
Two Lasallians also took home the MVP award in the first half of UAAP competition. Other than Mbala, Lady Paddler Emy Rose Dael also took home the honors. Last season’s ROY in Women’s Table Tennis filled in the shoes left behind by Yan Lariba and led DLSU to another title.
Other notable statistics
2 – The number of rule changes this UAAP season. Effective last 2016, the UAAP came to an agreement to remove the thrice-to-beat advantage of teams who sweep the elimination round.
The team that would finish with a perfect record would automatically receive a spot in the best-of-three finals series. This rule is valid for all events except for football.
Moreover, the traditional singing of the school hymns is now conducted prior to the pre-game warmups instead of at the conclusion of games.
5 – The Green Paddlers won five knockout matches to secure a spot in the Finals. They eventually settled for second place after bowing to the UST Growling Tigers.
The UAAP has not yet concluded as there is still much to play for in the second semester. The Lasallian athletes who have yet to compete will not only look to win their respective tournaments, but contribute to La Salle’s bid for another GC trophy.
