The DLSU Green Archers suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of the UP Fighting Maroons last Saturday, at the Mall of Asia Arena. The defeat left UP at par with La Salle in the standings, both now holding a 3-1 win-loss record. Head coach Aldin Ayo will look to make sure his team’s poor defense in the previous game will not be repeated, with hopes of getting back to their winning ways. Whereas the UST Growling Tigers return to the drawing boards in search of their first win of the tournaments, as they are winless after five games.
Reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player Ben Mbala recorded another double-double, 34 points and 12 rebounds, in only his second game of the season after playing for Cameroon in the recently concluded 2017 FIBA Afrobasket, but it was not enough to match the hot shooting of the Fighting Maroons, which knocked down 16 three-pointers en route to a 98-87 stunner over the defending champions. The loss gave La Salle a 4-1 win-loss card, leaving rivals ADMU Blue Eagles the only undefeated team left in the league so far.
Previous match-up
The last meeting between the 2013 UAAP finalists was back in October 23, 2016 wherein the Green Archers dispatched the Growling Tigers, 99-56, in the second round of the eliminations of Season 79. La Salle dominated from start to finish, surpassing UST in rebounds, 66-35, and scoring 34 more points in the paint than the Growling Tigers.
Jeron Teng scored 16 points for the Green Archers while Louie Vigil, Renzo Subido, and Jon Sheriff combined for 33 points in their last game against La Salle. Unfortunately for UST, none of those players are on this year’s roster. It was also in this game that DLSU head coach Aldin Ayo tinkered with a big line-up that featured Mark Dyke, Julian Sargent, Jason Perkins, Abu Tratter, and Mbala.
Keys to victory
This year’s match-up will be completely different from last season with Thomas Torres, Teng, Sargent, and Perkins no longer with the team due to graduation and Dyke having transferred to another school.
In order for the Green Archers to continue its mastery over the Growling Tigers, Aljun Melecio and Kib Montalbo should both have a bounce back game as they both severely struggled against UP, scoring just five points each. The former has been a revelation for the defending champions so far but has struggled to make baskets after exploding for 29 points against FEU and dropping 20 versus NU. Meanwhile, Montalbo needs to maintain persistence on his defensive hustle.
UST, on the other hand, comes in fresh from a loss versus the unscathed Blue Eagles. In the battle between the two teams ranking on opposite ends of the team standings, the team from España startled ADMU in an unexpected manner during the third quarter, coming as close to a point against the league leaders. In the period, the Growling Tigers were able to cut the comfortable 22-point lead of ADMU from the works of Marvin Lee who led his alma mater with 22 points. However, the Katipunan-based squad remained composed and kept the opposition at bay from the collective efforts of its veterans.
The departure of UST’s veterans and key players due to varied reasons resulted in the team having a less experienced roster. The Growling Tigers will have to work as an intact unit against the Lasallians in order to give DLSU with its second loss. Moreover, the backcourt tandem of Jordan Sta. Ana and Lee will have to provide fluid ball movement and control over La Salle’s pace throughout the match.
The Green Archers will be aiming for a quick turnaround as they face off against the UST Growling Tigers tomorrow, 2pm, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
