The DLSU Green Archers found their rhythm as they dominated the Arellano University Chiefs, 95-62, earlier today at the FilOil Flying V Centre. With the victory, La Salle now holds a win-loss record of 4-1 while Arellano University is winless in four games.
Justine Baltazar led the way for the Green-and-White with 21 points and 16 rebounds. Fellow teammates Aljun Melecio and Encho Serrano both scored 16 points each with the former dishing out seven assists and the latter grabbing 11 boards. Jordan Bartlett also contributed 11 points and four assists to the team’s victory.
In the losing effort, Daniel Bayla poured 19 points and notched seven rebounds. Meanwhile, Kent Salcedo tallied 14 points and four rebounds.
After the game, DLSU head coach Gian Nazario commended the team’s effort to create more opportunities through good defense, but the playmaker expected more on the assist department. “Nakita na namin we’re moving the ball well,” said Nazario.
(We already saw that we’re moving the ball well.)
Deadlock first half
The first quarter saw the Chiefs go toe-to-toe with the Green Archers as the two teams exchanged in taking the lead twice. La Salle tied the game thrice but Arellano took the lead back. With 10 seconds remaining, Arellano Chief Archie Concepcion converted a fastbreak layup to give the Chiefs a slim two-point lead at the end of the first frame, 19-17.
Both teams were scoreless for about two minutes in the early stages of the second quarter. However, Baltazar ended the drought with a three-point play by converting a floater and his awarded free throw after a shooting foul was called on AU. DLSU secured the lead following a three-pointer from the wing from Bartlett. A three-pointer by team captain Andrei Caracut at the 5:33 mark extended the lead of the Green-and-White to six, 29-23.
The Chiefs then went on a 9-0 run, which was capped off by a Justin Arana layup with 1:18 remaining in the second period. Melecio then made a three-pointer off-the-dribble to cut the lead down to one, 35-36, with 43 seconds remaining in the quarter. Bayla answered back from the other side of the court with a mid-range jumper to put Arellano back up by three at the end of the second quarter, 38-35.
One-sided second half
The third quarter saw La Salle place extra effort on the defensive end while also forcing several turnovers down the stretch. DLSU then converted these errors into fastbreak points, outscoring the AU Chiefs 26-10 in the third period. A Bayla three-pointer at the end of the third quarter temporarily stopped the scoring run of the Lasallians, but the Taft-based squad still led by 13 points, 61-48.
With all the momentum on their side, the Green Archers continued to play tempo in the fourth quarter and poured a combined total of 34 points in the quarter alone. The defense of La Salle was on point as Arellano only converted 14 points in the last quarter. After the final buzzer sounded, DLSU emerged victorious with a 33-point lead, 95-62.
“When we play good one-on-one defense, nakakatakbo kami,” DLSU head coach Gian Nazario shared regarding the second half performance of his players. The Green Archers’ defense forced 13 turnovers and converted 19 points from their opponent’s errors.
(When we play good one-on-one defense, we are able to go on a fast break.)
The DLSU Green Archers will return to the same venue, looking to obtain their fifth win in the tourney as they face the NCAA Men’s Basketball Champions, the San Beda Red Lions, on Friday, June 7, at 5 pm.
The scores:
DLSU: Baltazar 21, Melecio 16, Serrano 16, Bartlett 11, Caracut 8, Lojera 8, David 5, Escandor 3, Cu 3, Capacio 2, Lim 2, Manaytay 2
AU: Bayla 19, Salado 14, Arana 8, Concepcion 5, Alcoriza 4, Sacramento 4, Villar 4, Segura 2, Loyola 2, Sablan 0, Espiritu 0, Santos 0, Gayosa 0, Cruz 0, Sunga 0, Sera Josef 0
Quarter scores: 17-19, 35-38, 61-48, 95-62
