The DLSU Green Archers wrapped up the first round of the UAAP Season 82 Men’s Basketball Tournament on a high note as they overwhelmed the UST Growling Tigers, 92-77, earlier today at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Green-and-White improves to a 3-4 win-loss record heading into the second round of eliminations.
Encho Serrano bested all players, showing his dominance on the court with a career-high 29 points. Meanwhile, Aljun Melecio scored his season-high 26 points to surge the Green-and-White to victory.
In the losing effort, Brent Paraiso also achieved a career-high record of 22 points. Chabi Chabi Yo followed with 16 points and 14 rebounds for the España-based squad.
“We played well against Adamson, we were eight seconds unlucky versus UP, but this time around, we made sure we would finish the game well. It’s something we’ve been preaching to our players the past weeks,” head coach Gian Nazario shared.
Defensive first half
The DLSU Green Archers trailed the Growling Tigers in the first few minutes of the first period as Mark Nonoy scored a layup which was followed by a three-pointer from former Lasallian Paraiso. At the 7:52 mark, Melecio converted a floater which gave the Taft-based squad its first two points. Melecio continued to score from the paint and eventually shot a three-pointer that tied the game at 7-all. Serrano managed to find his way in the paint and scored a layup, giving La Salle a two-point lead, 11-9, with 4:42 remaining in the first period. With the efforts of Serrano, Melecio, and Jordan Bartlett, the Green-and-White continued to score on UST. At the end of the first period, the team from Taft led the team from España by six, 20-14.
Concepcion opened the second quarter with a three-pointer that cut DLSU’s lead to three points, 20-17. Looking to continue their momentum in the second quarter, Melecio answered back with his own three-pointer at the 9:10 mark. It was back and forth between the two teams in the second quarter but by the last remaining minutes, the Green-and-White stopped the Growling Tigers when Manuel scored from the left-wing which led to a mini 5-0 run.
Commanding finish
With the momentum on the side of the Green Archers, they persevered and continued to command the tempo of the game. A three-pointer made by Melecio, which came from an assist by skipper Andrei Caracut, widened their lead even further, 45-37, at the 8:04 mark of the third frame. From there, a total team effort was shown by the Green-and-White as almost everyone on court scored from all angles. Chabi Yo tried to help the cause of the Growling Tigers but found little to no help from his teammates. Meanwhile, Serrano kept answering the shots made by the team from España with nine consecutive points which gave the team from Taft a nine-point cushion, 67-58.
“Minotivate ko yung sarili ko na gusto ko ibalik yung tiwala sa akin ng coach ko…mas gusto ko yung mindset [na] pagdating sa laro, magagawa ko yung gusto nila ipagawa sa akin,” Serrano shared, emphasizing that he made sure to stay focused during the game.
(I motivated myself so that I can regain my coach’s trust. I want my mindset to be one where I can accomplish whatever they may ask of me in-game.)
It was raining three-pointers for the Green-and-White in the fourth quarter as Jamie Malonzo hit a three-point shot at the 6:03 mark to grant them the 15-point lead, 76-61. Paraiso, who was contributing most of the points of the Growling Tigers, was nowhere to be found in the last frame as he was shut down by La Salle’s scintillating defense. Serrano and Melecio kept converting baskets during the match’s final minutes.
At the 3:03 mark of the final quarter, Mark Nonoy tried to lessen the deficit for the Growling Tigers as he converted a jumper to bring his team within 13 points, 80-67. Meanwhile, Melecio answered back with a three-pointer of his own at the 2:08 mark of the match to ward off the Growling Tigers. To further seal the deal for the Green Archers, Serrano made a layup with 34 seconds remaining to give La Salle a 17-point lead, 92-75. After Chabi Yo’s layup in the last eight seconds of the match, the Green Archers escaped with a dominating 92-77 win.
After the game, Nazario emphasized how the change in the team’s mindset was essential in today’s victorious matchup, “I think it’s just the mindset marami kaming nadidinig kasi and our players were really affected and if we’re going to show that we were also affected, then we’re not doing our jobs as a coach.” The head coach shared that the coaching staff worked to make sure the whole team was on the same page the entire season, keeping tabs on everyone’s physical and mental health.
Anticipating the second round of the tournament, Nazario shares that more than focusing on their opponents, they know they have to focus on themselves. “When we do that, nakikita namin yung results, we’re gonna stick to it, it’s been working and that’s how it’s gonna be moving forward,” concluded the head coach.
The scores:
DLSU 92 – Serrano 29, Melecio 26, Malonzo 13, Bartlett 7, Caracut 6, Baltazar 4, Hill 3, Bates 2, Manuel 2
UST 77 – Paraiso 22, Chabi Yo 16, Abando 9, Nonoy 9, Concepcion 8, Huang 4, Subido 4, Ando 2, Cansino 2, Bataller 2
Quarter scores: 20-14, 42-32, 67-58, 92-77
