After a tightly-contested match, the DLSU Green Archers dropped their second round matchup against the ADMU Blue Eagles, 77-69, earlier today at the Mall of Asia Arena. The team from Taft now holds a 4-5 win-loss record, while the team from Katipunan improves to 10 wins with no losses.
Adrian Wong was dominant on both ends of the court, recording 18 points. Thirdy Ravena had 13 points and seven rebounds, while Angelo Kouame was the only other Atenean scoring in double figures, finishing with 10 points and 14 rebounds.
In the losing effort, Encho Serrano came off the bench for the Green-and-White to tally 15 points and eight rebounds. Several other players also scored in double digits: Justine Baltazar recorded 12 points, skipper Andrei Caracut with 11, and Jamie Malonzo and Aljun Melecio had 10 each. Malonzo further added 12 rebounds.
Despite his injury in the previous matchup of the Lasallians with the NU Bulldogs, Serrano made sure that this setback would not affect his mindset in today’s game against their archrivals. “Sobrang laki ng effect sa akin nun kasi ‘di ako 100 percent, pero sa isip ko, gustong gusto ko tumulong sa team ko, kaya kahit ‘di ako 100 percent, pinilit [kong] makalaro para makatulong ako sa team ko,” Serrano shared.
(That injury had a really big effect on me because I wasn’t at my 100 percent, but in my mind, I really wanted to help my team. Even if I wasn’t in the best shape, I forced myself to play so I could still contribute.)
Back-and-forth affair
Blue Eagle Wong started the game strong by scoring the first eight points for ADMU off three-pointers and a jumper. Joaqui Manuel’s three-pointer at the 6:52 mark of the first period sparked an 8-0 run for the Green Archers, giving DLSU a 12-8 lead.
With 4:36 left to play in the opening quarter, the duo of Matt Nieto and Ravena scored a three-pointer and a layup, respectively. The duo paced the Blue Eagles as they kept La Salle from securing a lead. However, at the 2:17 mark of the first quarter, Serrano converted a floater to tie the game at 15-all.
Tension was raised anew when Serrano was called for a technical foul, but Ma. Nieto was unable to convert the free throw. The first quarter ended with ADMU holding on to a four-point lead, 19-15.
The second period saw the Blue Eagles take an early lead behind the efforts of Tyler Tio, as he converted a three-pointer at the 8:55 mark. Sj Belangel came off the bench for Ateneo to ignite a 7-0 run for his team. It was still anyone’s game during the early moments of the second quarter as Serrano kept Ateneo from pulling away.
With a 31-22 deficit, the Green Archers were able to recover with an 8-0 run consisting of back-to-back putbacks, converted free throws, and a layup from the duo of Serrano and Caracut. La Salle was able to trim the early deficit, but the Blue Eagles still capped off the second quarter with a 36-30 advantage.
Losing it late
Going into the second half, the Green Archers looked to sustain the momentum they were able to build during the end of the second frame. Though the quarter started with a Ravena putback, the Taft-based squad were quick to counter, as they were able to muster a 6-0 run, which was capped off by a Melecio three-pointer at the 7:58 mark. Ateneo then answered with 6-0 run of their own—this was emphasized when the duo of Ravena and Kouame came up with back-to-back dunks. With 6:43 left to play, DLSU trailed, 44-36.
During the midway point of the third period, both teams exchanged baskets until La Salle was able to execute another 6-0 run, highlighted by a Malonzo and-one play. With La Salle carrying the momentum once again, Will Navarro was able to silence the crowd with a layup from the baseline to maintain Ateneo’s lead heading into the final quarter of play, 55-50.
The Blue-and-White started the final frame strong, as both Navarro and Mike Nieto converted back-to-back three-point plays to give ADMU a double-digit lead, 61-50. Afterwards, Caracut quickly drove the ball down the length of the floor and drew a foul, sparking another La Salle run. Baltazar capped his team’s 5-0 response with a fade-away jumper from the post to cut the deficit down to six points, 61-55.
After the run, the defending champions took over the game with seven unanswered points, featuring fastbreak layups from the duo of Ravena and Gian Mamuyac. Team captain Caracut tried to put together a late scoring run with a three-pointer from the elbow, but just like the early moments of the game, the Blue Eagles always had an answer—as Wong was able to hit a three-pointer from the baseline to maintain ADMU’s 13-point advantage.
With two minutes remaining in the game, the lead proved too large for La Salle to overcome. Both Serrano and Bates converted on back-to-back field goals with 30 seconds left to play, but Wong put the game out of reach by hitting three consecutive free throws.
Despite the loss, DLSU’s resilience was evident in the statistics as they held a 52-48 advantage in rebounds. The Green-and-White also recorded 15 assists to Ateneo’s 13, but the Blue Eagles forced the Green Archers to commit 17 turnovers. La Salle struggled at the free throw line despite getting 13 attempts, making only nine of their chances.
After the game, team consultant Jermaine Byrd lamented the turnovers and poor free throw percentage, “Thought it was a well-played game—they just played better. [ADMU] are the defending champions, you have to beat them; we can’t have 17 turnovers, we can’t shoot 68 percent from the free throw line. I think the turnovers in the first half killed us, but I’m proud of our guys and how they competed—we just fell on the short end of the stick.”
The DLSU Green Archers will look to bounce back versus the UE Red Warriors when they return to the same venue on Wednesday, October 16, at 10:30 am.
The scores:
DLSU 69 – Serrano 15, Baltazar 12, Caracut 11, Malonzo 10, Melecio 10, Manuel 7, Bartlett 2, Bates 2
ADMU 77 – Wong 18, Ravena 13, Kouame 10, Navarro 9, Mamuyac 6, Belangel 5, Mi. Nieto 5, Daves 3, Ma. Nieto 3, Tio 3, Go 2
Quarter scores: 15-19, 30-36, 50-55, 69-77
