The DLSU Green Archers made light work of the LPU Pirates, 88-65, at the FilOil EcoOil Center earlier today, August 7, for their third win in the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
In the stunning victory, Michael Phillips filled up the stat sheet with 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. The pair of Kevin Quiambao and Joaqui Manuel also contributed 12 points each, while Raven Cortez and Ben Phillips each chipped in 10 markers.
LPU’s Mclaude Guadana led all scorers with 19 points, while John Barba and Omar Lapuray tallied 15 and 12 each in what was a lopsided defeat for the squad from Intramuros.
Finding their footing
The Green Archers got out of the gates quickly, darting to a 9-4 lead at the 6:54 mark, capped off by a B. Phillips layup. After falling behind early in the matchup, the Pirates called a timeout and responded with a layup and a pair of three-pointers to bring the game within one, 13-12, halfway into the opening period. Both teams struggled to find the bottom of the basket until Quiambao converted a floater to end the drought with 2:15 remaining in the first quarter. Manuel subsequently drained a three-pointer to bring the DLSU lead to seven, 19-12.
In the final two minutes of the first frame, the team from Taft finally found their rhythm after Quiambao’s slick pass to Bright Nwankwo on the fast break made for an easy layup—before Manuel hit another three-pointer to end the first frame. Despite some sloppy ball handling and some offensive woes, La Salle found themselves up, 24-15, after the opening period.
Veteran forward Manuel picked up where he left off to start the second quarter, hitting his third three-pointer of the contest before dishing out a long pass to Mark Nonoy on a leakout. The Green Archer’s patented press continued to overpower the Pirates. Evan Nelle found Quiambao in the open floor for an easy dunk, bringing the score to 31-16 at the 8:30 mark. But Larupay finally ended the field goal drought for the Pirates with seven minutes left in the second after converting at the rim. However, Nelle continued to dictate the offense for La Salle, scoring five straight points before finding Quiambao for another assist to bring the score to 38-21. Big man Cortez then proceeded to wreak havoc himself, working his way into the paint for back-to-back baskets with 5:04 remaining in the half.
After finding themselves down by a large deficit, 42-21, LPU answered by going on an 8-0 run. Barba’s breakaway layup put the final touch at the 2:30 mark, bringing the DLSU lead down to 14, 42-28. After slipping in the second frame, DLSU refocused and scored two straight baskets courtesy of Jared Abadam and B. Phillips. It was LPU’s Guadana who had the final say of the half after hitting a three-pointer, but DLSU stayed in the lead, 46-31, heading into the break.
Overwhelming pressure
Coming off a blistering first half, the Green Archers stayed hot, opening the third quarter with a quick 9-2 run, led by their trademark pressing defense and dominant inside presence. DLSU forced multiple turnovers coming out of the halftime break as they opened up a 57-33 lead at the 7:52 mark. The frontcourt duo of M. Phillips and Quiambao controlled the paint on both ends of the floor, outmuscling their counterparts. Meanwhile, Nelle continued to run the show for La Salle, finding the cutters and shooters. LPU attempted to muster a comeback with five straight points, including a three from Enzo Navarro to cut the deficit to 17 with 5:52 remaining in the quarter. But DLSU stormed right back with inside shots from their big men, punctuated by a fastbreak slam dunk by Quiambao after the steal by M. Phillips. Manuel continued the barrage with a layup and a bonus free throw after overpowering Navarro inside. Nwankwo then eased into the game seamlessly with two inside buckets, giving the Taft-based squad their largest advantage of the game, 73-46, at the 1:01 mark of the third frame. Larupay stopped the bleeding with four quick points for the Pirates as the quarter ended with a 73-48 lead for the Green Archers.
At the start of the fourth quarter, LPU looked to have gas left in the tank for a momentous comeback with two straight corner threes from Guadana and a Navarro layup off the steal, culminating to an 8-0 run that cut the lead to 17 with 8:12 remaining in the game. However, after La Salle head coach Derrick Pumaren called a timeout, DLSU snatched back the momentum with a quick succession of buckets, including a three from Blanco, midrange jump shot from Cortez, and a layup on the break from Abadam. The 7-0 run extinguished the Pirates’ last fiery comeback as the Green Archers took a commanding hold on the game, leading 80-56 at the 6:55 mark. Both teams traded baskets throughout the remaining minutes of the fourth quarter, but the game finished with a convincing 88-65 victory for DLSU.
With this victory, the Green and White see their record improve to 3-0 in the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup. The DLSU Green Archers will aim to continue their winning ways versus the JRU Heavy Bombers at 5 pm next Thursday, August 11, at the same venue.
The Scores:
DLSU 88 – M.Phillips 14, Manuel 12, Quiambao 12, B. Phillips 10, Cortez 10, Abadam 6, Blanco 5, Nelle 5, Nwankwo 5, Escandor 5, Buensalida 2, Nonoy 2
LPU 65 – Guadana 19, Barba 15, Larupay 12, Montano 6, Navarro 5, Garro 3, Bravo 3, Umali 2
Quarter Scores: 24-15, 46-31, 73-48, 88-65
