The DLSU Green Archers made light work of the UST Growling Tigers, winning 86-65, at the FilOil EcoOil Center earlier today, August 11. This is their fourth straight win in the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
Schonny Winston spearheaded the scoring for the Green Archers with 25 points, three assists, and two steals, followed by Kevin Quiambao who made 12 markers on six of seven field goal shooting. Meanwhile, center Michael Phillips led the rebounding tally with a total of 10 and chipped in seven points.
Despite their loss, Nicael Cabañero led the Growling Tigers in the scoring with 18 points and four rebounds, while Sherwin Concepcion and Jamba Garing tallied 13 and 10 markers, respectively.
Gallant start
The Green Archers had a slow start during the opening quarter as it took them a few possessions to get into a groove offensively. But Mark Nonoy broke the early deadlock with a three-pointer at the 4:17 mark to give DLSU the lead, 7-4. However, the Growling Tigers answered back as team captain Ivan Lazarte scored in consecutive possessions, notching both free throws and a layup, putting them in the lead, 12-11. Hoping to regroup his team, DLSU head coach Derrick Pumaren called for a timeout with 1:20 remaining in the opening quarter. Off the timeout, shooting guard Winston took back the lead after earning a trip to the freethrow line, 15-12. With 16.6 seconds left in the frame, Bright Nwankwo converted a layup and gave the Green and White a 17-13 lead to close the first quarter.
Both teams then had a fair exchange of baskets in the first few minutes of the second period, as successive points by Nwankwo gave the Green Archers a cushion at the 5:52 mark, 25-19. However, UST gunner Sherwin Concepcion refused to back down as he scored a jump shot, 27-21, with 5:06 remaining. Despite another three-pointer by Concepcion at the 3:52 mark, the Growling Tigers still struggled in their offensive flow and found themselves in a 32-26 hole, failing to make it past the Green Archers’ effective defense.
Toward the end of the first half, the Taft-based squad had a high-octane scoring as Winston managed to convert both freethrows at the 2:20 mark, maintaining a steady lead, 36-31. Unable to regain their rhythm, UST was on a drought with under two minutes left. DLSU team captain Evan Nelle then managed to score both freethrows with 44.5 remaining at the half, followed by Winston’s effective layup, 42-31. This gave La Salle a two-digit lead to close the first half of the game.
Staying aggressive
After scoring 16 points in the first half, Winston continued to attack the UST defense to begin the third period. The shifty guard from California opened the scoring in the second half with a three-pointer before finding a trailing M. Phillips for a massive one-handed jam. After seeing their team go down by 18, the duo of Concepcion and Cabañero sparked the España-based squad to a 14-6 run, bringing the Taft-based squad’s deficit down, 55-45. With the Green and White’s lead slowly chipping away, Pumaren decided to call a timeout at the 6:04 mark of the third.
Off the timeout, the team from Taft doubled their efforts on the defensive end, limiting the opposition from España to only seven points in the rest of the quarter. The Green Archers then proceeded to steadily retake control of momentum, continuing to take advantage of their chances at the stripe after the Growling Tigers found themselves committing unnecessary fouls, 65-52, in the final minute of the period. DLSU ended the third frame on a high note as promising rookie Quiambao beat the buzzer with an up-and-under bucket over two defenders.
Blowing the game wide open
The two teams exchanged baskets in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter before Nwankwo shifted the tempo to DLSU’s side with an emphatic dunk, followed by a block on the next possession. These extended DLSU’s lead to 71-57 at the 7:01 mark. UST continued to search for a way back into the game, but Quiambao took over yet again. The versatile big found Winston under the basket with a slick pass and scored three one-handers to ice the game, 79-63, with less than four minutes to go. After a Nonoy three-pointer, both coaches made the move to clear their respective benches. The game ended with the final score of 86-65 in favor of the Green Archers.
Bringing it together
A crucial part of the Green Archers’ win was their ability to earn and to convert shots at the free throw line, where they scored 27—with 14 coming from Winston. [Getting to the line] was part of the game…I was trying to stay aggressive,” the star guard shared.
The team from Taft had success for the most part this preseason, staying on top of Group B without a stain on their win-loss record. However, the priority of the squad remains set on getting everyone on the same page.
After leading his team to victory, Winston explained the essence of joining a preseason tourney, “We’re basically trying to build our chemistry and [to] see what players do and how they move.” He also hinted that the Lasallian community should have a lot to look forward to, as the California native furthered, “We have a lot of players who can do a lot of things. Everyone’s stepping up.”
The DLSU Green Archers will look to stay unscathed in their next match versus the SSCR Golden Stags at 7 pm next Sunday, August 14, at the same venue.
The Scores:
DLSU 86 – Winston 25, Quiambao 12, Nwankwo 9, Buensalida 8, Nonoy 8, M. Phillips 7, B. Phillips 5, Nelle 4, Escandor 4, Galman 4
UST 65 – Cabañero 18, Concepcion 13, Garing 10, Lazarte 6, Manaytay 6, Pangilinan 6, Crisostomo 2, Mantua 2, Santos 2
Quarter Scores: 17-13, 42-31, 67-52, 86-65
