In a commanding display of skill and determination, the DLSU Green Archers asserted their dominance over the San Beda Red Lions, clinching a 94-80 win earlier tonight, June 8, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. This triumph solidified their presence on the court and secured their spot in the semifinals.
Andrei Dungo’s stellar performance earned him the Player of the Game accolade, showcasing his remarkable contributions with 12 points, one rebound, and two assists. Other Archers who made significant contributions included Kevin Quiambao, who tallied 15 points, while Raven Cortez and CJ Austria chipped in with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
John Bryan Sajonia led the charge for the San Beda Red Lions with an impressive 15 points. James Payosing, Yukien Andrada, and Zane Jalbuena also contributed to the scoreboard, posting 10 points apiece.
Offensive surge
Dungo ignited the scoreboard for La Salle with a remarkable shot from beyond the arc. The response came swiftly from former Green Archer Penny Estacio, gracefully sinking a floater to narrow the gap to three, 8-5. The DLSU squad displayed an almost magnetic connection with the ball, consistently increasing their lead. With a flurry of baskets, they surged ahead to a commanding eight-point advantage, courtesy of Quiambao’s precision three-pointers and Cortez’s inside presence, 20-12.
However, at 4:26, EJ Abadam, who seemed to have sustained a shoulder injury, was taken off the court. Still, La Salle showed off the depth of their squad as Austria and Jonnel Policarpio seamlessly integrated into the game, orchestrating swift attacks and converting crucial free throws. As the quarter drew close, the Green-and-White’s skill and resilience shone through with a six-point lead, 31-25.
DLSU continued their relentless pace into the second quarter, maintaining their quick and fluid style of play. Henry Agunanne capitalized on Austria’s precise assist, extending their lead to nine markers, 34-25. The Red Lions’ efforts to mount a comeback were to no avail, as they struggled to convert baskets despite showcasing impressive plays. A Cortez layup brought the lead to four, triggering a timeout with six minutes to go, 40-36. Quiambao’s sharpshooting prowess was on full display again, sinking another three-pointer, followed by Abadam’s immediate impact with a well-executed assist to Dungo, further widening the gap to nine, 45-36. Quiambao’s consistency from the free throw line and Abadam’s shooting touch added more points to La Salle’s tally, bolstering their lead to 15 markers, 54-39. A series of successful free throws from Agunanne secured a commanding 15-point advantage for DLSU to end the first half, 56-39.
Pulling away
In a display of unwavering consistency, the Green-and-White squad showcased both offensive prowess and defensive resilience entering the second half, enabling them to surge ahead in the scoring. Each player’s contribution on the defensive end and the fluidity of their plays earned quick buckets that facilitated rapid transitions on the court. Despite San Beda’s efforts, they struggled to match the intensity and skill level exhibited by La Salle. Rubbing salt into their opponent’s wounds, twin snipings from Jcee Macalalag and a hard-nosed finish at the cup from Austria added to the team’s commanding performance and gave the white shirts a 24-point edge to end the frame, 83-59.
In a lightning-fast move, Austria swiftly capitalized on a fastbreak opportunity early in the fourth quarter, pushing the score to 85-61 in favor of the Green-and-White. As the game intensified, both teams engaged in a rapid exchange of baskets wherein San Beda displayed unwavering determination, embarking on an impressive 8-0 run to narrow their deficit, 88-73. Adding to the excitement, Vhoris Marasigan precisely executed back-to-back layups to lift DLSU’s advantage back up to 19, 92-73. With the clock ticking down and only two minutes remaining, the final quarter saw a spirited exchange of possessions that intensified the thrill of the game’s conclusion. Despite their efforts, the Red Lions struggled to bridge the gap, managing to convert a few more baskets but ultimately fell short to La Salle, 94-80.
The team from Taft is set to embark on their journey into the semifinals, where they will face off against the formidable Letran Knights, who hold the top seed in their bracket. This highly-anticipated match will kick off tomorrow, June 9, at 6 pm at the same venue.
The Scores:
DLSU 94 – Quiambao 15, Dungo 12, Cortez 12, Austria 11, Abadam 10, Marasigan 8, Macalalag 6, Agunanne 5, Policarpio 4, Ramiro 4, Buenaventura 3, Rubico 2, Romero 2, Zamora 0, Gaspay 0
SBU 80 – Sajonia 15, Payosing 10, Andrada 10, Jalbuena 10, Tagle 9, R.C. Calimag 9, Bonzalida 8, Gonzales 3, Estacio 2, Celzo 2, Hawkins 2, Ri. Calimag 0, Tagala 0, Royo 0, Torres 0
Quarter Scores – 31-25, 56-39, 83-57, 94-80
