The DLSU Green Archers decimated the AdU Soaring Falcons to sweep their head-to-head series in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Basketball Tournament, 70-45, earlier tonight, October 19, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
MVP front-runner Kevin Quiambao led the Green Archers with an outstanding performance with 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists while shooting on a 54.5-percent clip from the field. Steady point guard Josh David added 11 points, three rebounds, and four assists in the win for La Salle.
In the loss, Cedrick Manzano top-scored for Adamson with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while Anthony Fransman chipped in with eight points and grabbed six rebounds.
Dream start
After surviving a thrilling overtime battle against the UST Growling Tigers, the DLSU Green Archers looked to not only extend their winning streak but also to solidify their spot in the Final Four as they took on the AdU Soaring Falcons. But Adamson had other plans, quickly pushing the pace and scoring the first five points to take an early lead, 5-0. The Green Archers found themselves down but not out as their defense kept them within striking distance. They unleashed a 9-2 run, capped off by a slam dunk by Henry Agunanne to take the lead of the game, 9-7. Despite struggling to score a basket, La Salle’s defense was solid in the dying minutes of the quarter which kept them at bay. Raven Gonzales scored a floater in the lane and drained both of his free throws with a second left to build a six-point lead after the first quarter, 17-11.
After a slow pace in the first quarter, both teams traded baskets at the start of the second quarter, 22-15. La Salle went on a scoring drought, but their defensive tenacity kept them afloat with David stopping the run of Adamson with a three-pointer, but was answered back by Fransman, forcing Coach Topex Robinson to call a timeout with 3:42 left in the quarter. The Green Archers responded to the call, with CJ Austria and David drilling in a pair of three-pointers to increase the lead to 11 points, 31-20. Coach Nash Racela called a timeout after La Salle’s lead swelled to double digits, but the Soaring Falcons could not solve the defense of the Green Archers. The scoring barrage continued for La Salle with EJ Gollena and David maintaining DLSU’s hot streak from the three-point line, 39-22. Austria joined in the scoring run as the Green Archers forced a live-ball turnover and scored a layup with a bonus free throw to further increase their lead to a commanding 20 points going into the halftime break, 42-22.
Green-and-White takes it home
Starting the second half with a comfortable lead, the Taft-based squad began the third quarter at a slow pace, trading baskets with the Soaring Falcons. Agunanne forced the opposition to succumb to his defensive plays, covering the basket and forcing them to commit shooting errors as they grappled against the defensive pressure of the Green-and-White. Quiambao broke the ice with a push in the paint, 44-25, stamping the momentum of the Green Archers. With heightened pressure in the game, both the Soaring Falcons and the Green Archers amped up the physicality, with Vhoris Marasigan’s foul giving Adamson an opening to catch up through consecutive free throws, 44-29. However, the Falcons failed to capitalize on their momentum as DLSU continued to charge with Quiambao solidifying their run with a layup, 46-29. M. Phillips followed Quiambao with a slam dunk, extending the lead to 48-31. Adamson came to blows as they wrestled to score against the Archers. Despite fortifying their defensive strategies and the Green-and-White’s unforced errors, the Green Archers remained on top, with Quiambao ending the Falcon’s scoring attempt with a two-pointer, 59-36.
The Green Archers opened the last quarter with a commanding 23-point lead. With their renewed vigor for victory, the Falcons solidified their defensive plays, forcing the Green Archers to be fouled. However, Adamson carried on a downhill streak. With six minutes left in the quarter, Isaiah Phillips debuted into the game, driving the Archers to aim for a faster play. The Archers finally notch a point on the scoreboard with Agunanne’s basket, 62-37. Coming in strong, Ethan Alian makes his first point of the season, widening the gap from the Falcons, followed by I. Phillips’ three-pointer, 67-43. The Green-and-White enjoyed a comfortable lead, ending the match with Alex Konov’s baseline three-pointer to end the Falcon’s struggle, 70-45.
After this dominant win, Coach Robinson reflected on his thoughts of the game, “These young men did what they’re supposed to do, and that’s to compete in one of the best programs with Coach Nash [Racela]. We still have a lot of things to do. We just stepped up and I just love the other guys stepping up also, not just the regulars, and seeing them having fun and enjoying the moment.”
Quiambao expressed happiness about clinching a Final Four spot but also acknowledged that there is still a lot to improve. “[We need to] move on sa next game namin and then focus lang sa kaya namin i-focus, then one game at a time,” Quiambao added on getting the first Final Four spot this season.
(We need to move on to the next game and then focus on the thing we can focus on, then one game at a time.)
The DLSU Green Archers aim to extend their impressive winning streak as they face off against their fierce archrivals, the ADMU Blue Eagles, next Saturday, October 26, at 6:00 pm, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores:
DLSU 70 – Quiambao 17, David 11, Agunanne 8, Gonzales 8, Austria 6, Gollena 5, Dungo 3, Konov 3, I. Phillips 3, Alian 2, Macalalag 2, M. Phillips 2, Marasigan 0, Ramiro 0, Rubico 0
AdU 45 – Manzano 14, Fransman 8, Erolon 5, Ramos 4, Anabo 3, Ojarikre 3, Ignacio 2, Montebon 2, Mantula 2, Yerro 2, Alexander 0, Barasi Jr. 0, Calisay 0, Dignadice 0, Ranzon 0
Quarter Scores: 17-11, 42-22, 59-36, 70-45
