The DLSU Green Archers struggled to close out the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 87 Finals Game Three, 66-62, earlier tonight, December 15, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Although the Green Archers gave it their all until the final whistle, the Fighting Maroons surged ahead with a comfortable lead to snatch the title back to Diliman.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Michael Phillips showed all heart as he fought for the Green-and-White, finishing with a double-double performance of 18 points and 12 rebounds. UAAP Season 87 MVP Kevin Quiambao also contributed 13 points and grabbed four rebounds in the Game Three loss.
For UP, Quentin Millora-Brown topped the scoring with 14 points and snatched 10 boards. JD Cagulangan was named UAAP Season 87 Final MVP after an outstanding performance in the close-out game with 12 points and four assists. Despite turning the ball over nine times, Francis Lopez added 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to secure the win.
Game of runs
After an emotional comeback victory in Game Two of the Finals, the Green Archers were looking to close out the title decider and clinch consecutive championships. At the start of the rubber match, both teams went out guns blazing, trading baskets after baskets. UP outran DLSU, but M. Phillips forced a live ball turnover and dunked the ball, taking the first lead of the ball game, 7-6. M. Phillips established his presence in the paint and imposed his will, scoring back-to-back layups, 14-10.
As La Salle missed consecutive shots, UP capitalized by scoring transition baskets to retake the lead, 17-16. The Taft-based squad did not hold back and responded with JC Macalalag and Andrei Dungo’s 5-0 blitz, ending the quarter tied at 21-all.
Down but not out
The Green Archers had a slow start in the second frame as the Fighting Maroons seized control with easy layups, 25-21. M. Phillips and Henry Agunanne scored to cut the lead to one, 27-26. DLSU Coach Topex Robinson called a timeout with six minutes left as UP built a five-point lead through baskets from Harold Alarcon and Reyland Torres, 31-26.
While Quiambao answered the call, it was not enough to end UP’s offensive rampage, 36-30. A putback by Matt Rubico off the miss from the free throw line allowed La Salle to inch closer, 38-36. Despite UP in the foul penalty, the Green Archers could not close the gap as they missed shots in the foul line, 40-36. Dikachin Ududo scored the last basket of the first half, leaving the Green Archers trailing by six at the halftime break with a lot of game time left to play, 42-36.
Senior’s stand
Facing a six-point deficit to start the second half, the Green Archers focused on amping up their defensive efforts with the insertion of Lian Ramiro into the game to lock down Cagulangan. However, Millora-Brown remained an inside threat for the Fighting Maroons. La Salle’s defensive efforts remained on the Mythical Five point guard as Ramiro gave Cagulangan no space to work. But despite the one-and-done big man getting into foul trouble and Cagulangan’s battle against Ramiro, Gerry Abadiano and Lopez showcased their shooting strokes from the outside, helping UP build their biggest lead of the game at 54-40 with five minutes to go.
The Green Archers refused to back down, showing off their resilience to cut the lead. The Lasallian seniors led the effort to rally their team back into the game. La Salle’s ball movement allowed CJ Austria to hit a long-range shot as Quiambao got in the post. The co-captains Joshua David and M. Phillips were determined to end the quarter on a high note. David drained his three-pointer despite the tight defense of the Fighting Maroons. Meanwhile, M. Phillips continued to draw fouls from the UP big men as he slowly made his points on the free throw line, cutting the lead to six to end the third quarter, 56-50.
Losing the crown
The Green Archers entered the fourth quarter with momentum, following their strong rally late into the third quarter. M. Phillips kept on working inside the paint for an early hook shot to reduce the gap to four, 56-52. Quiambao then followed his captain, pulling up from the three-point line to tie the game at 56-all. Millora-Brown immediately responded to restore UP’s lead, but La Salle raised the level of their defense to keep their deficit at two, 58-56. When M. Phillips was called for his fourth personal foul, Henry Agunanne stepped up to anchor La Salle’s inside defense. The Fighting Maroons called a timeout three minutes in with the hopes of finding a spark. This worked in their favor as Cagulangan immediately drained a three-pointer from the corner, 61-58.
With five minutes left, Coach Robinson took a gamble by subbing M. Phillips back in for Quiambao. The Green Archers tightened their defense to stop the Fighting Maroons from extending their lead. But without the two-time MVP, La Salle was unable to build an offensive rhythm and find their finishing touch. With 1:49 left, Austria fouled to let Quiambao and Ramiro back into the game. Ramiro immediately pestered Cagulangan, opening up the Lasallian guard for a shifty layup on the other end to shorten the lead to one, 61-60. However, Lopez found himself open at the top of the key. Turning his fortunes around, he stabbed a dagger into the hearts of the Green Archers with his second three-pointer of the game, 64-60. EJ Gollena tried to muster a late rally, but on the last possession, the Fighting Maroons were able to shift the ball around to run down the clock. M. Phillips fouled Millora-Brown, who remained composed at the charity stripe to fully ice the game and seal the Green Archers’ heartbreak, 66-62.
Co-captain M. Phillips still remains thankful to God despite the tough loss, “Thank you Lord, thank you God, [and] thank you Jesus.”
He adds that after the loss, he immediately thought about the Lasallian community that relentlessly supports the team. “I talked to a student a couple of days ago. We just finished practice around 6 pm. He said ‘I’m first in line. The tickets are selling tomorrow. It was 6 pm, and tickets weren’t selling until 10 am,’ so those are the kind of things that flash through my mind after the loss.”
M. Phillips also adds that he will use his last year of eligibility in the UAAP and will suit up for the Green-and-White in Season 88, “Next year, I am with La Salle.”
For Coach Robinson, the Lasallian tactician has nothing but praise for their rivals, “It was a well-fought series. Congratulations to the UP Fighting Maroons.”
He remains optimistic for his team’s future. In spite of the loss, he shares that they are eager to get back to work, “We’re gonna have new guys coming in. We’re really excited to have them. We will start in two weeks’ time.”
Having been fingertips away from another crown, the DLSU Green Archers settled for a runner-up finish, failing to replicate their success over their newfound rivals from Diliman. However, the Green-and-White are preparing to unleash their battalion of recruits for a potential return to glory in Season 88.
The Scores:
DLSU 62 – M. Phillips 18, Quiambao 13, David 6, Macalalag 6, Agunanne 5, Ramiro 5, Austria 3, Gollena 2, Rubico 2, Gonzales 0, Marasigan 0
UP 66 – Millora-Brown 14, Lopez 12, Cagulangan 12, Abadiano 9, Alarcon 7, Fortea 4, Stevens 4, Torres 2, Ududo 2, Bayla 0, Felicilda 0, Torculas 0
Quarter Scores: 21-21, 36-42, 50-56, 62-66
