The DLSU Green and Lady Archers saw varied outcomes as they finished the fourth day of the 3×3 Basketball Tournament against rivals ADMU Blue Eagles earlier today, May 2, at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay Activity Center.
The Lady Archers opened the day with a tough loss against ADMU, 21-15, where Tricia Mendoza led the scoring for the Lady Archers with a seven-point outing. Contributions also came from Eli Delos Reyes with four points, including two baskets from beyond-the-arc.
The Green Archers, on the other hand, knocked down the flight of the Blue Eagles with a dominant outing, 21-10, to secure the victory. Andrei Dungo and EJ Gollena both contributed seven points on high efficiency, while clipping their rivals with lockdown defense.
Endgame woes
The Lady Archers began the game rough with early foul trouble. However, Delos Reyes carried out the first strike, knocking down a two-pointer from the deep. Kacey Dela Rosa then responded on the Blue Eagles’ behalf with a neat hook inside, which was followed up by a two-pointer by Seng Calago. This was countered yet again, this time by Mendoza with another long-range two-pointer to even the game at 5-all. Sai Catalan chimed in with a crafty layup to retake the lead for La Salle, 6-5. Both teams were locked in a back-and-forth battle. ADMU secured defensive stops and snatched the lead with another two-pointer, 7-6. Yet Kyla Sunga responded to even things up once again, 7-all. DLSU would earn its way to the charity stripe, claiming the lead again at 8-7.
As the game entered its midway point, the Blue Eagles began firing on all cylinders, with Calago converting a two-pointer and Dela Rosa creating another layup opportunity to cap off a quick 3-0 run for Ateneo. While La Salle earned its way to the charity stripe, the free throws were split. A good response arrived as Delos Reyes converted on another long-range two-pointer for La Salle to conduct a 3-0 run of their own. Calago retaliated with a two-pointer to shift the tide, but Mendoza answered back as both dueled, leading to another deadlock at 12-all. The Green-and-White would take the lead with Mendoza’s nifty pull-up jumper.
Both squads would trade baskets again, leading to multiple lead changes. At 14-all, the Blue Eagles would gain momentum as they went on a 5-1 run, capped off by a two-pointer from Dela Rosa. As Ateneo was becoming too much to handle, DLSU got into foul trouble, allowing the Katipunan-based squad to end the game with a free throw by Calago as well as a finish by Dela Rosa against the crumbling Lady Archers, 21-15.
Absolute domination
The Green Archers stormed out of the gates strong as Earl Abadam quickly drew first blood to put La Salle up, 3-0. Despite Ateneo’s quick retaliation to even the score out, Dungo took matters into his own hands, grabbing a momentum-shifting steal and converting it into an easy basket. Alongside Dungo, Gollena dictated the tempo, helping the Green-and-White pull ahead with a comfortable cushion.
The Green Archers put the clamps on the Blue Eagles’ wings as Jcee Macalalag rejected the Katipunan offense, while Gollena and Dungo scored on the other end, 16-8. Hanging on straws, Atenean stalwart Andre Tan delivered a quick twinner to cut the deficit, 16-10, but the ballers from Taft did not cease to keep control. Gollena answered back with a bucket of his own, and Dungo sealed the game with a two-pointer, ending it at 21-10 with 2:16 left on the clock.
As the UAAP Season 87 3×3 Basketball Tournament nears its close, Dungo declared that the tournament was an exciting journey for the team. “So far, okay naman. Nangangapa pa kami sa games namin,” the six-foot-three Lasallian shared.
(So far, it’s been okay. We’re still finding our rhythm in the games.)
With much of the Green Archer roster in unfamiliar territory, the team is taking things in stride, focusing on learning and growing from every game. Despite the adjustments, the Lasallians are soaking in the experience and remain optimistic. “Ine-enjoy lang namin ‘yung journey namin dito hanggang matapos ‘yung tournament,” he added.
(We’re just enjoying the journey here until the tournament ends.)
The competition heats up, and the Green Archers have one goal in mind: achieving a three-peat. Driven by their passion for the game and support from the Lasallian community, they are determined to reintroduce their mark once again. “Sana i-support niyo kami sa games namin. Salamat sa lahat ng Lasallians na continue sa pag-support sa amin,” the 19-year-old Taft mainstay said.
(We hope you continue supporting us in our games. Thank you to all the Lasallians who keep on supporting us.)
The DLSU Green and Lady Archers seek to find momentum and improve their overall standing as they lock arms with the UE Red and Lady Warriors tomorrow, May 3, at the same venue.
