After a heartbreaking loss to the UST Growling Tigers, the DLSU Green Archers returned to the win column as they narrowly escaped a down-to-the-wire battle with the FEU Tamaraws, 74-72, in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament, earlier today, October 1, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Andrei Dungo stood out as the Player of the Game, stepping up with an efficient 17-points on 63-percent shooting and one rebound. His steady composure set the tone for the match as Mason Amos, Jacob Cortez, and EJ Gollena contributed 14 points each to the tally, capping off the team’s collective effort.
Despite the loss, Janrey Pasaol spearheaded the Tamaraws’ losing effort with 25 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Backing him were Mo Konateh, who put up a double-double performance of 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Kirby Mongcopa with 13 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
Breaking away
The Green Archers entered the hardwood looking sharp on both ends of the floor. Dungo pounced on FEU’s slow start, knocking down a shot from deep, 3-0. Pasaol quickly answered back by shooting an inside jumper, 3-2. Phillips asserted himself early as his dominance on the glass and steady composure on the free-throw line allowed La Salle to maintain the lead and slowly build momentum. Despite Konateh and Mongcopa’s combined efforts to contain DLSU, their solid offense and relentless defense disrupted the Green-and-Gold’s rhythm, keeping them from finding their footing. The Taft-based squad showcased their strong team chemistry with a Cortez-to-Amos sequence, further extending their lead, 12-9.
As the opening quarter progressed, Gollena delivered with efficient scoring and capitalized on FEU’s lapses and turnovers. The Morayta-based squad called for a timeout, aiming to put an end to the scoring run of the heated Green Archers. Coming off from the break, Mongcopa shot a cold-blooded three to narrow the gap. However, the Green-and-White answered back as Dungo finished with a composed layup, wrapping the quarter with complete control and holding a comfortable seven-point lead, 21-14.
Despite a steady first quarter, the Green-and-White struggled to find their footing, following a three-minute scoring drought to start the second quarter. The Tamaraws quickly regrouped and put up a scoring run of their own, quickly cutting the deficit to two, 21-19. The Taft-based squad bounced back from their slump as Cortez scored consecutive baskets, keeping FEU within striking distance. Amos then delivered a pass to Phillips, powering against the defenders to extend the lead to eight, 29-21. Determined to fight back, Bautista shot a much-needed triple, 30-24, to end their offensive run.
The Green Archers remained steady and composed, shutting down any attempts from FEU to chip away the lead. Nearing the end of the quarter, Amos made his presence felt inside the court, scoring two consecutive points. Miguel Ona’s last-minute attempt for a comeback was denied as Gollena countered with a timely floater, marking the end of the first half with a solid seven-point lead.
Mind over matter
Returning to the court, Cortez relentlessly dictated the early offensive flow. However, Bautista and Pasaol kept FEU within reach, cutting the deficit to 43-37. Amos, eager to regain possession, drove in for a quick two, while Owens rose to the challenge in a series of offensive exchanges where both defenses held firm, 47-41. The mighty Tamaraws then broke through the once-tight DLSU defense as Pasaol buried a shot from beyond the arc, trimming the lead to five. Cortez then took command, asserting his presence by drawing fouls and sinking free throws to keep La Salle’s momentum going, 51-44.
As the game intensified and tension mounted with quick transitions, risky fouls from both teams began to open up gaps in the defense. Dungo, unguarded from beyond the arc, flawlessly scored a basket, 57-44. A scoring exchange played in, with DLSU converting twice while FEU answered once, showing signs of improved rhythm in the half-court. Dungo continued to set the pace, gliding through the lane for a smooth layup to widen La Salle’s advantage, 60-46. The tempo quickened as Pablo and Konateh battled to gain momentum late in the third, looking to carry it into the fourth. The Taft-based squad would hold on to a nine-point advantage heading into the final period, 62-51.
As the fourth quarter unfolded with uncertainty, the Green-and-White tightened their press on Pasaol, who would go on to sneak in a crafty runner to open lanes inside and drain a triple from deep, 66-58. Konateh left the Taft-based squad stunned, as the green shirts’ offensive rhythm began to draw a clear contrast to the Archers’ fading control. As the Green Archers upped on defense, costly fouls began disrupting their pace in the final minutes. Marasigan would step up with back-to-back baskets to stop FEU’s bleeding run, 70-62. However, the Morayta-based squad stayed sharp, forcing La Salle into foul trouble as Bautista knocked down two out of his three shots from the line and Pasaol continued his scoring output to cut the lead down to four, 70-66.
In a moment demanding mental toughness, Amos secured crucial boards, setting up Dungo for a stop. Despite Bautista’s haunting three-pointer from deep, the Green Archers held their ground relying on firm defense and character in crunch time, sealing a 74-72 victory.
Reflecting on the game, Dungo credited his strong performance to the coaching staff, giving emphasis on their preparations, “Nagsisimula kasi ‘yun sa practice.”
(It all starts in practice.)
When asked about the mindset to carry into their next matchup against the undefeated ADMU Blue Eagles, Dungo emphasized on the magnitude of the game. “Treat the next game like a Final Four or Finals game,” he stated. Amos added his sentiments stating, “Of course, it’s a rivalry game, but we’ll treat it like any other. We just want to win every game,” echoing the importance of the matchup while staying grounded.
The Green-and-White will gear up against archrivals ADMU Blue Eagles, this Sunday, October 5, at 4:30 pm, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores:
DLSU 74 – Dungo 17, Amos 14, Cortez 14, Gollena 14, Phillips 6, Marasigan 5, Abadam 2, Pablo 2, Daep 0, Melencio 0
FEU 72 – Pasaol 25, Konateh 14, Mongcopa 13, Bautista 10, Owens 6, Daa 2, Ona 2, Amos 0, Bagunu 0, Montemayor 0, Salangsang 0
Quarter Scores: 21-14, 37-30, 64-51, 74-72
