The DLSU Green Archers endured a gritty affair, securing a narrow victory over the FEU Tamaraws, 84-83, at their NSAC College Basketball Campus Tour quarterfinals clash earlier tonight, May 23, at the Villavicencio Court in the Enrique M. Razon Sports Center.
Jacob Cortez delivered a prime demonstration as lead tactician, garnering a double-double of 15 points and 11 assists. Meanwhile, Doy Dungo trailed closely behind with 13 points, delivering a piercing display of long-ranged mastery.
Leading the opposition’s offense, Kirby Mongcopa and Rojan Montemayor challenged the Green-and-White defense, scoring 18 and 12 markers, respectively.
Weathering an early storm
To open the game, the home side was riddled with early turnovers and a cold shooting start as FEU capitalized to seize absolute control. The Tamaraws raced out to a commanding 12-4 advantage, led by Mongcopa, to prompt a quick DLSU timeout with seven minutes on the clock. Coming out of the huddle, JC Macalalag would finally break the dry spell from beyond the arc to sink the Green Archers’ first three-pointer, igniting a much needed momentum shift. The Lasallian defense immediately tightened to pave the way for Cortez and Janti Miller to orchestrate a rapid comeback through swift transition plays. Subsequently, Earl Abadam found Seven Gagate for a basket to successfully erase the deficit, granting the Green-and-White their first lead of the game at 18-17. However, a late Tamaraw three-pointer from Adam Nakai ensured the first quarter ended in a tense 20-all deadlock.
The second quarter unfolded as a gritty seesaw affair on the hardwood. Moses Kulang immediately made his presence felt for DLSU, delivering a spectacular two-way sequence, highlighted by a crucial block on Mongcopa and a booming three-pointer to build an early 25-20 cushion. Refusing to fall back down, the Tamaraws relied on the aggressive hustle of rookie Cabs Cabonilla to consistently draw fouls, while UAAP Season 88 Most Valuable Player Janrey Pasaol delivered timely perimeter baskets to snatch the lead back for the Morayta-based squad. Needing an offensive spark to break the FEU rally, Doy Dungo stepped up for La Salle, draining back-to-back triples to completely revitalize the Taft-based squad and swing the advantage to their favor. As the half drew to a close, both squads traded heavy blows as Jedric Daa anchored the Tamaraws’ interior defense with a massive rejection on Luis Pablo, while Rojan Montemayor sank a midrange jumper to knot the game at 39-all. Riding the final wave of momentum, Cortez delivered a three-pointer right before the buzzer to send the Green Archers into the second half with a hard-fought 44-39 cushion.
By the skin of their teeth
Warming up off the halftime break, both sides began off-rhythm, with only FEU scoring two points after the Lasallians were hit with consecutive defensive fouls within the first two minutes, 44-42. However, the competing squads quickly ignited the hardwood as they repeated their back-and-forth charges with neither marking a significant gap on the scoreboard. Beginning with Daa’s bucket against an open Lasallian defense, Luis Pablo barely made a speedy comeback as the Green Archers recuperated their offensive tactics. Repeating this play, FEU maximized the shot clock to find their opening on the net, rewarding them with another two pointer, only to be countered by Pablo once again to hold on to a slim lead, 55-52. Throughout the remainder of the quarter, FEU capitalized off La Salle’s growing foul count, granting them three free throws. Despite bagging four freebies and a two-pointer, DLSU found their footing through Cortez’s seven points after struggling against a Konateh-led defense, capping off the quarter at 64-59.
To kickstart the final period, the Tamaraws dashed to equalize the score at 64-all as Montemayor spearheaded the offense, catching fire from deep and knocking a two pointer to gain the lead, 72-70. La Salle attempted to counter, but faltered under FEU’s defenders as their shots were denied. With FEU only slightly ahead, both teams drew contact to either narrow the gap or hold firm on the lead. With Konateh spearheading the Tamraw offensive in the final minutes of the match, he denied shot after shot while DLSU desperately preserved their possessions, with Dungo launching a three-pointer to stay within one, 83-82. With nine seconds left on the clock, a clash resulted in a foul in favor of the Green Archers, setting Cortez up to tip the scales and seal the game. Converting on both shots, the Villavicencio crowd erupted in cheers as the Archers survived by the skin of their teeth, 84-83.
The DLSU Green Archers will take their aim toward the Blue Eagle Gym for their semifinals bout against the UST Growling Tigers next Saturday, May 30.
The Scores:
DLSU 84 – Cortez 15, Dungo 13, Macalalag 12, Pablo 9, Miller 8, Abadam 7, Kulang 7, Daep 4, Gagate 4, Amos 3, Quines 2
FEU 83 – Mongcopa 18, Montemayor 12, Daa 10, Pasaol 10, Konateh 8, Nakai 8, Cabonillas 6, Hall 6, Burgos 5, Mahmood 0
Quarter Scores: 20-all, 44-39, 64-59, 84-83