The DLSU Green Archers’ bid for a finals ticket ended in heartbreak after being outlasted by the UST Growling Tigers in a 115-107 overtime slugfest in the NSAC College Basketball Campus Tour semifinals earlier tonight, May 30, at the Blue Eagle Gym.
Mason Amos and Jacob Cortez left everything on the floor, with Amos anchoring the Green-and-White’s gritty stand with a team-high 23 points while Cortez added 20 markers in the tightly contested loss.
Amiel Acido spearheaded a relentless offensive assault for the Tigers with a game-high 33 points, while Collins Akowe and Gelo Crisostomo delivered the crucial knockout blows in the extra period to secure the win, contributing 24 and 20 points, respectively.
A gritty tug-of-war
Entering the Blue Eagle Gym backed by the Lasallian faithful, the Green Archers immediately established their defensive presence against the Growling Tigers with a stifling halfcourt set. Despite early perimeter shooting from Acido, Cortez and JC Macalalag orchestrated the Taft-based squad’s offense to keep the game deadlocked, highlighted by Macalalag’s aggressive paint touches that tied the game at 13-all. Although early foul trouble and poor offensive rebounding plagued the Green-and-White, a late mid-range jumper from Team Captain Earl Abadam secured a slim 26-24 advantage for DLSU to close the opening period.
The Lasallians’ offensive resurfaced at the start of the second quarter as careless turnovers and stagnant jump shots allowed UST to mount a 13-4 run and erect a 37-30 lead. Refusing to fold before halftime, Janti Miller breathed life into the DLSU offense with a pull-up jumper that ignited a blistering 11-3 closing rally. Fueled by renewed defensive intensity and Macalalag’s crucial corner triple, the Green Archers systematically erased the deficit. Cortez then delivered the final blow of the half, knifing through the defense for a buzzer-beating mid-range jumper to send La Salle ahead into the locker room with a 41-40 edge.
Breaking the deadlock
Opening up the second half, a Crisostomo and Acido-led sprint pierced the defense to bag the first buckets. Cortez swiftly replied early on with a three-pointer to immediately remedy the attack. Momentous back-and-forth offenses soon followed suit as teams took turns at the charity stripe due to the intense physicality. Soon, La Salle was left in the dust after Mark Llemit singlehandedly ignited the España-based offense with four straight baskets. Devastated, the Green-and-White put bodies on Llemit to deny the scoring output, proving bountiful as he only managed to convert a free throw with the remaining time. Despite this, DLSU still found themselves in a sizable 67-58 deficit heading into the final period of action.
Determined to re-establish momentum, the Green Archers kickstarted the scoring behind Amos and Miller but their breathing room would be short-lived as UST matched their tempo early in the fourth. As the Lasallians drove into the Thomasians, momentum froze on both sides after a heated encounter between Miller and Charles Esteban drew the playing field into a frenzy. Promptly investigating the altercation, the officials sanctioned Luis Pablo and the UST Head Coach with technical fouls while Vhoris Marasigan, Llemit, Ivanne Calum, and Koji Buenaflor were ejected from the game. Despite the drama, both teams’ resolve remained steadfast as they took turns making plays down the court with the end in sight. With 24 seconds left, Doy Dungo called for an isolation play and spun past the España defense for a fadeaway to give La Salle a 93-91 cushion. However, returning the possession, Akowe drew contact from Amos, leaving the two big men stunned and the Taft-based big man on the ground. The call rewarded Akowe with free throws as he subsequently converted on all shots, meeting the Lasallians at 93-all to send the game into overtime.
At the do-or-die period, the Green Archers were immediately slammed with consecutive three-pointers from Acido and former Green Archer Mur Alao. Amos would make a lightning-quick response, but Hezekiah Bucsit countered just as quickly with a bucket on the other end. Midway through overtime, the Green-and-White would only score through trips to the charity stripe, while UST dominated the scoring on all cylinders as the defense was unable to contest Akowe’s presence in the paint as he waded his way through the defense. With the Green Archers unable to catch their stride, they were left overwhelmed by the Growling Tigers and bowed out of the title picture in a heartbreaking 115-107 defeat.
Resolute on finishing the preseason tournament on a high note, the Green Archers now redirect their aim toward a bronze-plated conclusion, facing the San Beda Red Lions in the battle for third place tomorrow, May 31, at the same venue.
The Scores:
DLSU 107 – Amos 23, Cortez 20, Macalalag 16, Dungo 11, Abadam 10, Cibull 8, Miller 7, Daep 4, Pablo 4, Gagate 2, Marasigan 2, Gollena 0, Kulang 0, Melencio 0
UST 115 – Acido 33, Akowe 24, Crisostomo 20, Alao 9, Llemit 9, Cañete 6, Esteban 4, Bucsit 3, Porter 3, Buenaflor 2, Calum 2, Danting 0, Manding 0, Sevilla 0
Quarter Scores: 26-24, 41-40, 58-67, 93-all, 107-115.