Riding the momentum of a three-game winning streak, the DLSU Green Archers showcased their composure as they ruthlessly dismantled Gilas Pilipinas Youth, 97-76, in the 19th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup earlier tonight, June 18, at the Playtime Filoil Centre.
Jacob Cortez displayed his stellar leadership, engineering an offensive clinic for the Green-and-White as he tallied 12 points, nine assists, and five rebounds. Benefiting from this stellar outing, Earl Abadam and JC Macalalag inflicted heavy damage from the perimeter, catching fire to contribute 14 markers apiece while cementing the dominating victory for the Taft-based squad.
Despite facing an overwhelming deficit, Gilas Youth refused to fold. Joaquin Tovera carried the offensive load with 16 points, three assists, and three rebounds, while Patrick Pasinos contributed 12 points.
Masterclass in Taft pressure
The Green Archers set the tone early with a suffocating full-court press that immediately put the Gilas Youth on their heels. Abadam fueled the opening blitz, igniting a 4-0 run that showcased the Taft-based squad’s relentless pace and aggressive intent from the opening tip. While Tovera utilized his speed to slice through the defense and knot the score at 11-all, the Green-and-White responded with a clinical display of transition mastery. Cortez dictated the floor, threading passes to Mason Amos and Luis Pablo for high-percentage looks inside the paint. A perfectly timed defensive stop late in the period culminated in a breakaway layup by Doy Dungo, sending the Archers into the second frame with a 27-22 advantage.
The Lasallians maintained their defensive intensity in the second quarter, employing a trapping scheme that forced multiple turnovers and disrupted the opposition’s rhythm. This dominance fueled a balanced offensive attack as Macalalag and Dungo capitalized on perimeter chances to stretch the lead. Cortez continued his playmaking brilliance, orchestrating the offense to generate quality looks while Lebron Daep capitalized on second-chance opportunities inside. Even as the junior national squad attempted to chip away at the deficit, the Green-and-White’s interior presence remained impenetrable, which was anchored by Pablo’s weak-side rim protection. Heading into the halftime break, the green shirts stood firmly in command, 49-40.
Easy does it
La Salle moved into the third period aggressively as Pablo pierced through the paint with a tough finish, 51-40. Their intensity on the other end locked Gilas Youth down, forcing errors and low-percentage shots. At the seven-minute mark, Gilas showed grit with a Louis Razon drive, but was countered by a pair of Macalalag markers and quick attacks from Cortez and Amos to safeguard DLSU’s lead at 61-46. A full lineup substitution changed the mix for La Salle at the 4:18 mark, as the switch proved to bring more cons than pros for the Green-and-White, with big man Dom Sarmiento forced to commit three fouls. That, along with a pair of inside finishes from Sardon and Pasinos, ignited the Gilas fire and brought the scoreline to 61-50, prompting the Taft-based squad to call a timeout. Off the break, Sardon sustained his hot hand, as he knocked two bombs from deep as the period dwindled down within a ten-point cushion, 66-56.
Before the final frame commenced, La Salle head coach Topex Robinson engaged in an altercation with the officials, for which he was reprimanded with a technical foul. Josef Calo-oy deepened the cut with a three to cut the lead to single digits at the 9:13 mark. Aiming to shut down the Gilas onslaught, Team Captain Abadam led with his physicality to rally the Archers into a run, supported by veterans Dungo, Amos, Macalalag, and Gollena. The squad continued to surge, going up 20 with four minutes of action left. At this juncture, DLSU’s overwhelming defense and Gilas’ immaturity and poor decision-making showed the difference in caliber between the two squads. An extended barrage of fastbreaks, nifty finishes, and unselfish plays pushed the team from Taft to a steady victory at 97-76.
In a post-game interview conducted by The LaSallian, seasoned skipper Abadam credited the squad’s unseen hours of preparation and mentality that keeps the Green Archers fueled for victories such as this. “It’s the work that we put in at the gym and in practice. We know that when it comes time to finish games, we have to step on the pedal, step on the gas.”
Anticipating their marquee matchup against new-age rivals UP Fighting Maroons, he established his trust in the squad’s core and the steady mindset that keeps them going. “We have a lot of respect for them as worthy rivals, we know that they’re preparing for us as well. Nothing changes in our preparation, but it’s just how we approach each day and each practice leading up to that,” he shared.
With a long break ahead, the DLSU Green Archers brace for their battle against their fiery foes from Katipunan on July 9, at the same venue.
The Scores:
DLSU 97 – Abadam 14, Macalalag 14, Cortez 12, Marasigan 10, Amos 9, Dungo 9, Pablo 7, Gagate 6, Gollena 5, Daep 4, Cibull 3, Melencio 2, Quines 2, Sarmiento 0
PHI 76 – Tovera 16, Pasinos 12, Sardon 9, Cariño 8, Chio 8, Patagoc 7, Razon 5, Lacson 4, Tubongbanua 4, Calo-Oy 3, Arsic 0, Espinas 0, Moral 0
Quarter Scores: 27-22, 49-40, 66-56, 97-76