In a long game of catch-up, the DLSU Green Archers faltered in a heated 80-75 bout with the UST Growling Tigers in the UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament earlier tonight, September 16, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Vhoris Marasigan led the Taft-based squad in scoring with 16 points to spark the Green-and-White’s offense while Jacob Cortez and Earl Abadam contributed 13 markers apiece in a valiant effort.
On the other side, Amiel Acido held UST high with his perimeter attacks, finishing with a game-high 19 points, seven assists, and a pair of steals. Collins Akowe manned the middle with a double-double of 18 points and 10 boards.
Slow start
The opening quarter turned into a physical tug-of-war as both the Green Archers and the Growling Tigers traded blows amid early offensive struggles. La Salle deployed a double-big defensive look featuring Luis Pablo and Mason Amos to contain UST’s imposing tower Akowe; yet, sloppy transition defense and an over-reliance on excessive ball handling hampered their rhythm. The España-based squad capitalized on DLSU’s defensive miscues, pulling ahead late in the period with crucial contributions from Acido and a steady stream of transition opportunities as the Green-and-White ended the first quarter trailing by eight, 24-16.
The intensity escalated in a scorching second quarter as both squads pushed the pace through persistent back-and-forth action. UST leveraged Akowe’s size down low, allowing the center to feast on vital and-ones and second-chance putbacks that catalyzed a 7-0 run, pushing the lead to as much as 13, 22-35. DLSU momentarily silenced the bleeding behind timely perimeter shooting from Abadam and Marasigan while Amos engineered a commendable job checking Akowe down the stretch. Neither side backed down as Acido kept answering with sharp execution, ultimately sending the Growling Tigers into halftime with a 45-40 edge.
Heating up
The third saw La Salle playing with a fire that was unignited in the first half. Their full-court press clogged the Thomasians and finally forced the turnovers they were vying for, opening the floodgates for a quicker pace. Abadam’s attacks helped DLSU inch closer to UST, capped off by Marasigan unleashing chaos to even the score at 51-all. Tensions rose as the match turned physical with the gritty fouls tainting the floor. Abadam sustained his stellar third with hard-earned points, later countered by Acido’s sweet shooting. The high-octane period ended with the same cushion, 61-56.
Cortez led the Archers into the final frame by creating opportunities for DLSU. However, Akowe’s inside presence made it all for naught. Consecutive trips to the line fueled Cortez and the team to regain their rhythm and chip away at UST’s lead, cutting it down to 72-70. This, along with Donovan Sevilla’s fifth foul, launched the crowd into a frenzy; however, the elation was quickly shut down by a tough and-one from UST’s Mark Llemit.
Hardwood warfare
Risky plays, errors, and tantalizing exchanges ushered the frame into the twilight zone. When the game seemed out of reach, Jcee Macalalag’s corner three brought La Salle within one, 74-73, unleashing the crowd into a deafening crescendo. A chess match ensued, marked by contrasting strategies and a game that finally reached its boiling point when Akowe and the Tigers landed the final blow in the paint. Missed opportunities from Cortez may have led the game to dwindle, but they nonetheless fought in true Green-and-White fashion until the end. Both sides played the fouling game until the scoreline finally rested at 80-75.
Following their early stumble, the DLSU Green Archers aim to bounce back as they face the FEU Tamaraws on Wednesday, September 30, at the same venue.
The Scores:
DLSU 75 – Marasigan 16, Abadam 13, Cortez 13, Macalalag 10, Pablo 10, Dungo 5, Tovera 4, Amos 2, Kulang 2, Daep 0, Gagate 0, Sardon 0
UST 80 – Acido 19, Akowe 18, Jumawan 10, Esteban 9, Llemit 6, Buenaflor 5, Cañete 4, Sevilla 4, Porter 3, Crisostomo 2, Alao 0, Danting 0, Manding 0
Quarter Scores: 16-24, 40-45, 56-61, 75-80
