The race for the fourth and final quarterfinals spot in Group A just got interesting. But it came at the expense of a heartbreaking loss for the Red Warriors.
With reigning UAAP MVP Ben Mbala being limited to just 15 minutes, the De La Salle University Green Archers were able to grind it out and picked up a lucky end-game stops to take a 77-71 win over the University of the East, Sunday evening at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
La Salle was able to gain a full game edge over Ateneo with a 4-2 slate with the win. UE, on the other hand, dropped to 2-5.
And the cushion La Salle gained was all thanks to Justine Baltazar, Aljun Melecio, Ricci Rivero, and Leonard Santillan.
“We did not play our game. There were players also who did not play the game. Buti nasubukan yung depth ng bench namin and there were players who stepped up kaya kami nakalusot,” said La Salle head coach Aldin Ayo.
With La Salle down 69-71 with 2:03 left, Andrei Caracut was able to knot things up and was followed by a booming Melecio triple 37 seconds later to give the Green Archers the lead.
Sorry misses from Alvin Pasaol, who knotted things up at 61-all with 6:31 remaining after two booming triples, and Vince Magbuhos led to a huge find by Ricci Rivero to Baltazar with 51 ticks on the clock. A split on the stripe by the former NU Bullpup sealed the win for the Green Archers.
Baltazar played a game-high 27 minutes, finishing the game with 15 points and three blocks. Melecio and Ricci Rivero scored 14 and 13 points respectively while Santillan picked up a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Mbala, who scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds, did not play in the final frame.
“I think he’s healthy, he came in ready. Siguro, one of those games lang. He’s just human. Hindi naman automatic yun. Sometimes, may mga bad games lang. Sana matuto siya sa larong ito,” Ayo remarked about Mbala.
Davao-native Pasaol finished the game with 30 markers on 12-for-23 shooting and nine rebounds. However, UE missed their last eight shots in the ball game.
The Green Archers takes on arch-rivals Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sunday, June 11 at 5:00pm. UE, on the other hand, play their final Premier Cup game on Wednesday, June 8, facing the Letran Knights at 5:00pm.
The Scores:
DLSU (77) – Baltazar 15, Melecio 14, Rivero 13, Santillan 12, Mbala 9, Caracut 6, Tero 4, Tratter 4, Gonzales 0, Go 0.
UE (71) – Pasaol 30, Olayon 13, Acuno 6, Maloles 5, Magbuhos 4, Conner 4, Manalang 2, Derige 2, Cruz 2, Varilla 2, Cullar 1, Bartolome 0, Abanto 0.
Quarterscores: 11-20, 33-31, 55-55, 77-71.
