Defending FilOil Flying V Premier Cup champions De La Salle University Green Archers flexed their muscles late in the game and subdued the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 109-81, and took their third consecutive victory, Sunday evening at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Ben Mbala paced the Green Archers with 21 points and nine rebounds. Aljun Melecio and Ricci Rivero added 17 markers each.
Despite posting sizable leads ahead of the rout, La Salle head coach Aldin Ayo was displeased with their performance. He said, “Kulang pa. Ang dami naming turnovers pa. They had 42, but we also had 28. Ang dami naming pinamigay na bola.
“And yung finishing,” he also noted of his bench. “Maganda start nung first group; pagdating ng second group, may lapses. For us to succeed, dapat lahat ng players mag-step up.”
The closest UST has been the whole game since early in the first is when Marvin Lee cut the deficit to nine,
With the result settled in the dying seconds, a fight broke out when DLSU’s Ramil Tero punched Lee with just 20 seconds left. What proceeded was a bench-clearing incident as players and coaches tried to pacify the situation.
The game was halted for several minutes before the officials meted disqualifying fouls to Tero and Lee, and technical fouls to a few others for entering the court. UST also returned to the court ahead of the formal decision after walking to the dugout for security reasons.
Nonetheless, when the dust had settled, the Green Archers had plucked win number three.
La Salle will take on the undefeated Lyceum of the Philippines University (3-0) on Friday, May 19, at 5pm.
Lee finished with 18 points and four assists prior to the incident.
UST (0-3) will try to bounce back when they face University of Perpetual Help System DALTA (0-1) earlier that day at 3:15 pm.
The Scores:
DLSU (109) – Mbala 21, Melecio 17, Ri. Rivero 17, Montalbo 14, Pr. Rivero 12, Caracut 11, Baltazar 6, Tratter 5, Santillan 4, Go 2, Gonzales 0, Paraiso 0, Capacio 0, Tero 0.
UST (81) – Lee 18, Akomo 16, Sta. Ana 10, Garcia 9, Huang 8, Faundo 7, Basibas 4, Escalambre 4, Afoakwah 2, Garrido 2, De Guzman 1, Soriano 0, Lorenzana 0, Caunan 0, Romero 0, Yabut 0, Santos 0.
Quarterscores: 36-21, 55-37, 79-66, 109-81.
