After a surprising loss to JRU last Monday, the De La Salle University Green Archers bounced back with a vengeance, zapping the University of Perpetual Help System-DALTA Altas, 94-71, in Group B of the FilOil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The boys from Taft swung into their suffocating full-court press right from tip-off. The Green Archers easily secured a 49-33 first-half lead, which they went on to nurture for the rest of the game. La Salle’s lead eventually inflated to 25, 70-45, with three minutes left in the third quarter, sealing the match’s outcome well before the final buzzer.
The reigning UAAP champs coaxed 43 turnovers from their Las Piñas-based foes which led to 37 turnover points.
UAAP Sesason 79 MVP Ben Mbala was unstoppable, scoring 30 points on an immaculate 12-for-19 shooting clip and inhaling nine rebounds. University of Visayas transferee Santi Santillan tallied 10 points highlighted by two breakaway dunks.
“We played well, the ball was going around, but we still lack a lot. The confidence of our shooters, the bigs, still isn’t there. They still don’t know where to shoot,” he said, as the Green Archers shot 1-of-17 from threes. “We’re still a work in progress.”
La Salle (1-1) will try to establish a winning streak when they face rivals University of Santo Tomas Tigers (0-1) on May 14.
Fifth-year swingman Gab Dagangon mustered 17 points to lead Perpetual.
After losing their debut match, the Altas will try to recover against the Flying V Thunder in a tuneup match, also on May 14.
The Scores:
DLSU (94) – Mbala 30, Santillan 10, Tero 9, Tratter 8, Caracut 7, Melecio 6, Montalbo 6, Baltazar 6, R. Rivero 4, Go 4, P. Rivero 2, Paraiso 2, Gonzales 0, Capacio 0.
UPHSD (71) – Dagangon 17, Hao 11, Pido 8, Yuhico 8, Eze 6, Ylagan 6, Coronel 4, Sadiwa 4, Singontiko 4, Clemente 3, Tamayo 0, Mangalino 0, Lucente 0, Casas 0.
Quarterscores: 27-13, 49-33, 76-56, 94-71.
