Jcee Macalalag and Doy Dungo delivered career-high performances to power short-handed De La Salle University to a 92-80 victory over University of Santo Tomas and secure solo third place in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym.
Macalalag and Dungo combined for 52 points to help the Green Archers break out of a five-way tie and claim sole possession of third place at 5-4.
This, despite missing point guard Jacob Cortez, who was wearing a brace on his right knee after sustaining an injury in their game against University of the East last Wednesday.
Macalalag erupted for 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field, including 6-of-8 from beyond the arc. He also added three rebounds and three assists. Dungo chipped in 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting, along with four rebounds and four assists.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
“We’re happy with the win and thankful ako na nag-stick kami sa game plan. Thankful din ako sa tiwala ng coaches and my teammates, especially si Jacob, kasi before the game he talked to me, ‘yung kumpyansa niya sa akin nandoon. So coming from him, it was a big boost sa akin,” said Macalalag.
Trailing by four entering the fourth quarter, the Green Archers unleashed a decisive 18-3 run to turn the game around and establish an 85-74 lead with 4:39 remaining.
During that pivotal stretch, Macalalag knocked down two three-pointers, Dungo added five points, Henry Agunanne chipped in four, and rookie Joaquin Tovera buried a triple.
“Sa amin naman, papunta pa lang dito, alam naman namin kung ano ‘yung game plan namin. So nag-stick lang talaga kami at alam namin na wala si Jacob. Siya ang captain ng offense namin. Lagi niya lang kaming kinakausap kanina kung ano ‘yung mga puwede naming gawin sa loob,” said Dungo.
With Cortez sidelined, Tovera stepped into the starting lineup and delivered an impressive all-around performance, finishing with 15 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, and three steals.
The 18-year-old guard out of Chino Hills High School also orchestrated La Salle’s fourth-quarter surge. He scored or assisted on 20 of the Green Archers’ 25 points in the final period.
The game turned into a perimeter shootout, with UST falling just one three-pointer short of matching the UAAP men’s basketball record for most triples by a team in a game. The Growling Tigers sank 17 of their 46 attempts from beyond the arc, surpassing their previous team record of 16 three-pointers, which they had achieved twice in 2010.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
La Salle, meanwhile, shot 14-of-33 from downtown and came through when it mattered most. The team converted five of its six three-point attempts in the fourth quarter while limiting UST to just one make in 10 tries.
La Salle assistant coach Oliver Bunyi expressed hope that Cortez and Lebron Daep, who is nursing an ankle sprain, would be ready for Saturday’s clash against archrival Ateneo de Manila University at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Amiel Acido paced UST with 20 points, seven rebounds, and three assists as the Growling Tigers absorbed their second consecutive loss to drop to solo seventh at 4-5.
Landyn Jumawan added 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting from beyond the arc, while Mark Llemit contributed 15 points, nine assists, and four rebounds. Ice Danting chipped in 12 points.
Collins Akowe posted 11 points and 14 rebounds despite struggling offensively, shooting just 2-of-10 from the field.
UST will also return to action on Saturday against league-leading National University.
The Scores:
DLSU 92 — Macalalag 28, Dungo 24, Tovera 15, Abadam 9, Agunanne 6, Marasigan 4, Pablo 3, Amos 3, Cortez 0, Gagate 0.
UST 80 — Acido 20, Jumawan 18, Llemit 15, Danting 12, Akowe 11, Cañete 2, Buenaflor 2, Chio 0, Esteban 0.
Quarterscores: 25-19, 47-44, 57-61, 92-80.
