For the second consecutive year, De La Salle University and University of the Philippines will face off in the UAAP Finals.
Defending champion La Salle cruised past fourth-seed Adamson University, 70-55, to advance to the best-of-three Finals of the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Fighting Maroons had earlier secured their spot in the title series with a 78-69 win over the UST Growling Tigers.
In last season’s Finals, the Green Archers made a stunning comeback after losing Game 1 by 30 points, winning Games 2 and 3 to clinch the championship.
This season, La Salle enters the Finals with a four-game winning streak over UP, having defeated them 68-56 and 77-66 in the elimination round.
Game 1 of the Finals is on December 8, still at the Big Dome.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“It’s nice to be back in the finals, and I guess we also have to acknowledge Adamson losing (AJ) Fransman and (Jhon) Calisay, who are vital parts of the team. They still gave a good fight, and that just shows how good that team is. These guys did what they’re supposed to do, so it’s nice to be back in the finals,” said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson, as Fransman and Calisay were out due to flu.
“What’s obvious during those first two meetings was UP did not have a complete lineup. That’s one thing we haven’t seen, and going back to our preseason meetings, they beat us twice, so that’s one thing we have to remember,” added the champion coach, emphasizing the need for La Salle to be at their best against the Fighting Maroons.
Leading by just four early in the second quarter, 20-16, the Green Archers kicked into high gear with seldom-used guard Matt Rubico providing the spark. La Salle finished the period on a 16-1 rally to build a commanding 36-17 lead at halftime.
In that run, Rubico — who had only scored three points in the elimination round –tallied six points. Meanwhile, teammates Joshua David, Doy Dungo, Kevin Quiambao, and Alex Konov also contributed.
Adamson, led by Royce Mantua, Eli Ramos, and Cedrick Manzano, mounted a late rally, scoring 11 unanswered points to trim the deficit to 50-63 with 3:53 left in the game.
However, La Salle’s Quiambao and Mike Phillips responded to keep the Falcons at bay.
Quiambao finished as La Salle’s top scorer with 14 points, along with three rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and two assists.
Phillips stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, eight rebounds, five steals, four assists, and two blocks.
Graduating guard Joshua David contributed 11 points, making all three of his attempts from beyond the arc.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Mantua led Adamson with 14 points, while Manzano added 13 points and nine rebounds.
However, Mathew Montebon struggled, going scoreless in 28 minutes of play and missing all five of his shot attempts.
Joshua Yerro, Mario Barasi, Eli Ramos, and Calisay have all exhausted their playing years for Adamson.
The Scores:
DLSU 70 – Quiambao 14, David 11, Phillips 8, Ramiro 7, Marasigan 6, Dungo 5, Gonzales 5, Agunanne 4, Dungo 4, Konov 4, Austria 2, Macalalag 0, Gollena 0, Alian 0.
AdU 55 – Mantua 14, Manzano 13, Anabo 6, Yerro 6, Erolon 5, Ramos 3, Dignadice 3, Ojarikre 2, Barasi 2, Montebon 1, Alexander 0, Barcelona 0, Ignacio 0, Ronzone
0.
Quarterscores: 18-11, 36-17, 59-34, 70-55.
