Lethargic DLSU leans on FTs to clip ADU

It’s why they call it the charity stripe. Struggling to buy buckets all game long, the De La Salle University Green Archers turned to the free-throw line to repulse the Adamson University Soaring Falcons, 66-57. With Falcon veteran Don Trollano exploding for a career-high 26 points, the misfiring Archers relied on their superior ability to draw whistles, earning themselves a crucial 23 free-throw attempt buffer over AdU. Jason Perkins starred for the out-of-sync Archers by posting a huge 16 point 16 board double-double, which helped mitigate DLSU’s offensive woes. Adamson stayed close behind the outstanding effort of ever-reliable forward Trollano, who headlined the game with a personal-best 26 points, along with 11 rebounds. A relieved La Salle climbs to 8-3 in the standings, good for the second seed behind the FEU Tamaraws, who topped the Archers in a midweek thriller. 0-11 Adamson remains winless for the season, but can take solace in their gritty effort against a heavily fancied Green Archers team.

DLSU started the game impressively, blasting the step-slow Falcons with a 23-8 first period. King Archer Jeron Teng chipped in 6 points in the opening stanza, but his 2 of 6 mark from the field would prove symbolic of things to come. After Adamson flashed its league-worst offensive efficiency in an 8-point first quarter effort, it would be the Green Archers turn to freeze over in the second. An ice-cold La Salle side struggled in a 3/16 second period, which unfortunately for them, coincided with the rapid super-heating of Don Trollano. Trollano outscored the Archers by himself in the second, tossing in 11 of Adamson’s 19 points, while DLSU could only manage 10 of their own. The Green Archers were up a nervous 6 points at the break, their lead propped up by 13-1 advantage in free-throw attempts. Don Trollano continued to be a proverbial thorn in the Archers’ side after halftime, adding to his 14 first-half points with 7 more in the third stanza. La Salle would again find redemption in their free-throws, punishing the foul-happy Falcons with 8 makes on 12 attempts in the third. Jason Perkins also did yeoman’s work in the third period, calming Lasallian nerves with 9 points and 5 rebounds. Consequently, the Archers held a comfortable 12 point cushion heading into the decisive period, and that margin proved too much for Trollano and the Falcons to overcome.

Jeron Teng struggled with his shot all game, picking up 15 points but on an atrocious 4/17 clip. Teng bolstered his scoring with 7 makes on 11 bonus tries, outshooting the entirety of the Adamson squad, who only drew 10 attempts on the night. The Green Archer superstar also orchestrated proceedings for La Salle by unsurprisingly stuffing the stat-sheet with 8 rebounds and a game-high 6 assists. Almond Vosotros chipped in 12 for DLSU as well, but was unable to find his mark from beyond the arc, missing all 7 of his shots from downtown. The Falcons’ slumping Jansen Rios was unable to back up Trollano’s strongman effort, and put up a paltry 11 points on miserable 20% mark.