Defending champions De La Salle Green Archers continued their dominance over the University of the Philippines, defeating the Fighting Maroons 77-66 to secure the top seed for the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Basketball Final Four.
A crowd of 13,820 fans witnessed the Green Archers’ impressive performance at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday evening.
This victory marked La Salle’s fourth consecutive win against UP, building on Games 2 and 3 of last season’s finals, followed by a 68-56 triumph in this season’s first round.
The Green Archers now boast a 12-1 record, with a nine-game winning streak heading into their final game of the elimination round against the National University Bulldogs on Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
“It’s about everybody. It’s about the team. Guys were just ready to compete again, what we always say as one of the best teams in college. We tried our best to be at par and compete against them. Credit to these guys for really competing and not giving up in the second half,” said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The Green Archers gained control in the third quarter, scoring six straight points from Mike Phillips and EJ Gollena to close the period at 57-51.
In the fourth quarter, Kevin Quiambao, JC Macalalag, and Joshua David exchanged baskets with the Fighting Maroons, maintaining their lead.
A layup by David, following a steal from Chicco Briones, widened La Salle’s advantage to 11 points, 73-62, with just 1:42 remaining.
“Coming into this game, different mindset pero same approach pa rin. Hindi ako pwedeng magmukmok kung ano yung performance ko last game,” shared Quiambao, who bounced back from a 2-of-17 field shooting performance in La Salle’s 58-53 win over Far Eastern University the previous Wednesday.
“Go with the flow lang ako. Hindi ko na iniisip kung ano ‘yung magiging performance ko, basta manalo kami this game.”
The reigning MVP delivered with 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists in this crucial victory over last year’s finals opponent.
Phillips added a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds in just 22 minutes of play, while David chipped in 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Macalalag scored nine points, and Raven Gonzales contributed seven points and three rebounds in just over four minutes of action.
Already locked in as the number two seed, the Fighting Maroons fell to a 9-3 record after this second straight loss.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
JD Cagulangan led UP with 22 points, six rebounds, five assists, and four steals.
Rookie Jacob Bayla added 10 points, while Aldous Torculas and Reyland Torres contributed nine and eight points, respectively.
One-and-done center Quentin Millora-Brown missed the game to attend his grandfather’s wake in the United States. Millora-Brown has been averaging 8.09 points, 8.91 rebounds, and 1.45 blocks this season.
UP’s next game will be against Far Eastern University on Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Scores:
DLSU 77 – Quiambao 15, M. Phillips 14, David 12, Macalalag 9, Gonzales 7, Agunanne 6, Gollena 4, Dungo 4, Ramirp 2, Austria 2, Marasigan 2, Rubico 0.
UP 66 – Cagulangan 22, Bayla 10, Torculas 9, Torres 8, Lopez 6, Stevens 3, Fortea 2, Alarcon 2, Alter 2, Briones 2, Felicilda 0, Ududo 0, Abadiano 0, Belmonte 0.
Quarterscores: 12-14, 40-43, 57-51, 77-66.
