Even with Kevin Quiambao struggling, De La Salle University found a way to defeat Far Eastern University, 58-53, in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The reigning Most Valuable Player, Quiambao, shot a dismal 2-of-17 from the field, finishing with just eight points and 13 rebounds.
However, Mike Phillips stepped up, delivering a stellar performance with 17 points, 15 rebounds, five steals, two blocks, and two assists.
Phillips scored 11 of his points in the final period, including the game’s biggest basket: a shot-clock-beating floater with 52.6 seconds remaining that gave the Green Archers a 54-51 lead, a moment that effectively sealed the Tamaraws’ fate.
The 6-foot-9 Filipino-American bruiser followed it up with an and-one layup, though he missed the bonus free throw, extending the lead to 56-51 with 24.1 seconds left.
“We just tried to grind it out with FEU. We know it’s gonna be a fast-paced game, so we just tried to keep it simple,” said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson.
“On our end, we tried to make it a boring game by not outrunning them because it’s gonna be a disaster for us if we did, and we just stepped up in the last few minutes of the game. We did what we’re supposed to do, and that’s to limit their scorers,” the second-year Green Archers mentor added.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Along with Phillips, Joshua David and Raven Gonzales contributed crucial baskets, helping the Green Archers overcome a 47-42 deficit with 6:38 remaining and turn it into a 56-51 advantage.
David and Gonzales each scored once, but their points came at pivotal moments.
Phillips played a crucial role in extending La Salle’s lead, first scoring a key basket with 52.6 seconds left and then grabbing an important rebound off Veejay Pre’s miss on the other end.
“This is what the UAAP is all about, going against teams like FEU. The standings do not depict what FEU is. They are young guys, but they are really doing so well,” said Phillips, who registered 11 points, eight rebounds, and two steals in the fourth period alone.
La Salle improved to a league-leading 11-1 record heading into its crucial match against the University of the Philippines on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, where a victory will secure the top ranking in the Final Four.
JC Macalalag contributed nine points, while Doy Dungo added eight points and five rebounds in 17 minutes and 45 seconds of play.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Meanwhile, FEU’s bid for the Final Four took a significant hit, dropping to 4-8 and settling at solo sixth place, a game and a half behind fourth-place University of Santo Tomas (5-6).
Mo Konateh led the Tamaraws with 14 points, 27 rebounds, and two blocks, while Pre was held to 12 points on 15 shots.
FEU’s main gunner, Jorick Bautista, had a disastrous outing, failing to score on 0-of-9 shooting in 25 minutes of play, finishing with zeroes in all other statistical departments except for two turnovers and three fouls.
FEU will next face Ateneo de Manila University on Saturday at the Big Dome.
The Scores:
DLSU 58 – M. Phillips 17, Macalalag 9, Dungo 8, Quiambao 8, Marasigan 4, David 3, Gonzales 3, Austria 2, Ramiro 2, Agunanne 2, Gollena 0, Konov 0.
FEU 53 – Konateh 14, Pre 12, Alforque 11, Pasaol 11, Anonuevo 3, Daa 2, Montemayor 0, Bagunu 0, Ona 0, Nakai 0, Bautista 0.
Quarterscores: 10-19, 28-26, 40-41, 58-53.
