In a battle between two proud programs in the region, hosts Yonsei University Sinchon Eagles dealt the De La Salle University Green Archers a 92-80 defeat, Saturday evening at the Student Gymnasium in Seoul, South Korea.
With the loss, the Green Archers ended their campaign in the 2018 Asia-Pacific University Basketball Challenge with a 2-3 record, losing their last three games.
La Salle will either end their campaign at fourth or fifth place in the six-team meet depending on the result of Yonsei’s game against Japan-select on Sunday, August 12.
Santi Santillan led the Green Archers in the game with 17 points.
Excellent ball movement though powered the Green Archers’ strong start to the contest while rookie Encho Serrano scored eight of his 14 points in the second frame to maintain La Salle’s lead heading into halftime.
However, Junghyun Lee heated up in the third canto, scoring 10 of the Sinchon Eagles’ 30 points in the quarter to take full control of the game. Yonsei would lead by as much as 12 points, 75-63, with 7:30 left in the game.
Though Kib Montalbo tried to will the Green Archers back, Lee, together with Museong Kim and Hyungjung Jeon, scored big baskets to stop any rally La Salle was attempting to close out the game.
Montalbo had 14 points, six steals, and four assists in the game.
Taane Samuel added 11 points and eight rebounds but was plagued with fouls all game long that limited him to just 20 minutes. Justine Baltazar hauled down 14 boards as well.
Team leading scorer Aljun Melecio was limited to just six points as he went just 3-for-11 from the field, 0-of-6 from downtown. His buddy Andrei Caracut did not play in the game.
Jeon scored a game-high 26 points for Yonsei, spiked by six triples. Lee added 20 markers as well.
Next up for the Green Archers is the UAAP Season 81 Men’s Basketball Tournament. Last season’s runners-up will most likely face the FEU Tamaraws on opening weekend.
The Scores:
DLSU 80 – Santillan 17, Serrano 14, Montalbo 14, Samuel 11, Baltazar 8, Melecio 6, Go 4, Bates 4, Manuel 2.
Yonsei 92 – Jeon 26, Lee 20, Kim M 14, Han 10, Shin 10, Kim K 5, Chun 0, Yang 0.
Quarterscores: 24-15, 41-38, 60-68, 80-92.
