By MARK REY MONTEJO
Inspired and well motivated, La Salle leaned on its balanced offense and derailed top-seeded National University an easy route to the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Finals with an 87-77 win on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With the return of cat-quick Kean Baclaan, the Archers hummed like a well-oiled machine, dictating the tempo of the game right from the start to stay on course for another trip to the finals.
He did score only six points apart from posting 2 assists and one rebound in
19 minutes of action in his first game since tearing his MCL against University of the East last Oct. 15.
But his effort was good enough as others played with gusto.
Rotating the ball with precision, defending solidly and shooting remarkably well this time, the Archers even stretched their lead to 17, 71-54, in the payoff period, a cushion that ultimately spoiled the Bulldogs’ final push.
The convincing victory by the Taft-based squad forged a do-or-die semis clash with NU this Saturday, Dec. 6, also at the same venue.
Aside from exacting its past two losses to the very same Jeff Napa-mentored crew, the Archers were the only the third team to hand the Bulldogs a stinging defeat.
“We’re grateful for this win… again we’re up against the No. 1 team, we’re expected to battle it out,” said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson.
“We’re just fortunate to have these players who are not willing to give up… it’s really hard to have these talents and put it in the basket… it’s just the testament of how these guys trust each other,” he added.
Jacob Cortez, who spearheaded La Salle’s early onslaught, topped the scoring column with 13 points, one rebound, four assists, and two steals, while Mike Phillips posted a superb double-double of 12 points and 17 rebounds on top of one assist, two blocks, and one steals.
EJ Gollena and Vhoris Marasigan starred as well with 11 and 10 points, respectively, while Luis Pablo and JC Macalalag chipped in with nine points apiece to provide La Salle ample support offensively.
“Laking pasalamat ko kasi nakabalik nako, and kahit papaano nakatulong na ko sa team,” said Baclaan as he entered his semis debut, along Cortez, in La Salle uniform.
“Bata pa lang ako pinangarap ko na ‘yong makalaro sa gantong atmosphere, kaya malaking pasalamat ko lang talaga na nakalaro ulit ako,” he added.
Jake Figueroa topscored for NU with 20 points along with 10 rebounds, and four assists, while Omar John chalked 12 points, five rebounds, and one steal, Jolo Manansala and Steve Nash Enriquez tallied eight points each which all resulted in a losing cause.
The scores:
DLSU (87) – Cortez 13, Phillips 12, Gollena 11, Marasigan 10, Pablo 9, Macalalag 9, Amos 8, Abadam 6, Baclaan 6, Dungo 3, Nwankwo 0.
NU (77) – Figueroa 20, John 12, Enriquez 8, Manansala 8, Jumamoy 7, Francisco 6, Palacielo 6, Garcia 4, Santiago 2, Padrones 2, Parks 2, Dela Cruz 0, Tulabut 0.
Quarters: 28-17, 48-46, 67-54, 87-77.
