Defending champions DLSU Green Archers easily take the victory over Adamson Soaring Falcons in a 30-point beatdown in UAAP Season 87.
The DLSU Green Archers hardly broke a sweat as they ran away from the get-go against the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 82-52, in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
After a cardiac finish against the NU Bulldogs in their opening game, the Green Archers made sure to assert their dominance early as they seized control over the game in the first 10 minutes of play.
Spearheaded by reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao, the Green Archers were ahead by 14, 20-6, at the end of the first canto.
Even as Adamson tried to recover from La Salle's scorching start, the Soaring Falcons could only manage to go back-and-forth with the defending champions--hardly threatening the Green Archers' advantage.
La Salle's biggest lead came when Matt Rubico drilled a triple with 22 ticks left in the ballgame to arrive at the final score.
Until the final buzzer, the Green Archers were pressing on defense and diving for loose balls, even when the lead was insurmountable for the Soaring Falcons.
After the game, La Salle head coach Topex Robinson said that he and his players weren’t minding what was on the scoreboard but rather kept their energy at the same level from start to finish.
"We didn't really [look] at the score. We were just playing basketball,” said Robinson.
“Again, we try to keep the energy. That's why we pretty much use everybody just so we have the same energy. Again, that's just who we are in what we do and again, we just try to fight our own selves," he added.
Though it was a team effort, Quiambao led the team in scoring anew as he finished with 21 points, but the team also gained invaluable contributions from role players like Andrei Dungo and Henry Agunnane.
Dungo finished with 15 points on 5-of-5 shooting from three while Agunnane finished with a double-double of 11 points and 16 rebounds.
Cedric Manzano paced the Soaring Falcons in the losing effort with 15 points, eight rebounds, and two assists.
La Salle is now at 2-0 and will stake their perfect record against perennial rivals Ateneo on Sunday, September 15, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Adamson, who is at 1-1, will face UST on Sunday as well.