Defending champion La Salle survived a UP team known for its third quarter comebacks, now winning three straight UAAP games vs. Fighting Maroons.
If there’s anyone that knows how much the UP Fighting Maroons can compete in a basketball game, that’s the DLSU Green Archers.
Having engaged in a few high stakes back-and-forth games in recent years, La Salle is no stranger to what the Diliman-based team can do when times get tough and opponents get a groove.
In their multiple meetings, it has been an up-and-down experience for La Salle — with some resulting in wins, some in losses. But for their latest encounter, the Green Archers have been able to keep the stacked Maroons at bay.
[Related: Champion La Salle weathers UP surge to regain top spot in UAAP Season 87]
Meeting for the first time in UAAP Season 87 on Sunday, La Salle started strong, riding a hot-shooting opening quarter to seize control of the game early.
Making it rain from three-point land, the Green Archers were ahead of their heated rivals by as many as 20, 35-15, after a Lian Ramiro three midway through the second quarter.
But playing against a team like UP, no game is over until the third canto.
Right on cue, the Fighting Maroons surged after the halftime break and went on a scorching 27-7 run to tie the game at 42-all, off of a Harold Alarcon basket with 2:31 ticks left in the quarter.
Almost identical to what they’ve done in their previous six games, UP found themselves primed for the victory in the second half.
But La Salle, unlike any other of UP’s foes, was able to keep its bearings when the Fighting Maroons came knocking at the door.
Led by a steady Kevin Quiambao, La Salle pulled away anew.
But as assistant coach Gian Nazario pointed out, the players were fortunate to be able to stop such an avalanche.
“We were just very happy on how things turned out. We know it’s gonna be a grind out game, we know that it will be a game of runs and we were able to weather the storm, sabi nga nila,” said Nazario.
“Alam naman naming lahat what UP can do, what they’re capable of doing and we’re just happy that all the players responded well.”
The response started on offense as Ramiro sparked an unanswered 7-0 run by La Salle, capped by a Quiambao triple to create distance after that game-tying basket from UP.
While UP continued to be a threat until the final quarter, that run proved to be the turning point of the ballgame in favor of the defending champions.
Joshua David put the nail in the coffin with under a minute to play with a triple to push the La Salle lead to 14, 68-54.
Quiambao continued to be the highlight of La Salle’s wins as he finished with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds to go along with three assists, one steal and one block.
David chipped in 14 markers, seven boards, and two assists.
Alarcon was the lone bright spot for the Maroons with 19 points, five rebounds, one assist, and three steals.
La Salle and UP have identical 6-1 slates to end the first round but the Green Archers overtake the Fighting Maroons for the top spot owing to their win over the other.
DLSU ended the first round on a three-game win streak after suffering their only loss against the UE Red Warriors.