Defending champion La Salle makes it a season sweep against UP and the Green Archers will enter the Final Four as the UAAP's no. 1 team.
The DLSU Green Archers scored a repeat win over the UP Fighting Maroons, 77-66, to clinch the no. 1 seed in UAAP Season 87 after their second-round encounter at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, November 10.
The defending champion Green Archers, who are now winners of nine-straight games, improved to 12-1 and are now assured of the best record in the tournament. UP, meanwhile, fell to 9-3 but is still locked at no. 2 with a twice-to-beat advantage.
Kevin Quiambao sizzled in the second half to lead the Green Archers to a season sweep over their Finals foes last year.
Quiambao powered a second half run bridging the third and fourth quarters were they led by eight, 59-51, after a basket by the reigning MVP with 9:30 ticks left in the final period.
His crucial offense helped overturn a halftime deficit where UP was ahead, 43-40. The Fighting Maroons also led by as many as 11 points, 37-26, earlier in the first half.
From then on, the Maroons struggled to threaten against the defending champions.
La Salle thus owns a four-game win streak over the Fighting Maroons since the Finals in UAAP Season 86.
Quiambao finished with a team-high 15 points, five rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
Mike Phillips did the heavy lifting inside the paint with a double-double of 14 points and 10 boards. Joshua David was the other La Salle player in twin-digit scoring with 12 markers, seven boards, four assists, and three steals.
JD Cagulangan topscored for UP in the losing effort with 22 points to go along with six rebounds, five assists, and four steals.
The Fighting Maroons have lost back-to-back games and are just 3-3 in their last six.