Green Archers extend Finals series to Game 3 after 22-point rout of UP
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers successfully avenged their opening match loss to the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons and forced a do-or-die Game 3 in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Finals. La Salle’s unstoppable second half performance earned them a tremendous 82–60 victory on the back of all-star caliber displays from Francis Escandor, CJ Austria, and Joshua David, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Michael Phillips opened the scoring in the first quarter with a teardrop deuce just 30 seconds in, however UP quicky got ahead to a 2–12 lead with early buckets coming from Harold Alarcon, JD Cagulangan, and Francis Lopez. It wasn’t until a Mark Nonoy and-one at the 6:28 mark that DLSU finally cut into their deficit and stopped the Fighting Maroons’ ten-point run. The quarter was all about scoring runs — beginning with Nonoy and Escandor’s seven points within a minute, to Alarcon and company’s surge thanks to their fast-paced offense. La Salle still trailed by the end of the first, but David’s triples in the last minute significantly reduced their deficit to 24–27.
The Green Archers’ defense kept UP scoreless for the first two minutes of the second period which allowed them to cut the lead down to one. After three and a half minute in and multiple scoreless trips down both ends, Mike equalized for DLSU with a successful pair of free throws to make it a 28-all scoreline. One minute afrer La Salle drew level, Francis nailed back-to-back jumpers from beyond the arc to put his squad ahead 34–28. Both Austria and Escandor were vital in maintaining the Green Archers’ lead towards the end of the half. CJ shined with his interior offense, while Francis made his impact felt through his distance shooting. La Salle emerged from a scrappy first half up 44–38, 20 minutes away from a potential Game 3.
Mike, KQ, and Jcee Macalalag contributed the Green Archers’ first eight points of the half en route to a 52–42 advantage after three minutes. DLSU’s offense and defense in the third frame perfeclty compemented one another as coach Topex Robinson’s troops still maintained their ten-point lead five minutes in. The Green Archers shut down UP to a mere two points in the last five minutes of the third, while David closed out the period with two corner threes to give DLSU a 65–49 lead heading into the final quarter.
La Salle rode their wave of momentum all throughout the fourth quarter with no end in sight. Newly-crowned MVP Quiambao delivered back-to-back blocks against Mark Belmonte early on, sending the DLSU crowd into a complete frenzy. The series reached the peak of its physicality so far as the final stages of regulation drew closer, with multiple fouls and reviews being called on nearly every possession. Malick Diouf and Nonoy fouled out of the game around the three-minute mark, but it hardly affected the overall outcome. Behind superb defending and monumental performances from Escandor, David, and Austria, the Green Archers successfully avenged their Game 1 loss with an 82–60 rout of the Fighting Maroons to force one final decider for the Season 86 title.
The Green Archers are set to take on the UP Fighting Maroons again in Game 3 of the Finals on Wednesday, December 6, 6 PM at the same venue.
