Green Archers fall short to UP in Finals rematch
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers were unable to claim a second preseason title after being defeated by the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 66–69, yesterday, June 12 at the FilOil EcoOil Center. The Green Archers were able to gain a sizeable 20-point advantage at halftime but despite this, the team was unable to contain UP’s onslaught of scoring in the second half, which led to the Maroons narrowly pulling away in the end.
The highly anticipated UAAP finals rematch brought about championship-level defense, which was showcased right from the get-go, with both teams denying each other every opportunity to put the ball in the basket. With the scoreboard still blank two minutes into the ball game, JD Cagulangan was the first to put the ball in the basket with a pair of free throws, to which Kevin Quiambao answered with a floater. Harold Alarcon was able to keep the scoring output going with back-to-back threes at the six-minute mark before a slick dime by Lian Ramiro to Henry Agunanne led to a two-handed dunk that fired up the Taft-based squad. Jonnel Policarpio also came off the bench with a bucket to keep the Green Archers within three points, 6-9. However, more missed opportunities at the rim prevented La Salle from catching up to the Maroons, while their fouls allowed UP to increase the lead at the charity stripe. Despite La Salle scoring free throws, turnovers led to multiple fast break opportunities for the Katipunan-based squad, finding the Green Archers down at the end of the opening period, 14-17.
At the start of the second frame, Andrei Dungo was able to cut the deficit to just one, before CJ Austria helped La Salle take the lead for the first time in the match with back-to-back baskets, 21-17. Austria ended his onslaught of attacks with an and-one basket to capitalize a 12–0 run for the Green Archers, 26-17. On the other end of the floor, Agunanne’s paint defense proved to be a key factor in their run, blocking and altering any shot put up by the Maroons at the rim. Late in the second canto, Quiambao proved why he was crowned as the UAAP MVP by producing a 6-0 run all by his lonesome, ballooning the Green Archers' lead to 15, 34-19. Coming out of a timeout, Cagulangan connected with Aldous Torculas for an alley-oop jam, but it wasn’t enough to extinguish La Salle’s firepower, as a lopsided second quarter was capped off by multiple baskets by Agunanne and JC Macalalag in the paint, 43-23.
The Maroons began the second half with a barrage of baskets, coming from back-to-treys by Francis Lopez and Alarcon, as well as a reverse dunk on the fast break by the reigning UAAP Rookie of the Year. Policarpio’s stuff block on Aldous Torculas led to an Austria layup on the other end that stopped the bleeding and swung momentum ever so slightly back in favor of the Green and White. After a couple of minutes of missed shots from both squads, Reyland Torres cut the lead back down to single digits after scoring five straight points, 48-41. What once was a 20-point advantage for the Green Archers withered to just five after Gerry Abadiano sunk a three from the right wing in the closing seconds of the third quarter, 53-48.
Abadiano continued to produce in the final frame of action scoring back-to-back baskets from mid-range, to which Cagulangan added with a step-back jumper of his own, dwindling La Salle’s advantage to a single point, 55-54. Ramiro was able to answer with a couple of baskets of his own, however, the Maroons quickly regained the advantage thanks to Dikachi Ududo’s free throws and another breakaway dunk by Lopez, 58-63. After a back-and-forth affair approaching the two-minute mark, KQ hit a shot from deep but this was answered by layups from Ududo and Cagulangan that found La Salle down by three, 65-68, with 34 seconds left to play. Coach Topex Robinson’s ATO play saw Ramiro drive to the basket where he was fouled hard and split his free throws, 66-68. La Salle’s half-court pressure defense on the next play was enough to force a Maroon turnover that gave them a final opportunity to tie or take the lead with the last possession. Down by two with 13.7 left in regulation, Quiambao was able to get a clean look from beyond the arc in an attempt to take the lead. But the shot fell short, hitting the front rim and bouncing into the hands of Lopez, who was fouled and knocked down a free throw, 66–69, which was enough to spell defeat for the Green Archers, and the Championship for the Fighting Maroons.
Quarter scores: 14–17, 43–23, 53–48, 66–69
