Green Archers overcome UST to stay undefeated on Day 2 of the 3x3 Basketball Tournament

The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers (4–0) remain undefeated in the UAAP S86 3x3 Men’s Basketball Tournament after today’s games at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay — Activity Center. Their hot shooting towards the end of their match against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers helped seal the victory, 20-16. Later in the afternoon, La Salle was awarded the victory in their match against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons as the latter was forced to forfeit the rest of their campaign due to injuries.

After a slow shooting start for both teams in the opening minute of the game, Mark Crisostomo and Aaron Buensalida opened up the scoring by trading baskets in the low post. Inside scoring became the theme early on in the game as the first eight field goals made were produced in the paint, where CJ Austria, Jonnel Policarpio, and Crisostomo exchanged points to keep it tied at 5-all. Nic Cabañero then made his presence known by sinking two free throws after being fouled from deep, while Crisostomo scored a putback off a miss to give UST a three-point lead. Officiating was not on the side of the Green Archers as missed calls and turnovers would see the Tigers start to pull away with a four-point lead before Policarpio knocked down a jumper from the deep to cut the lead to two, 9-11. Cabañero’s isolation scoring would merit UST two more points, but Policarpio and Austria were able to work together, eyeing each other’s cuts to the basket to knot the score at 13-all. The next set of points saw a duel between reigning 3x3 MVP Austria and Cabañero, where a back-and-forth between the two tied the game once again at 15-all, heading into crunch time. With about a minute to go, Earl Abadam became the unsung hero for the Green and White as he knocked down a two-pointer, followed up by a late-game takeover by Austria who scored three straight points, including a dagger from the deep to finally silence the Tigers, 20-16.

Catch the Green Archers back in action tomorrow as they face the following teams at the same venue:

DLSU vs FEU - 3:20 PM
DLSU vs Ateneo - 6:00 PM