Green Archers shoot down AdU
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers kept their winning streak alive in the 17th FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup after shooting down the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 80 — 72, yesterday at the FilOil EcoOil Center.
Jonnel Policarpio was crowned Player of the Game after spearheading the team’s victory with 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists.
The match had a slow start with the Green Archers making multiple shot attempts at the ring but none converting to points. Instead, it was AdU’s Cedrick Manzano who opened the scoring of the match with a jumper, 0 — 2. However, quick back-to-back points from the Policarpio-Kevin Quiambao duo gave the lead to the Green Archers at 6 — 4. Then, AJ Fransman made his presence known with a clean trey, pulling away from the tie to take the lead for the Falcons, 6 — 9. It was a slow-paced game for the Beaks and Arrows as the two teams had their fair share of gaps in the plays that the other used to their advantage. The teams were matched up well enough to make scoring difficult on both ends before Policarpio scored back-to-back jumpers to tie the score at 17-all. In the last six seconds, Royce Mantua shot a trey from the corner to close the first quarter in favor of the Soaring Falcons with a one-point lead, 21 — 22.
Mantua opened the scoring in the second quarter which Raven Cortez quickly answered with back-to-back points from free throws and a jumper from the elbow 25 — 24. Then, a Manu Anabo jay and a Fransman trey brought the lead back to the blue side, 27 — 29. Manzano followed through with quick reflexes to make it through the Policarpio-Henry Agunanne guards and scored with a layup to protect the lead, 28 — 31. It became a tight game for the teams, both increasing efficiency in defense and accuracy in offense, putting pressure on each other. Quiambao then intercepted an inbound ball and dunked to score, 38 — 32. However, DLSU began to miscommunicate plays which cost them the chance to maximize their ball possession. Eventually, Earl Abadam had the ball but could not find an opening to shoot so he passed it to Cortez who sank a floater, 43 — 37, in favor of DLSU. The first half ended with an Anabo three from the corner, capping it off at 45 — 42 before the teams were sent to halftime.
The third quarter brought in a new level of energy from the Green Archers as an Abadam trey from the wing and a Policarpio running layup gave the team a swift eight-point lead, 50 — 42. AdU brought in the same energy when a Mario Barasi jumper and a John Calisay layup cut the lead down to three, 52 — 49. Calisay’s rapid-fire treys from the corners and wing chipped at La Salle’s separation and later reclaimed the lead back to Adamson at 57 — 61. A few plays after, Fransman then intercepted a pass from DLSU and passed the ball to Eli Ramos who drove into a layup and scored to cut the lead back to three, 66 — 63. Finally, Manzano pulled a fake and drew out a foul for an and-one conversion which he secured, tying the teams at 66-all by the end of the quarter.
Both squads collected a few fouls at the start of the last quarter until Andre Dungo intercepted a pass and drove to a quick pass to Vhoris Marasigan who scored with a jumper for La Salle, 70 — 66. But the Anabo-Manzano duo converted points with a bank shot and a layup for the Falcons. Passing errors disrupted DLSU’s rhythm and caused them to turn over the possession but successful free throws from JC Macalalag and a Policarpio running layup finally secured the hard-fought win for the Green Archers at 80 — 72.
The DLSU Green Archers aim to keep their winning streak alive in the 17th FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup as they go against the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors on Thursday, May 30, 5 PM, in the same venue.
Quarter Scores: 21 — 22, 45 — 42, 66 — 66, 80 — 72
