Green Archers take down FEU in a hard fought battle
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers showcased a valiant performance in the 17th FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup after a hard fought battle against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 81–76, earlier today at the FilOil EcoOil Center.
Raven Cortez was hailed as the Player of the Game after contributing 13 points, nine rebounds and two blocks to the Green Archers’ victory.
It was reigning UAAP S86 MVP Kevin Quiambao who started the scoring for the Green Archers after pulling an opening three-point trigger to start the game at the 9:40 dot. But the Tamaraws retaliated in the following two minutes, managing to snatch the lead at 3–4. In an attempt to smother FEU’s momentum, Green Archer Matthew Rubico then proceeded with a fast break, leading the charge for the Green Archers to take the lead with a swift layup. However, both teams found themselves in a slump as the score remained 8–5 after La Salle took the lead at the 5:40 clock forcing FEU to call a time-out as they continued to struggle on creating an open basket. Finally, it was Royce Alforque who cut the deficit with a layup at the 4:10 clock after a very cold start for the Tamaraws, 9–7. With this, the Green Archers started heating up with Jonnel Policarpio unleashing a monster block as Earl Abadam answered back with a strong power layup together with Raven Cortez’s tear drop to extend the lead by seven, 15–9. With less than a minute remaining, Policarpio attempted a fast break layup but was heavily fouled, leading him to the free throw line where he unfortunately missed both free throws. In the last few seconds of the first quarter, the Green Archers attempted to make one last shot attempt but ultimately failed to convert the three pointer to end the quarter with a four-point lead, 17–13.
Coming into the 2nd quarter, CJ Austria's double handed floater continued the momentum for La Salle before adding another spin-move lay-in at the 8:01 clock to give the Green Archers a seven-point lead yet again, 21–15. A few minutes later, Jcee Macalalag added an open three pointer to cap the team’s 5–0 run for a 10-point lead, 25–15. The Green Archers refused to loosen their grip on the lead as Quiambao added another midrange basket to further increase the Green Archers’ offensive momentum. With three minutes remaining, Macalalag scored another smooth layup for the Green Archers that was retaliated by Ej Pre’s three-pointer, 29–24. The Tamaraws then aimed for a fast break shot attempt but Henry Agunanne was on the inside to swipe it away, showcasing defensive prowess in the paint. But this defensive move was challenged once again by Pre’s layup, which decreased the deficit to three, 29–26. In the final few minutes of the quarter, the Green Archers’ possession was stolen by the Tamaraws after the latter nailed a perfectly executed fast-break to end the first half at a deadlock, 29-all.
Coming off the halftime, Policarpio opened up the scoring for the Green Archers through a fast-break after executing a smooth layup and an alley-oop play to Quiambao to snatch the lead, 33–32. Meanwhile, FEU’s Jorick Bautista responded with a three-pointer of his own to help the Tamaraws retake the lead, 32–35. This only reignited the fire within the Green Archers as they began to score back-to-back baskets with Aguganne’s post tear drop move together with Policarpio’s fast break and one spin giving them a four-point lead, 41–37. Lian Romero then extended the Green Archers’ lead to five with a three-pointer, 44–39. La Salle’s offensive prowess continued as the Abadam-Cortez-Quiambao trio’s consecutive baskets forced the Tamaraws into a timeout with 2:49 minutes remaining. Quiambao and Cortez were crucial in leading the offensive play for La Salle as both created another opening to score, 57–47, with 45.2 seconds remaining. The third quarter concluded with the Green Archers taking back a commanding lead of 11 points, 60–49.
Entering the final quarter, the Tamaraws attempted to make another comeback as Bautista and Mohamed Konate made a contested fade away jumper and tip-in respectively to cut the deficit, 60–53. With 8:05 on the clock, it was Abadam who suddenly made a monster power jam that contributed to another big momentum for La Salle. But Bautista answered back with another trey to pull the Tamaraws ahead, 63–59. In the last two minutes of the game, Janrey Pasaol took charge in challenging the Quiambao-Cortez duo for the Tamaraws but the Green Archers successfully maintained their cushion after a flurry of baskets from the power duo, 77–71. With less than a minute remaining, the Tamaraws attempted to make a comeback with a steal from John Godinez and a final trey but FEU’s final cry was not enough to snatch the lead until the final buzzer sounded, securing the dub for the Green & White, 81–76.
Catch the Green Archers in their next match against NU Bulldogs on Thursday, June 6, 5PM, at the same venue.
Quarter Scores: 17–13, 29–29, 60–49, 81–76
