Resilient Green Archers avert collapse against UE in OT thriller
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers sealed a hard-earned victory over the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 85–82, in overtime, after trailing majority of the game earlier today at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
With less than a minute left in OT, Mark Nonoy took matters into his own hands and scored five points to give La Salle a bit of a cushion, 83–78. UE came close to one, 82–83, after a quick Kris Pagsanjan layup off DLSU turnover, but the Taft-based squad held on and secured the game, 85–82.
The Green and White banked on second-chance points spearheaded by Michael Phillips who tallied 26 monster rebounds, 11 of which are offensive, and Justin Baltazar with 22 rebounds of his own. Not only that, it was also a tag-team effort for the Green Archers with five players scoring double figures after the game.
La Salle had a hard time finding their groove early in the game, immediately trailing by eight, 5–13, after a Red Warrior trey. UE took advantage of DLSU’s continuous missed opportunities and turnovers, with Kyle Paranada waxing hot and extending their lead, 18–7. At the end of the first, La Salle trailed, 9–20.
The Red warriors carried on their momentum into the second quarter, leading by as much as 15, 25–10, after a Lorenzana basket from beyond the arc. The Green Archers, however, were patient and slowly but surely trimmed down the deficit with an 18–4 run, levelling the game at 32-all at the half.
Coming into the third canto, UE still refused to concede the lead and continued to make it rain from the three-point region. The Green Archers had a difficult time finding an antidote for UE’s sharpshooters and remained behind 48–57.
It was a different story in the fourth frame, with a sense of urgency surging through the Lasallians. The Taft-based squad quickly reduced the lead to five, 52–57, following a Kurt Lojera jumper. A made freethrow by Nonoy finally gave La Salle the lead, 60–59, with less than six minutes remaining. It was a chess match from then on, with no team being ahead by more than a possession. A crucial layup by Allan Bertran with 0.1 seconds left in the regulation forced the game to head into overtime at 69-all.
This victory puts La Salle at a 7–3 win-loss record, still at the third spot of the standings.
Catch the Green Archers as they seek to extend their winning streak against first-round tormentors UP Fighting Maroons (8–2) on Sunday, April 23 4:30PM at the same venue. A win for DLSU will put them vying for the second spot together with the Fighting Maroons.
Boxscore:
DLSU 85 — Winston 18, Lojera 17, Baltazar 14, M.Phillips 12, Nonoy 11, Nwankwo 5, Nelle 3, Escandor 2, Galman 1, Cuajao 0, Manuel 0
UE — Pagsanjan 21, K.Paranada 13, Cruz 12, Beltran 9, N.Paranada 9, Escamis 7, Sawat 6, Lorenzana 5
