De La Salle University exacted revenge against first-round tormentor UE, claiming a gritty 77-68 victory that showcased their growth and composure under fire. With a rocking Big Dome crowd behind them, the Green Archers reversed their earlier defeat by standing tall in the game’s tensest moments, proving their mettle against a relentless UE squad.
The spotlight shined brightest on Mike Phillips, whose game was nothing short of dominant. “Motor Mike” delivered 27 points on 9-of-16 shooting, controlling the paint with a monstrous 17 rebounds, including 10 on the offensive end. His two emphatic dunks shifted the momentum entirely. The first came at a pivotal 51-50 point in the third quarter, igniting a La Salle run. The second, with just over two minutes left, pushed the Green Archers ahead 73-65, effectively sealing the win.
Kevin Quiambao had an off night offensively, managing just 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting, but his contributions went beyond scoring. He grabbed six rebounds and dished two assists, one of which led to Vhoris Marasigan’s crucial late bucket that put the game beyond reach at 77-67. Despite UE closing the gap to 73-67, Quiambao’s steady jumper extended La Salle’s cushion, and his veteran presence helped anchor their defense, limiting UE’s perimeter shooting to just 18.8%.
Despite the loss, UE showed why their first-round win was no fluke. Precious Momowei led the charge with 21 points and nine rebounds, battling Phillips in the post. UE actually led 50-49 at one point in the third quarter and threatened to repeat their upset. But La Salle’s poise in the face of UE’s gritty resistance proved decisive.
From the bench, rookie Vhoris Marasigan gave DLSU a much-needed spark, adding nine points and grabbing five rebounds. His hustle, highlighted by his late-game bucket from a Quiambao dish, demonstrated that La Salle’s depth was ready to contribute when called upon. Collectively, La Salle’s bench added 20 points compared to UE’s 27, but their timely impact made the difference when the game was on the line.
One of the key factors in La Salle’s win was their dominance on the glass, out-rebounding UE 53 to 30. This included 21 offensive rebounds, translating to 16 second-chance points, which allowed the Archers to stay ahead even when their shooting faltered (just 40% from the field). Meanwhile, UE’s defense held strong, but their inability to capitalize on turnovers and missed opportunities ultimately cost them.
As expected, the Warriors fought to the bitter end, but the Green Archers’ composure, led by Phillips and Quiambao, carried them through the high-stakes moments. Even with UE cutting the lead to 70-65, La Salle had the closing punch, finishing the game on a decisive 7-3 run sparked by Phillips’ and Quiambao’s late-game heroics.
La Salle now sits on top of the standings at 7-1 and will tangle on October 16 (Wednesday) against the fourth-running UST Tigers at 6pm at the MOA Arena.
ANIMO LA SALLE!
The boxscores:
DLSU (77) – Phillips 27, Quiambao 10, Macalalag 10, Marasigan 9, David 8, Abadam 6, Ramiro 3, Gollena 2, Gonzales 2, Austria 0, Agunanne 0, Dungo 0.
UE (68) – Momowei 21, Abate 11, Maga 9, Wilson 8, J. Cruz-Dumont 7, Galang 6, Lingolingo 2, Malaga 2, Fikes 2, Mulingtapang 0, H. Cruz-Dumont 0.
Quarterscores: 14-14, 36-37, 63-54, 77-68
