La Salle has done the unthinkable.
Who would’ve guessed that La Salle would not just stand toe-to-toe with the mighty UP Fighting Maroons but utterly dominate them? Who could have imagined that the Green Archers, infamous for past collapses, would maintain a big lead and never let it slip away? And who could’ve seen them dismantling UP’s vaunted guard lineup, stifling every option in their arsenal?
Perhaps only Coach Topex Robinson, his 16 Green Archers, and his tactical crew believed it.
La Salle entered the Mall of Asia Arena as significant underdogs, facing a UP team that had bulldozed through the rest of the UAAP with double-digit wins against all comers. But this time, the Green Archers arrived with sharp focus, renewed defensive intensity, and, as it turned out, a game plan that left the Fighting Maroons gasping for answers. With a diamond-hard defense and an offensive spark, La Salle cruised to a 68-56 win in front of a raucous green crowd at MOA Arena.
From the very first tip-off, La Salle set the tone. After a brief 6-7 deficit, the Archers hit the turbo button, going on an 8-0 run to take a 14-7 lead. But this wasn’t the La Salle of old—the one that could spark but sputter out. No, these Archers were locked in. They shut down UP’s options one by one, making every offensive scheme look futile. A brand of defense we hadn’t seen before fueled their offense, and soon enough, they were up by 20 points—35-15—in the second quarter, thanks to the hot shooting hands of Kevin Quiambao and Josh David.
At halftime, La Salle led 38-25. But anyone who’s watched UAAP basketball knew that UP are known to strike back at the moment you least expect.
True to form, the Maroons stormed back, eventually tying the game at 42-all in the third. Memories of La Salle’s collapse during the FilOil Summer League loomed, but this time, Quiambao and Lian Ramiro weren’t about to let history repeat itself. Quiambao put the team on his back, going on a personal five-point run, while Ramiro slashed through UP’s defense for a very athletic layup, putting La Salle back up by seven—49-42—before the quarter closed.
From there, the Green Archers didn’t just hold the line—they extended it. EJ Gollena, JC Macalalag, and “UP killer” Josh David continued to snuff out any hopes of a Maroon comeback. By the five-minute mark, La Salle had stretched their lead to 11, 62-51, and they weren’t looking back.
La Salle’s relentless pace, quick ball movement, and aggressive transition play turned this game into a track meet. They ran UP into the ground, outscoring them 39-14 on perimeter points. UP’s usual offensive weapons were left scrambling.
With the victory, La Salle wraps up the first round at the top of the standings and will look to keep their momentum rolling when they face UE this coming Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.
THE BOXSCORES
DLSU 68 – Quiambao 20, David 14, Macalalag 7, Ramiro 5, Abadam 5, Marasigan 5, Phillips 4, Gollena 4, Austria 2, Agunanne 2, Gonzales 0.
UP 56 – Alarcon 19, Millora-Brown 10, Lopez 8, Torres 6, Belmonte 5, Fortea 5, Abadiano 2. Bayla 1, Stevens 0, Felicilda 0, Torculas 0, Ududo 0.
Quarterscores: 19-13, 38-25, 51-46, 68-56.
