This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. The apex of the season. Game Three of the Finals.
While we’re busy sharpening our arrows, dusting off those Green Archer caps, and aiming our weapons at anything draped in Maroon, it’s worth pausing to look back at Game Two—the chaos, the grit, the madness—as we steel ourselves for what lies ahead.
Let’s call it what it was: a miracle amidst chaos. Mike Phillips’ clutch handoff to Kevin Quiambao for the game-tying triple? That JC Macalalag triple off an offensive board? Two shots for the ages. KQ’s late-game heroics? Firmly cemented in La Salle lore that is extremely rich in basketball history.
But how did we actually play in that rollercoaster of a game?
The short version? We won, but it was messy—messy enough to make you wonder how we survived it. Not offensively messed up, though. The Archers shot a solid 46.2% from the field, slicing UP’s defense apart with a 54.5% clip inside the arc. La Salle even outpaced the Maroons in total rebounds, pulling down 45 boards to UP’s 37—a crucial edge that gave us a 13-9 edge in second-chance points, that advantage when we needed them most.
The real issue was on the other end of the floor, where La Salle’s defense couldn’t quite keep the Maroons down to their usual low 30s from the field and 10% from three. UP managed a respectable 36.8% overall from the field, including 42.1% from two and a manageable 30% from deep.
But the third quarter? That’s when the storm hit.
UP turned it up to eleven, torching the nets with a blistering 52.8% shooting clip in the third. JD Cagulangan was possessed, dropping 11 points in that quarter alone, as if the guy drank a gallon of energy drink. Pair him with Gerry Abadiano, and you had a sniping duo that left us reeling as they tallied 18 of their 26 total points in the third just off pull-up jumpers.
Even more troubling for the Archers was the performance of UP’s Quintin Millora-Brown, complimenting the Cagulangan- Abadiano outside barrage by anchoring the Maroons’ inside presence. Millora-Brown not only dominated the glass but also disrupted La Salle’s rhythm with timely contests and putbacks. His impact, though understated, was pivotal during UP’s momentum-shifting third quarter.
In that same quarter, the Archers seemed lost and desperately groping for a scoring run to hold on to. The greens were so disrupted that they committed eight turnovers in the third quarter alone, in which UP cashed into six points. If not for Raven Gonzales and his steady midrange one-handed push shots—4 points to stem the bleeding—the game might have spiraled out of reach.
Even the early fourth quarter was brutal. UP seemed to have everything under control, stretching their lead to as much as 8 points. But La Salle’s fighting spirit is built for moments like these. It started at the 6:27 mark when Mike Phillips handed the rock to KQ for the first of three game-altering triples. Those buckets didn’t just swing the momentum—they ignited the entire MOA Arena.
But here’s the truth: KQ can’t do it alone. He needs a supporting cast who is willing to rise to the occasion, and that starts with Macalalag, CJ Austria, and Ramiro.
We need Josh David to be Josh “the UP killer” David once more, draining those deadly corner 3s.
CJ’s defense was vital in Game Two’s closing stretch, locking in on the perimeter and contesting crucial late-game shots. But those big Game Three moments will call for more. Austria’s scoring touch—5 points on 33% shooting in Game Two—needs an upgrade from the jump. His ability to stretch the floor and make those corner threes will be a game-changer if La Salle wants to open up UP’s defense.
Then there’s Ramiro, the team’s Swiss Army knife and primary ball carrier. His energy and hustle haven’t always shown up in the box score, but every deflection, every rebound, every smart pass counts in games like these.
But Ramiro is also known for his rim running and can slice the UP defense once it starts to collapse on designated scorers. If Ramiro can contribute a steady 6-8 points while keeping the offense flowing, it could give La Salle the balance it sorely needs.
Game Three is where heroes are made. We already know what KQ and Mike Phillips can do when at peak pressure points, but the Archers’ chances rest on the collective. The Maroons will come out swinging, led by stars like Cagulangan, Abadiano, and Millora-Brown, but it’s up to every man in Green to rise to the moment, to deliver when it counts the most.
The mission is clear: tighten the defense, cut down on the turnovers, and trust in the system that got us here.
So, wear your colors, pack the Araneta Coliseum stands, and bring the eardrum-breaking noise.
One more time. One more miracle.
This is it—Season 87’s final fight for glory.
One shot, one game, one team to rewrite history.
ONE ANIMO!
ANIMO LA SALLE!
BEAT UP!!!
