ANIMO LA SALLE!
This wasn’t the stuff of highlight reels, nor did it need to be. For La Salle, this 77-66 victory over UP was exactly the kind of gritty, championship-caliber defensive performance that might not make the flashy montage but definitely wins titles.
La Salle’s defense in the second half was pure powerful poison for UP—a suffocating, smartly-adjusted clampdown that left the Maroons looking for offensive answers, forcing them into shots they’d rather not take and moving them in ways that they would rather not do. It was the kind of air-tight defensive scheme that came from sleepless nights of scouting, film, and game preparation.
Early on, the game was tight with both teams’ shabby shooting. UP took an 11-point lead and was only able to hold a slim lead into halftime, up 40-43. But La Salle’s halftime adjustment deployed that lockdown defense that welcomed the third quarter, and the Maroons’ momentum quickly evaporated.
Shot after shot, possession after possession, the Green Archers defense sent the Maroons scrambling for answers. They held UP to a miserable 33.8% shooting from the field and a dismal 15.8% from beyond the arc. By the time the third quarter wrapped up, the Maroons had managed just 8 points in those ten minutes as La Salle dug in and kept tightening the screws.
With the game knotted at 51 late in the third, the La Salle rocket blasted into space. They smoked UP with an 11-2 blitz, charging to a 62-53 lead just minutes into the fourth quarter. Mike Phillips, Kevin Quiambao, and EJ Gollena spearheaded the run, putting the game out of reach and erasing any comeback aspirations UP might’ve had.
DEFENSE FIRST, BUT OFFENSE DELIVERED
This wasn’t just about getting stops; it was about obliterating any hope of an open look. The Maroons were harassed into taking emergency shots late in the shot clock. By the end of the third, UP was out of answers. La Salle forced them into 17 turnovers, which in turn became 20 points off those mistakes—shutting down UP’s offense while cashing in on the other end.
On offense, Mike Phillips led with a smooth 14 points, while Kevin Quiambao added a steady 15, including huge triples that swung momentum their way. And that JC Macalalag’s three-pointer with 6:36 left put La Salle up by ten, the final nail in the coffin that had a part of the Maroon crowd heading to the nearest exit.
The Green Archers’ scoring wasn’t just from deep—though their 35.7% from three was critical—it was timely. The Archers misfired from the free throw lane shooting at 47.6%, but they hit the ones that mattered in the final minutes to ice UP for good.
By the time the final buzzer rang, the scoreboard read 77-66, and it the cliffhanger that everyone wanted to see for their 9th straight win.
The UP spanking improves La Salle’s record to 12-1, and officially clinch number 1 in the elimination round going into their last game against the dangerous NU on Wednesday, November 13, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavillon.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Defensive Masterclass: La Salle’s defense locked UP down, holding them to just 8 points in the third and only 15 in the fourth.
- Quick Hands, Fast Breaks: With 10 steals and 20 points off turnovers, La Salle capitalized on UP’s mistakes and turned them into points.
- Bench Strength: La Salle’s bench came through with 31 points, proving that this squad has serious depth.
It wasn’t pretty, and it wasn’t flashy, but La Salle made a statement. They showed the league that when push comes to shove, at the highest-pressure point, they don’t just hang—they dominate and then obliterate.
THE BOXSCORES
DLSU (77) – Quiambao 15, M. Phillips 14, David 12, Macalalag 9, Gonzales 7, Agunanne 6, Gollena 4, Dungo 4, Ramirp 2, Austria 2, Marasigan 2, Rubico 0.
UP (66) – Cagulangan 22, Bayla 10, Torculas 9, Torres 8, Lopez 6, Stevens 3, Fortea 2, Alarcon 2, Alter 2, Briones 2, Felicilda 0, Ududo 0, Abadiano 0, Belmonte 0.
Quarterscores: 12-14, 40-43, 57-51, 77-66.
