Hold onto your seats as the more exhilarating second round is about to start!
The Green Archers basketball scene is heating up as La Salle gears up for a rematch against the University of the East (UE) in what promises to be an electrifying second-round showdown. Last time out, UE narrowly escaped the vicious jaws of the Green Archers rally, with a 71-75 win that left La Salle licking its wounds.
But that game has been a while. La Salle seemed to have rediscovered their championship mojos, while UE remained hot throughout the first round with a masterful five games winning streak that landed them third place with a 5-2 card
La Salle has been sharpening their weapons and has been itching for payback. UE, on the Recto side, is looking to sustain their winning run and steal a twice-to-beat seat in the semis.
Flashback to Round One: The Clash of Titans
La Salle sleepwalked into the first quarter and UE made them pay. This was basically the story of the first-round La Salle-UE game.
When UE discovered that they could shoot, they shot the lights out
In that first-round matchup, UE was phenomenal in offense, shooting 41.9% from the field and knocking down 12 triples at a 40% clip. John Abate made this game his career launching pad, racking up 20 points on an absurd 85.7% shooting, which included a perfect 3-of-3 from deep. His performance was a reminder of just how lethal UE can be when they find their rhythm.
Not to be outdone, Wello Lingolingo, the undisputable Season 87 Mr. Clutch, pitched in with 18 points on 60% shooting, proving that La Salle’s defense would have to do more than just hold its breath.
UE made the La Salle triple big defense pay in the absence of the then still-recovering CJ Austria. The frontline rotation of Mike Phillips, KQ, Henry Agunanne and Raven Gonzales were scraping for form against the relentless Red Warriors fake-and-drive attacks using high ball screens and pick and rolls. This towering version of the Taft defense was tall but just too slow to defend Abate, Wilson, and Lingolingo.
La Salle, while managing to score 42 points in the paint compared to UE’s 22, found themselves stymied by UE’s perimeter shooting. Quiambao had a rough outing, hitting only 35.3% of his shots and an icy 1-of-8 from three, but still managed to post 17 points and 9 rebounds. Mike Phillips stepped up with a solid 16 points on 58.3% shooting and 9 rebounds, but it was tough to outgun UE’s balanced attack when you were going solo.
The return of CJ Austria should provide defensive adaptability and lateral quickness in the perimeter that would boost La Salle’s ability to lock down those UE slashes and midrange pull-ups.
The numbers tell the story: while La Salle dominated the paint, they faltered on the perimeter, allowing UE to feast with 42 points from beyond the arc. That discrepancy proved pivotal, as UE’s shooters knocked down clutch shots to keep La Salle at bay.
Statistical Highlights: What the Numbers Say
Looking at the season averages, both teams bring their strengths and weaknesses into this matchup:
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- La Salle has been lighting up the scoreboard, averaging 74.3 points per game (PPG) with a field goal percentage of 43.2%. They’re also beasts on the boards, averaging 47.1 rebounds per game, including 16.5 offensive rebounds that create second-chance scoring opportunities.
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- UE, while averaging just 69.1 PPG, has made its mark defensively, allowing only 68.8 points per game. Their perimeter defense is particularly stout, holding opponents to 32.7% shooting from three-point range, a crucial factor in their first win against La Salle.
The Keys to Victory
This rematch boils down to adjustments, and La Salle needs to come out of the bench swinging. Their stars, Quiambao and Phillips, need to totally dominate the boards, but the spotty perimeter shooting must see improvement. Expect EJ Gollena and Lian Ramiro to take on bigger roles from deep to stretch UE’s defense, which locked down La Salle’s shooters last time.
To beat UE, it will be all about keeping that defensive energy high right from the tip. Jail UE’s FSA Precious Momowei and prevent him from gaining any momentum, as his gravitating middle presence fuels the perimeter games of Abate and Lingolingo.
Bottom Line
La Salle may be at the top of the leaderboard, but UE and the rest of the UAAP are not far behind. This Recto squad has shown to La Salle and the rest of the UAAP that they are no Final Four pretenders with their signature defense and free-flowing offense.
But, this would not be another statistical aberration.
UE will not shoot another season-elite 42% from the field when their season average is 37%. John Abate would not have another 86% shooting night when his shooting clip is only 42% in round one.
Having learned that hard first round lesson, Green Archers will surely go for revenge this on Saturday at 6pm.
ANIMO LA SALLE!!!
