From the powerful engines of desperation, La Salle really played their best ball with their backs were against the wall.
With sheer will and deep creativity plus a ton of clutch genes, these Green Archers pulled through and swept UP in the season series 87-82 with Earl big shot bam bam Abadam hitting the big ones when it mattered the most.
La Salle opened the fourth with a statement, as Abadam drained a triple to take a 62–58 lead. The teams traded threes in a back-and-forth start, with UP briefly pulling ahead 68–67 with 6:30 remaining.
However, the Maroons’ prized piece of piracy,Rey Remogat, picked up his fourth foul and at that point, gave the Archers an edge in rotations. Though UP responded with a drive and a three-pointer to keep it close.
With 3:12 left, La Salle reclaimed the lead at 76–74, and that’s when the game’s decisive stretch arrived. Abadam and Marasigan ignited their scoring binge, hitting clutch shots to push the Green Archers ahead 80–74, their first significant cushion of the fourth.
Abadam followed with another big basket to extend the lead to 85–78, but Abadiano kept UP within striking distance with a timely three, making it 85–81.
That 9–4 run proved to be the pivotal swing, giving La Salle momentum and breathing room in the final minutes as they held onto a slender but crucial lead.
The turnaround was dramatic.
Trailing the entire first half, these Taft boys needed some lifeline from unsung heroes.
La Salle’s first lifeline came in the final two minutes of the second quarter, when the game threatened to slip completely out of reach. Down 44–37 and struggling all half to pierce.
UP’s defensive preparation, the Archers finally found a burst: Gilluan Quines knocked down a tough jumper to cut it to five, and Mike Phillips — scoreless for most of the half — powered in a late bucket to bring La Salle within 44–41.
It was the first real momentum swing of the game, a five-point spurt that trimmed a once–double-digit deficit and gave La Salle a foothold heading into halftime.
By this time, it was clear. “Here comes La Salle.”
The greens finally broke through in the third, riding a surge from Mike Phillips and Jacob Cortez to tie it at 47 before a double-guard look helped trim the gap to 55–54 entering the final minutes.
And this is when Vhoris Marasigan seized the moment, scoring five of his total eight points in a late flurry that swung the lead and sent the Green Archers into the fourth ahead 59–58 — their first real hold on the game.
Marasigan feasted on single coverage by known Maroon agitator, Reyland Torres and “defensive specialist” Jacob Bayla. Marasigan just went off on top of the key isolations and post ups.
With the win, La Salle improved their standings to 7-6 and with a clear shot an outright Final Four slot.
ANIMO LA SALLE!!!
