La Salle formalizes men's basketball finals rematch

c/o UAAP

Games on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

11 a.m. - UE vs NU (JHS)

1 p.m. - UST vs FEU (JHS)

3 p.m. - UST vs AdU (Women)

It will be De La Salle University versus University of the Philippines in the Finals for the second straight year. 

Defending champion La Salle dominated fourth-seed Adamson University, 70-55, to advance to the best-of-three Finals of the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday night. 

The Fighting Maroons earlier defeated the UST Growling Tigers, 78-69, to book their place in the title series. 

In their Finals bout last season, the Green Archers battled back after losing Game 1 by 30 points, storming back in Games 2 and 3 to take the championship. 

La Salle now owns a four-game winning streak against UP after a 68-56 and 77-66 victories in the elimination round. 

Game 1 of the Finals will be on December 8 at the Big Dome. 

“It’s nice to be back in the finals and I guess we also have to acknowledge Adamson losing Fransman and Calisay who are vital parts of the team. They still gave a good fight and that just shows how good that team is. These guys did what they’re supposed to do so it’s nice to be back in the finals,” said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson. 

“What’s obvious during those first two meetings was UP did not have a complete lineup. That’s one thing we haven’t seen and going back to our preseason meetings, they beat us twice so that’s one thing we have to remember,” added the champion coach, emphasizing that there’s no room for error against the Maroons. 

Leading by just four early in the second quarter, 20-16, the Green Archers turned on the jets with seldom-used guard Matt Rubico providing the spark as they finished the period on a 16-1 rally to build a 36-17 advantage at the half. 

In that run, Rubico, who only had three points total in the elimination round, recorded six points while Joshua David, Doy Dungo, Kevin Quiambao, and Alex Konov also chipped in. 

Royce Mantua, Eli Ramos, and Cedrick Manzano put up 11 unanswered points to pull the Soaring Falcons within 50-63 with 3:53 left in the game but it was too late as Quiambao and Mike Phillips answered for the Green Archers. 

Quiambao still topped the scoring for La Salle with 14 points to go with three rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and two assists, while Phillips stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, eight rebounds. five steals, four assists, and two blocks.

Graduating guard Joshua David added 11 points on a perfect 3-of-3 clip from deep. 

Mantua paced Adamson with 14 points, while Manzano chimed in 13 points and nine rebounds. 

Mathew Montebon barely made a difference in the match after being held scoreless in 28 minutes of action. He missed all of his five shot attempts. 

The Soaring Falcons missed the services of scorers Jhon Calisay and AJ Fransman, both under the weather. 

Joshua Yerro, Mario Barasi, Eli Ramos, and Calisay have exhausted their playing years for Adamson. 

The Scores:

DLSU 70 – Quiambao 14, David 11, Phillips 8, Ramiro 7, Marasigan 6, Dungo 5, Gonzales 5, Agunanne 4, Dungo 4, Konov 4, Austria 2, Macalalag 0, Gollena 0, Alian 0. 

AdU 55 – Mantua 14, Manzano 13, Anabo 6, Yerro 6, Erolon 5, Ramos 3, Dignadice 3, Ojarikre 2, Barasi 2, Montebon 1, Alexander 0, Barcelona 0, Ignacio 0, Ronzone 0. 

Quarterscores: 18-11, 36-17, 59-34, 70-55.