La Salle defeats once-undefeated UP, averts the scare and takes the first-round lead

La Salle mounted a massive comeback run, 27-7 – all after leading by as many as 20 points – but the Green Archers still managed to pull ahead with a double-digit score at the end of the first round of UAAP Season 87 take first place

MANILA, Philippines – The La Salle Green Archers ended the first round of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball season with a powerful statement, defeating the once-undefeated UP Fighting Maroons 68-56 at the packed Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday. October 6th.

With the win, the defending champions improved to a record of 6-1 and ended the first round with their third win in a row. That secured him first place in the tiebreaker against a UP team that now has the same record.

Reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao offset a 6-of-18 shooting night with a full stat line of 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block, while Joshua David had 14 points on 4-of-18 for provided plenty of support. 7 clip of three.

Trailing by 20, 35-15, on a Lian Ramiro corner kick at 4:13 of the second quarter, UP then copied its script against Adamson (69-57) and exploded with a 27-7 run that ended the middle two frames bridged to force a 42-all tie following a layup by Harold Alarcon at the 2:31 mark of the third period.

However, the Archers showed why they are truly different from the rest of the league as they recovered well when all the chips were down in the fourth round to take a decisive 7-0 lead from a small 55-51 lead that ended with one JC ended Macalalag three, 62-51, with 5:35 minutes left.

UP got within nine, 53-62, after a Francis Lopez layup before Quiambao and David finally slammed the comeback door, hitting two three-pointers at the 3:45 and 52 second marks to tie the game at 68 to finish -54.

“We are just very happy with the result. We know it will be a tough game. We know it will be a game full of twists and turns. We were able to weather the storm, so to speak,” La Salle assistant coach Gian Nazario said after the game.

“We knew what UP could and could do. We’re just happy that the players responded.”

Alarcon erased the loss with 19 points, including 12 during UP’s comeback rally in the third quarter.

Consistent anchor Quentin Millora-Brown added a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds with four blocks as the Maroons retained the backcourt duties of injured floor general JD Cagulangan and backup Janjan Felicilda, who sprained his left ankle in the second quarter , painfully missed, has only been played sparingly since then.

Both teams return to action next weekend, either Saturday October 12th or Sunday October 13th.

The results

La Salle 68 – Quiambao 20, David 14, Macalalag 7, Abadam 5, Ramiro 5, Marasigan 5, Phillips 4, Gollena 4, Austria 2, Agunanne 2, Gonzales 0.

UP 56 – Alarcon 19, Millora-Brown 10, Lopez 8, Torres 6, Fortea 5, Belmonte 5, Abadiano 2, Bayla 1, Felicilda 0, Torculas 0, Stevens 0, Ududo 0.

Quarter: 19-13, 38-25, 51-46, 68-56.

– Rappler.com