73rd UAAP: Green Archers squeak past Bulldogs, avoid end-game crunch

With fresh wounds from losing in close end-game decisions against Far Eastern University and Adamson University, the De La Salle Green Archers trumped the National University Bulldogs 59-56 to start their second round in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) basketball league on a positive note.

Rookie point guard Almond Vosotros had his breakout game of the season with 16 points off the bench. Team captain Simon Atkins followed with 13 points in the Archers' 5th season victory.

DLSU coach Dindo Pumaren made a minor lineup adjustment, shifting neophyte Papot Paredes into the starting unit at center and relegating the struggling Ferdinand to the bench. His adjustment paid dividends, as this forced NU to alter their shots in the intimidating presence of Paredes.

Meanwhile, the Archers raced off to an impressive 12-3 start, mostly from Vosotros' five points in the first quarter. But the Bulldogs' Emmanuel Mbe turned on the heat for six points in the final minute and a half to narrow the score gap to four at the end of the quarter.

The second quarter was painful to watch, with both teams shooting horribly and putting up turnover after turnover. Mbe did most of the dirty work, leading the Bulldogs with nine points and 11 rebounds, letting NU finish the first half just a solitary point down.

As some players were downed by various ailments, Pumaren called out his squad to adjust their game accordingly. Atkins responded by netting 10 points in the third period to lead a 12-4 Green Archer charge through the first four minutes, extending the team's lead to 11 points.

NU threatened to snatch the game in the final canto, pulling out all stops to break the Animo squad in the end-game. After an Atkins trey to extend the lead to 12, Coach Eric Gonzales' boys went on an 18-7 tear, thanks to Joseph Terso (six points) and Glenn Khobuntin (four points) combining for 10 points, in the last two minutes of the game, shrinking DLSU's lead to just one point, 53-52.

Paredes made a crucial undergoal shot, followed by an old-fashioned three-point play opportunity from Vosotros, pushing the slim DLSU advantage up to five points.

After players from both teams stepped into the lane on Vosotros' botched foul shot, the Falcons won the tip and quickly put up four unanswered points from Melvin Baloran and Terso to deflate the lead back to one.

Once again, Vosotros, who hails from San Sebastian College high school, was tested at the foul line, sinking both shots to exorcise the demons from their last two close losses and nab their first win in three meetings against NU, dating back to last year's second round, wherein their loss effectively eliminated them from the final four in Season 72.

Mbe and Terso each scored 15 points to lead the Blue and Gold charge. The Bulldogs have now lost three of their last four games, heading into their next contest against Ateneo on Thursday.

In an earlier seniors contest, Emman Monfort played a career game with 23 points, as the Ateneo Blue Eagles swept their Battle of Katipunan season series with UP in a 75-59 blowout. The win moves the Blue Eagles up to a tie for second place with Adamson with identical 6-2 cards.

Ateneo rout

At the San Juan Arena, Ateneo de Manila University completely demolished University of the East, 101-60, for their ninth straight victory in juniors play this season to maintain an unblemished record. U-18 national team standout and high school senior Kiefer Ravena filled in the stat sheets with 21 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. Teammate Von Pessumal followed with 18 points

De La Salle Zobel needed an extra five minutes to dispose of reeling University of Santo Tomas, 91-84. Alexander Torres and Gabriel Reyes both scored double-double efforts in their best game of the season. Torres registered 27 points and 13 rebounds, while Reyes put up 20 points and 10 boards in Zobel's second straight victory in the second round.

Far Eastern University-FERN beat Adamson, 81-72. Austin Fabian led the Baby Tams' rampage with 18 points. Mark Tanoy followed suit with 12 markers. Irvin Mendoza nearly single-handedly carried the Baby Falcons with 26 points and 21 boards in their second straight loss of the second round.

NU's 78-50 victory over University of the Philippines Integrated School rounded out the ninth playdate in the juniors division.

BOX SCORES (Men's)

First game

AdMU 75 - Monfort 23, Chua 16, Buenafe 12, Salamat 9, dela Cruz 6, Golla 4, Long 3, Salva 2, Escueta 0, Erram 0, Tiongson 0, de Chavez 0, Austria 0

UP 59 - Ma. Reyes 15, Co 13, Silungan 11, Sison 10, Padilla 6, Saret 2, Manuel 2, Mi. Reyes 0, Maniego 0, Hipolito 0, Juruena 0, Gomez 0

Quarters: 17-16, 37-29, 57-43, 75-59

Second game

DLSU 59
- Vosotros 16, Atkins 13, Paredes 6, Elorde 4, Villanueva 3, Tolentino
3, Banal 3, De La Paz 2, Webb 2, Mendoza 2, Marata 2, Andrada 2, Tampus 1

NU 56 - Mbe 15, Terso 15, Baloran 10 Magat 6, Khobuntin 4, Ponferrada 3, Hermosisima 3

Quarters: 16-12, 23-22, 43-34, 59-56

BOX SCORES (Juniors)

First game

National U 78 - Parungao 14, Estoce 11, Busa 11, Atangan 10, Meneses 6, Lara 5, Tansingco 4, Rivero 4, Napa 4, Banquiao 3, Busa 2, Lee 2, Caparas 2, Tangonan 0, Carta 0

UPIS 50 - Abenojar 14, Cinco 12, General 11, Nacpil 5, Rodriguez 4, Ancheta 3, Mercado 1, Lopez 0, Chua 0

Quarters: 15-11, 37-16, 64-27, 78-50

Second game

AdMU 101 - Ravena 21, Pessumal 18, Tenorio 17, Ressureccion 8, Romero 7, Sacluti 6, Javelosa 6, Puno 5, Gamboa 4, Suarez 3, Mercado 3, Lim 3, Vitangcol 0, Austria 0

UE 60 - Gutierrez 16, Bernabe 13, Santiago 12, Magpantay 5, Martin 3, De Leon 3, Pajarillaga 2, Lapada 2, Coligado 2, Viajar 1, Ablaza 1, Liwag 0, Duray 0, Rodriguez 0

Quarters: 21-12, 51-26, 79-38, 101-60

Third game

FEU-FERN 81 - Fabian 18, Tanoy 12, Paulino 10, Pearson 9, Estacio 7, Dimdam 7, Gelig 6, Custodio 6, Carino 4, Lumahan 2, Palacio 0

AdU 72 - Mendoza 26, Saludo 19, Polican 18, Quinlog 3, Hermoso 3, Manlangit 2, Villondo 1, Solomon 0, Margallo 0, Llauderes 0, Taguimacum 0, Umengan 0, Soriano 0, Malco 0, Domingo 0

Quarters: 27-12, 37-32, 64-53, 81-72

Fourth game

DLSZ 91 - A. Torres 27, Reyes 20, Capacio 14, Calugcug 9, Tempongko 8, Subido 5, N. Torres 4, Roxas 4, Sajulga 0, Monteiro 0, Concepcion 0

UST 84 - Cabauatan 16, Corre 20, Sarcia 16, Ferrer 10, Lazaro 5, Mison 3, Ilarde 2, Gooh 2, Salas 0

Quarters: 13-13, 35-28, 53-49, 73-73, 91-84 (OT)

**UAAP Season 73 Standings**
MEN'S	W - L	WOMEN'S	W - L	JUNIORS	W - L
FEU	7 - 1	AdU	7 - 0	AdMU	9 - 0
AdMU	6 - 2	FEU	6 - 1	NU	7 - 2
AdU	6 - 2	DLSU	5 - 2	FEU-FERN	5 - 4
DLSU	5 - 3	UST	4 - 3	DLSZ	5 - 4
UST	3 - 5	AdMU	3 -4	UST	5 - 4
NU	3 -5	NU	2 - 5	AdU	4 - 5
UE	2 -6	UP	1 - 6	UE	1 - 8
UP	0 - 8	UE	0 - 7	UPIS	0 - 9