Undermanned Archers remain lethal with escape act vs Maroons

MANILA, Philippines — They may be down two key players, but La Salle showed it is as dangerous as ever. 

The Green Archers escaped the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 72-69, in their UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball clash Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. 

La Salle, which lost both Mason Amos and Kean Baclaan to MCL tears in a span of days, is now going to the second round with a 4-3 win-loss record and a two-game winning streak after defeating UP in last season’s finals rematch.

The Fighting Maroons’ four-game victory streak was also snapped as they also dropped to 4-3. 

Luis Pablo powered the Archers 14 points and six rebounds, while Jacob Cortez, Mike Phillips and EJ Gollena had 12 markers apiece. 

The game was too close to call even in the dying minutes, as neither team could get a double-digit advantage. 

UP held a six-point advantage, 63-57, early on in the fourth quarter after a triple by Terrence Fortea. 

La Salle strung together seven straight points to go up by one, 64-63, with 5:34 left.

The two teams then exchanged haymakers down the stretch, with Fortea and Earl Abadam trading buckets. 

With the game tied at 69-all, Abadam missed on a shot, before Vhoris Marasigan pushed the Archers ahead for good, 71-69, with a putback with 47.5 seconds to go.

After a miss on a hookshot by Gani Stevens, La Salle was able to get possession. But Reyland Torres stole the ball from Abadam to give UP another crack at tying or getting the lead. 

However, another miss by Francis Nnoruka could not get the Fighting Maroons closer. Phillips was then fouled, and he missed the first before making the second, allowing the Diliman-based squad another shot to knot things up. 

UP swung the ball and found Chicco Briones, who did not play the entire game until that point. His shot, though, hit the board before rattling off the rim, and Cortez caromed the board as the clock melted. 

Abadam had nine points, five of which came in the crucial minutes of the game. 

Harold Alarcon sparked UP with a near triple-double of 13 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Gerry Abadiano, Nnoruka and Fortea chipped in 12 points apiece. 

The second round of the season will start later this week.