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DE LA
Salle University shrugged off a slow first half to
defeat University of the Philippines, 81-61, Sunday in
the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP)
Season 71 men’s basketball tournament at the PhilSports
Arena.
The
Green Archers found their form in the second half with a
15-8 start after the Fighting Maroons came to within
four points, 34-30, at the half.
“We were
flat in the first few minutes. After that hard game
against UE [University of the East], the players were
kind of tired. It is a good thing that our veterans
covered the game,” said La Salle head coach Franz
Pumaren.
Rico
Maierhofer came off the bench to score 19 points—nine in
the third—while JV Casio finished with 17 points as the
Green Archers improved to a 7-2 win-loss card.
The
Green Archers got off the gates at the start to finish
the first quarter, 19-9, but the Fighting Maroons fought
back to make the game interesting in the second half.
The
Green Archers then pulled away, with James Mangahas
firing 16 points, including three triples in the second
half to douse cold water on UP.
“Let us
not take away any credit to UP. In spite of them being
down, they were still playing hard. They probably don’t
look at the score. They just gave their best,” said
Pumaren.
Maierhofer also grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked three
shots coming off the bench, a role that emerged since
center Marko Batricevic sat out the rest of the season
after injuring his left anterior cruciate ligament.
“I’m
using Rico off the bench because it is good for the
young guys having the veteran [to back them up]. He can
guide the second group,” said Pumaren.
Martin
Reyes had 21 points and shot five-of-13 from three-point
distance, the lone Maroon in double figures, but UP
still slid to the bottom of the standings with a 2-7
mark.
In the
second game, UE used a torrid third quarter run to beat
National University (NU), 67-50, to improve to 5-4.
Elmer
Espiritu had 13 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two
steals and four blocks, while Hans Thiele finished with
11 points, 17 rebounds, and three blocks as the Red
Warriors clustered a 16-0 run in third to break away
from a 26-all tie.
NU had a
scary moment. Jessey Garcia was taken to the Medical
City hospital to treat head and neck injuries after UE’s
Marcy Arellano fell awkwardly and accidentally sat on
Garcia’s head after a lay-up in the third quarter.
Raymond
Aguilar finished with 17 points for the Bulldogs, who
joined UP at the bottom of the standings with a 2-7
mark. |
