La Salle forges finals rematch vs UP

Repeat-seeking De La Salle University blew out an overmatched Adamson University, 70-55, to advance into the finals of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 men’s basketball tournament Saturday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Green Archers broke the game wide-open with a dominating, 18-6, second quarter scoring on their way to forging a best-of-three championship series rematch against University of the Philippines.

Second seed Fighting Maroons crushed University of Santo Tomas, 78-69, in the other semis pairing.

Game 1 of the finals is on 8 December at the same venue.

Kevin Quiambao, who is set to receive a back-to-back Most Valuable Player award, fired 14 points and filled the stats with three rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocks to lead La Salle in a bounce back win after closing the elimination round with a setback against also-ran National University.

“Again, it’s nice to be back in the finals and I guess we also have to acknowledge Adamson losing (AJ) Fransman and (Jhon) Calisay who are vital parts of the team. They still gave a good fight and that just shows how good that team is,” Green Archers coach Topex Robinson said.

“These guys did what they’re supposed to do so it’s nice to be back in the finals.”

Joshua David added 11 points while Mike Phillips had eight points, eight rebounds, five steals, four assists and two blocks for the Green Archers.

The Green Archers, who had an average of 27.5 points winning margin over the Falcons in the elims, built their biggest separation at 58-31 off a Raven Gonzales basket with 38 seconds left in the third quarter.

La Salle pulled out most of its starters early in the fourth with the game already out of reach.

Adamson, which barged into the Final Four through a playoff win over University of the East, made a final push and ignited a run to trim its deficit down to 63-50 on a Cedrick Manzano three-point play with four minutes left.

But it came a little too late as the Green Archers sent their main guns back to put the game away.

Royce Mantua had 14 points while Manzano added 13 markers for the Falcons, who committed 21 turnovers that the Green Archers converted into 23 turnover points.

The scores:

LA SALLE (70) – Quiambao 14, David 11, Phillips 8, Ramiro 7, Rubico 6, Dungo 5, Marasigan 5, Aguanne 4, Gonzales 4, Konov 4, Austria 2, Macalalag 0, Gollena 0, Alian 0.

ADAMSON (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.

Quarters: 18-11, 36-17, 59-34, 70-55