La Salle extends UP's woes

Manila, Philippines – De La Salle Green Archers moved closer to a return trip to the Final Four when they extended the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons’ losing woes, 84-63, on Thursday in the UAAP Season 73 men’s basketball at the Araneta Coliseum.

One of UP’s homegrown talents in the La Salle roster tormented the Maroons in this game with his hustle and gutsy plays.

Maui Villanueva, who was a member of the last UP Integrated School team that won a UAAP Juniors crown in 2002, scattered 14 points and collected 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals to lead the Archers to their sixth win against three setbacks, solidifying their hold of the fourth spot.

The lanky Villanueva, who was only averaging 7.1 points per game going into this match, poured in 10 of his total points in the second half to engineer the Archers’ breakaway.

“In the second half, I told the boys to share the ball, think of the team and be more aggressive,” La Salle coach Dindo Pumaren said.

Villanueva and his teammates did just that as they dished out 12 assists and played more cohesively as a team on defense.

The Archers limited the Maroons to below 20 points in each quarter and held them down to just 14-of-41 shooting in the second half in posting the lopsided victory.

It was a triple whammy for the Maroons, who dropped to their ninth straight loss.

As if missing Alvin Padilla was not enough, UP also lost Woody Co to sprained ankle and Mark Lopez to a suspected Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury in separate collision incidents in the second half.

Padilla served his one-game suspension on incurring 2 unsportsmanlike fouls.

The Archers did not miss the presence of sophomore and also former UPIS star Sam Joseph Marata, who opted to rest too recover from flu, as almost everybody in the team stepped up.

Pumaren assured though that Marata will see action on Sunday against their arch rival Ateneo Blue Eagles.

Rookies Jarelan Tampus and Alond Vosotros chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively, while sophomore Gab Banal also added 11 markers for the Archers.

The Scores:

DLSU 84 – Villanueva 14, Tampus 11, Banal 11, Vosotros 10, Atkins 7, Mendoza 6, Dela Paz 5, Tolentinoo 5, Ferdinand 5, Elorde 3, Paredes 2, Webb 2, Andrada 2, Herrera 1, Reyes 0.

UP 63 – Silungan 12, Sison 12, Co 10, Martin Reyes 9, Maniego 6, Hipolito 4, Manuel 3, Mikee Reyes 3, Evangelista 2, Lopez 2, Saret 0, Pascual 0, Juruena 0, Gomez 0, Gingerich 0.



Quarters: 19-16, 37-29, 60-47, 84-63