The De La Salle Green Archers rallied from a 10-point deficit in the first half and survived a close game in the fourth period to defeat the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 80-74, on Saturday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
By beating Adamson for a second time in Season 80, La Salle won its third straight game and improved its record to 8-2. More importantly, the victory created separation between the Green Archers and now 6-4 Falcons for second and third place in the league standings.
Santi Santillan, who scored all but two of his points in the second half, finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. It was his basket late that gave DLSU a four-point cushion and was essentially the game-sealing dagger.
Ricci Rivero scoops it up and in to tie the game at the half! #UAAPSeason80 pic.twitter.com/PfyFUClBCR
— ABS-CBN Sports (@abscbnsports) October 21, 2017
Ricci Rivero led the Archers in scoring again with 17 points while Ben Mbala had a double-double of 15 points and 17 boards before fouling out.
Out to prove they are title contenders, the Soaring Falcons raced off to a hot start and clawed their way back to the game in the final minutes of the contest after DLSU built a six-point lead.
Adamson took the lead on a pair of free throws after Kib Montalbo was charged with an unsportsmanlike foul on Tyrus Hill. But on the next possession, a three-pointer by Andrei Caracut – his only shot of the game – gave DLSU the lead back by two.
Leonard Santillan. Clutch. #UAAPSeason80 pic.twitter.com/I8Fcd7icxx
— ABS-CBN Sports (@abscbnsports) October 21, 2017
The Green Archers then got a stop and pushed their lead to four thanks to Santillan’s basket in the paint. That was enough to keep Adamson down.
La Salle shot 46.5% from the field and out-rebounded its opponents, 50-37. The Green Archers, though, once again had troubles with taking care of the ball after committing 23 turnovers.
DLSU will be back in action on Wednesday against UE.
Final Score: ADU 74-80 DLSU#UAAPSeason80 ?#Stats pic.twitter.com/7i1zF2l3cO
— Pong Ducanes (@ompongski) October 21, 2017