The De La Salle Green Archers had one of those “WTF happened” games and succumbed to Adamson University, 55-61, on August 13 to start the second round of UAAP men’s basketball action at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Archers never recovered after AdU uncorked a 15-0 run in the first quarter, which set the tone for the rest of the slow-paced contest. Alex Nuyles gave the Soaring Falcons the largest margin, 46-30, with a reverse layup, 2:54 in the third quarter.
The nails in the coffin were two straight three-pointers by Lester Alvarez against two taller defenders and Leo Canuday as he fell down in front of the Adamson bench for a 58-42 tally, 4:26 remaining in the game.
The Green Archers tried their best to start a comeback rally but the shots were rattling out for a season low 22% two-point field goal percentage. To the credit of the Falcons, they also played a punishing physical defense.
This is the second straight two-game losing streak by the young green and white this season for an even 4-4 win-loss record. This is also the first victory of the San Marcelino-based squad against DLSU since in nearly five years to improve its standing to 2-6.
Leading in the early part of the first period, De La Salle suddenly went blank to finish the first quarter trailing, 9-20. The Taft-based squad shot only 25% in the first half.
Jan Colina led all scorers with 14 points, going 6/6 from the freethrow stripe, and five rebounds. Nuyles also had ten.
James Mangahas was the lone double figure scorer for the Archers with 12 along with seven boards. Peejay Barua went 3/4 from beyond the arc for nine markers.
Joel Tolentino had seven points, while Bader Malabes finished with seven on 1/10 field goal shooting. Malabes also collared four caroms.
Boxscores:
Adamson 61 – Colina 14, Nuyles 10, Canuday 9, Alvarez 8, Camson 6, Margallo 5, Lozada 5, Galinato 2, Cañada 2, Penalosa 0, Cabrera 0, Basilio 0.
De La Salle 55 – Mangahas 12, Barua 9, Tolentino 7, Malabes 7, Atkins 5, Co 4, Webb 3, Marata 3, Mendoza 2, Bringas 2, Andrada 1, Villanueva 0, Ferdinand 0, Bagatsing 0.
Quarters: 20-9, 30-23, 48-34, 61-55.