The Green Archers’ quest for a back-to-back championship ended after the Ateneo Blue Eagles outpayed the De La Salle Green Archers, 62-51 in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 71 Men’s Basketball Finals at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Green Archers almost caught up with the Blue Eagles in the third quarter after being buried in the half by a 15 point lead. But just when the Archers were closing in, a muzzle was placed on the team’s main offensive weapons: JV Casio and Rico Maierhofer.
Maierhofer was thrown out of the ballgame after getting two controversial technical fouls. Midway in the third quarter, Maierhofer was called for a technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct for allegedly making the dirty finger. It was his 2nd for the game, the first being called early in the first quarter for taunting. The Puerta Galera native finished with 7 points, 3 rebounds and 1 block.
The scoring cudgel was thus left on the shoulders of JV Casio. Casio was instrumental in slashing the Ateneo lead to 3, 50-47 at the end of the third quarter, but had to sit out the remaining minute of the 3rd after incurring his 4th personal foul.
Unfortunately, just when his points are needed, JV was called for an offensive foul and left the playing court prematurely. The DLSU Team captain scored a team-high of 18 points, collared 5 rebounds and dished out 2 assists in his final game in the UAAP.
True enough, the absence of Casio and Maierhofer, combined with the defense of the Blue Eagles, spelled disaster for the defending champions. After exploding with 21 points in the third as against their rivals’ 9 points, the Green Archers were limited to a mere 4 point-production in the final quarter.
Although the Archers shot better from the 3-point territory with a 31.25 clip, their overall field goal shooting percentage of 27.94 is way below the Eagles’ 46.67% mark. The Archers were also called for more fouls 29-13.
It is the Blue Eagles’ 4th UAAP basketball championship in 32 years of existence in the UAAP. Their last title was won in 2002.
The Archers, who settled for the runner up honors, their 8th overall, was gunning for their 8th basketball title since joining the league in 1986.
THE SCORES:
ADMU 62 – Tiu 16, Baclao 8, Nkemakolam 8, Al-Hussaini 7, Baldos 6, Buenafe 5, Reyes 5, Salamat 3, Escueta 2, Austria 2
DLSU 51 – Casio 18, Walsham 8, Maierhofer 7, Revilla 5, Mangahas 3, Bagatsing 3, Atkins 3, Ferdinand 2, Malabes 2, Barua 0, Villanueva 0
Quarter Scoring: 16-10; 41-26; 50-47; 62-51