After losing to UP last Sunday, the Green Archers’ campaign in the FilOil Preseason tournament got back on track with a pair of hard-fought wins over the course of the week.
Leading the way on both matches was sophomore guard Encho Serrano. He tallied for 15 points in last Tuesday’s 68-61 win over the Mapua Cardinals while adding 8 rebounds and 3 assists.
Yesterday, Serrano exploded for 18 second half points as the La Salle edged out a more seasoned Centro Escolar University squad 71-67.
The team knew they would have their hands full against the Scorpions. The Green Archers played catch-up all game and it was Serrano late-game heroics that gave them the momentum to close it out with the win in the end.
“Seasoned na yang team na yan (CEU) eh. They’ve been together for some time. We’ve been expecting this kind of a game. We knew it was gonna be close. It’s just a matter for us of sticking to the gameplan and following instructions,” said coach Gian Nazario.
Aside from Serrano, the team got steady contributions from veterans Justine Baltazar and team captain Andrei Caracut over that two-game stretch.
La Salle now has a record of 3-1 in the tournament and will next face Arellano University Thursday next week.
Box scores for both games
May 17
DLSU 71 — Serrano 18, Baltazar 14, Melecio 11, Caracut 9, Manuel 4, David 4, Capacio 4, Cu 2, Bates 2, Bartlett 2, Manaytay 1, Lim 0, Lojera 0, Escandor 0.
CEU 67 — Formento 22, Diouf 13, Chan 10, Fuentes 10, Lisbo 4, Uri 3, Rojas 3, Sunga 2, Caballero 0, Diaz 0, Bernabe 0.
Quarters: 11-13, 26-28, 47-48, 71-67.
May 14
DLSU 68 — Serrano 15, Caracut 11, Baltazar 9, Cu 6, Lojera 6, Lim 5, Bartlett 4, Melecio 4, Manaytay 4, Manuel 2, Escandor 2, David 0, Bates 0, Bonggay 0.
Quarters: 12-15, 31-30, 56-52, 68-61.