La Salle nabs 6th straight win, trumps UE
La Salle’s Ben Mbala. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
De La Salle continued its first round romp in the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament with an 84-78 tripping of University of the East Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Despite losing head coach Aldin Ayo late in the second quarter, the Green Archers cruised to its sixth straight win while the inverse can be said for the Red Warriors who fell to 0-6.
READ: Aldin Ayo ejected for trying to put glasses on referee
Alvin Pasaol willed UE to a 16-6 run in the fourth as the Red Warriors cut the lead to 78-74 but Emil Palma committed a crucial turnover with 1:15 remaining.
Andrei Caracut made the Red Warriors pay for Palma’s brain cramp by hitting a triple with 1:01 left and giving the Green Archers an 81-74 lead.
Third-year forward Prince Rivero said they had to bind together as a team to keep their composure together when Ayo got ejected.
READ: La Salle: No plans of slowing down
“We stuck to the system and followed the instructions of the coaches,” said Rivero who had 11 points and four rebounds.
Assistant coach Louie Gonzales, who took over Ayo after the ejection, said they reminded the players not to stray from the system and do what they’ve been doing for the past five games.
READ: Pumaren: I don’t think La Salle did anything special
Ben Mbala finished with 19 points and 17 rebounds for the Green Archers while rookie Justine Baltazar had 14 points and nine boards.
Pasaol led the Red Warriors with 22 points and six rebounds.
