Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
SOME fans came clad in black, but on the floor, green was the dominant color.
“It was like a test for us of to show what we can do even if coach and our leader are not there,” said La Salle’s game hero Ben Mbala after the Green Archers completed a seven-game sweep of the UAAP first round yesterday.
“I’m proud of the way the guys played—we always stick together and listen to coach to get the job done.”
The Archers showed they’re just as strong and rolled past rival Ateneo, 97-81, despite heading into the match reeling from a double blow—losing head coach Aldin Ayo to suspension and team star Jeron Teng to injury—in men’s basketball at Mall of Asia Arena.
“Right from the start, I told them to make life really hard [for our opponent] every possession,” La Salle assistant coach Louie Gonzales said after the blockbuster showdown that also turned out to be a venue for both universities to express their solidarity with the victims of extrajudicial killings in the country.
Officials from both schools encouraged their students and alumni to wear black instead of their traditional school colors.
Although not everyone heeded the call, a crowd of 16,212 still packed the arena and witnessed how the ruthless Archers pummelled the Eagles by as many as 26 points, 62-36, in the second half.
In a performance replete of highlights, Mbala pumped in 28 points on an 11-of-13 shooting clip aside from collecting 13 rebounds, five steals and a block.
“We knew by the third quarter it’s payoff time,” said Gonzales. “During halftime, I told them to double the effort and get into the heads of our opponent. That’s mayhem basketball.”
Andrei Caracut chipped in 14 points for the Archers, whose onslaught started in the second period where they staged a 13-0 run to turn a 20-26 deficit into a 33-26 advantage.
“It was pretty intense,” said Mbala. “(The Eagles) came out strong, they were shooting well. But we stuck to the game plan.”
It was sibling rivalry in the other match with University of the East coach Derrick Pumaren’s Warriors getting the better of his brother Franz’s Adamson Falcons, 64-57.
“I feel bad about Franz, but we had to get our first win against him,” said Derrick after the Warriors closed out their first-round campaign. “It’s nothing personal. We need to win, we’re down there. We’re in a deep hole.”
The scores:
First Game
UE 64—Pasaol 13, De Leon 12, Batiller 9, Manalang 7, Bartolome 5, Olayon 5, Varilla 5, Charcos 2, Derige 2, Palma 2, Penuela 2, Abanto 0.
ADAMSON 57—Sarr 13, Ahanmisi 10, Manganti 8, Espeleta 6, Manalang 5,Ochea 5, Tungcab 5, Bernardo 3, Camacho 2, Mustre 0, Ng 0, Pasturan 0.
Quarters: 7-14, 21-30, 40-45, 64-57
Second Game
LA SALLE 97—Mbala 28, Caracut 14, Tratter 10, R. Rivero 8, Montalbo 8, Torres 8, Perkins 5, Melecio 5, Dyke 4, Paraiso 2, Go 2, Baltazar 2, P. Rivero 1, Sargent 0.
ATENEO 81—Wong 15, Ma. Nieto 13, Asistio 11, Ravena 11, Mendoza 9, Ikeh 7, Porter 6, Go 5, Babilonia 2, Mi. Nieto 2, Tolentino 0, Verano 0.
Quarters: 20-20, 53-36, 80-58, 97-81