La Salle holds off UE, books UAAP Final 4 ticket

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

De La Salle is headed to the Final Four after brushing off University of the East, 99-78, in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The defending champions Green Archers streaked to their fourth straight win to improve to 9- while the Red Warriors slipped to 3-8, but remained mathematically in contention for a semifinals spot.

La Salle started to command respect as early as midway through the second quarter when it mounted a 22-6 run with Justine Baltazar capping it off with an off-balanced jumper that gave the Green Archers a 40-24 lead.

That then ballooned to 27 points with 2:25 left in the third when Baltazar hit a triple that punctuated the Green Archers’ 11-3 run that put La Salle up 74-47.

And even though La Salle’s remaining games became mere formalities, Ricci Rivero said they shouldn’t think ahead and that they should remain focused on the eliminations.

“We shouldn’t think ahead, and we should focus on just one game at a time,” said Rivero in Filipino who filled in for the post-game press conference as La Salle head coach Aldin Ayo snubbed it for the sixth time.

“Actually our team is a strong unit as long as we follow our system, and we should move as one.”

Reigning MVP Ben Mbala led all scorers with 25 points to go along 14 rebounds to lead La Salle while Santi Santillan added a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double.

Rivero and Justine Baltazar came off the bench and had 26 points apiece to help La Salle’s cause.

Alvin Pasaol, who put up a career-high 49 points in the first round against La Salle, managed 23 points and nine boards to lead UE while Mark Olayon had 18 points and seven assists.