UE’s Alvin Pasaol (right) didn’t have the same explosion he had against La Salle the first time both schools played.—AUGUST DELA CRUZ
In some corner of the UAAP, a storied school is dealing with all the noise from disgruntled students and alumni calling for the resignation of a head coach.
Far from all that controversy, La Salle made its presence felt in a more positive way.
The defending champion Archers formalized their entry to the Final Four after brushing off University of the East, 99-78, in Season 80 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
La Salle streaked to its fourth straight win to improve to 9-2 while the Red Warriors slipped to 3-8—still mathematically in contention for a semifinals spot.
University of Santo Tomas was never in the hunt for a Final Four spot at any point in the tournament—even preseason polls had the Tigers finishing last.
But the school that has long been a league heavyweight—the Tigers have collected 18 UAAP crowns, including a rare “four-peat”—seems dead set on getting there drenched in historic ignominy.
Adamson U dealt UST an 11th straight loss, 75-70, later in the day, pumping the volume up on calls from students and alumni for the resignation of head coach Boy Sablan.
The Falcons tightened their grip on the third seed with their seventh win in 11 matches while the Tigers somehow continue justifying an angry mob’s call for a coaching change.
La Salle has little to worry about any coaching change—at least for now—especially after mounting a 22-6 run that gave the Green Archers a 40-24 lead in the first half.
The lead then ballooned to 27 points with 2:25 left in the third on a Justine Baltazar triple that put La Salle up, 74-47.
And with the Archers’ remaining games looking more like mere formalities, Ricci Rivero said they should remain focused on the elimination round.
“We shouldn’t think ahead, and we should focus on just one game at a time,” said Rivero in Filipino after filling in for coach Aldin Ayo in the postgame press conference.
Ayo, who this season has dealt with rumors about his shaky hold of his post at La Salle, snubbed the media for the sixth time.
“Actually our team is a strong unit as long as we follow our system, and we should move as one,” added Rivero.
Reigning MVP Ben Mbala led all scorers with 25 points to go along 14 rebounds to lead La Salle while Santi
Santillan added 14 point and 11 rebounds.
Alvin Pasaol, who put up a career-high 49 points in the first round against La Salle, managed 23 points and nine boards this time to lead UE.