De La Salle got a share of the third seed after dismantling University of the East, 79-59, in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Green Archers tallied their second straight win and tied Far Eastern University at no. 3 with 5-3 records.
Last year’s runner-up also swept its season series against the Red Warriors after its 82-72 win in the first round.
UE mounted a 10-2 run at the start of the third quarter to cut the deficit to three, 49-46, on Alvin Pasaol’s basket but it was all the fight the Red Warriors could muster.
La Salle answered with a 17-3 blast with Encho Serrano tipping in his own miss for the 66-49 lead heading into the fourth.
“Going into this game I told them that every win counts especially with how the standings look like right now every win counts,” said La Sallle head coach Louie Gonzalez in Filipino. “We need to respect UE because whoever we’ll face we know we have to put in the work.”
“This was a big win for us.”
Encho Serrano led La Salle’s offense with 18 points and six rebounds while Season 78 rookie of the year Andrei Caracut had his breakout game of the season with 16 points with six boards.
Santi Santillan and Justine Baltazar patrolled La Salle’s paint and came away with a combined 25 points and 14 rebounds.
Pasaol carried UE’s offense with 22 points on 10-of27 shooting while grabbing 17 boards.