Coach Topex Robinson and the La Salle GReen Archers during a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball game against FEU Tamaraws. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
La Salle averted a second consecutive loss by escaping Far Eastern University, 68-62, in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The duo of Mike Phillips and Kevin Quiambao, who both came up with double-double digits, made it happen for the Green Archers who improved to a 4-1 record.
Phillips finished with 13 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks while Quiambao, the reigning MVP, had 12 points and 11 rebounds aside from eight assists and three steals.
La Salle was coming off a stunning defeat to University of the East (UE), 75-71, on Sunday.
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball
“Even though that was a rough loss to UE, it really give us the opportunity to test our character and test that culture that we’ve been building for last couple months and last couple years that coach Topex [Robinson] has been here so we knew that this game wasn’t gonna be easy as well,” Phillips said.
“Coach Topex kinda set the tone in the locker room before the game, he said it’s gonna be a grind out win and so we’re happy, it just feels good to win. We still have a lot to work on but we really needed this just to keep everybody going and get ready for our next quick turnaround on Sunday,” he added.
La Salle Green Archers’ Mike Phillips during a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
La Salle already led by as much as 12 before halftime with a 42.9 shooting from the field with Quiambao, Abadam, Gollena and Ramiro taking turns nailing shots from beyond the arc.
But Tamaraws came out of intermission with renewed conference and slowly chipped away at the lead. A crucial three from Janrey Pasaol brought them within 51-50 at the end of the third frame where FEU outscored La Salle, 22-13.
READ: UAAP: Topex helps Kevin Quiambao calm down in frustrating loss
“FEU will really come out giving everything. It’s gonna be one of the highlights of their season playing against us and we just stuck it out and we’re also tired just like they were but I think we just focused on a few things that are vital which is making sure that we’re not gonna give them any easy lane,” Robinson said.
“Offensively also we kinda settled down and really looked for our advantage which these guys really responded on that,” he added.
Robinson and his wards got their act together in the payoff period, with Earl Abadam ending the nip-and-tuck start stretch for the 59-56 lead that the Green Archers were able to widen comfortably.
The Tamaraws remain in search for the first win this season despite a 13 point outing from Pasaol who also had three rebounds, assists and steals and Konateh’s monster double-double of 12 points and 25 rebounds as well as four blocks.
Rookie Pre finished with 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.
The Archers hope to string up another winning streak against University of Santo Tomas on Sunday in the same Quezon City venue while the Tamaraws hope to finally stop the skid opposite Ateneo.