By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers banked on their strength inside the shaded lane to repel the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles, 74-61, during their rivalry game in the ongoing UAAP Season 87 Men’s Basketball Tournament on September 15, 2024, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
DLSU owned the rebounding battle, bagging a wide lead on the boards, 62-38, that paved the way for the second chance points of the Green Archers.
In the offensive rebounding department, the Green Archers collected 24, compared to the Blue Eagles’ 15 snatched offensive boards.
It was a tightly contested mano-a-mano affair in the opening frame as Ateneo seemed to match DLSU’s high-octane offensive pace and drained their three-pointers consistently.
However, the entire momentum of the game shifted in the third quarter when the Green Archers limited the Blue Eagles to its worst scoring performance of the UAAP Season 87 so far.
During the pivotal third frame, the Green Archers limited Ateneo to just four points, courtesy of their adjustments on the defensive end that halted the Blue Eagles’ flow in their motion offense.
That horrendous third-quarter outing for Ateneo swelled DLSU’s lead to 15 points, 59-44, and didn’t look back in the final 10 minutes of the game as they stomped the Blue Eagles with their baskets underneath.
Kevin Quiambao was still in the zone for the Green Archers, dropping an all-around performance of 13 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists.
Spark plug front court anchor Mike Phillips energized DLSU with a dominant double-double outing of 13 markers and 14 boards while veteran guard JC Macalalag added nine to his tally.
With the victory, the Green Archers extended its undefeated start in the UAAP Season 87 tournament, raking all three wins while the Blue Eagles are off to one of their worst starts in the collegiate scene and are yet to clinch a single win.
