By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers played an inspired second half to complete the comeback win against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 82-80, in the ongoing UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament on November 20, 2022.
After playing catch-up for most of the game, the Green Archers flipped the switch in the third quarter and built a much-needed momentum that helped them keep up with UP’s playing pace.
The Fighting Maroons quickly grabbed the lead in the first quarter after the hardworking Zavier Lucero manhandled the DLSU frontcourt with his relentlessness in going for the offensive boards.
Aside from Lucero’s activity underneath, Carl Tamayo’s consistent scoring kept UP’s lead and was hitting shots from all over the place.
Tamayo electrified the UP crowd in the dying seconds of the second quarter after following up a Lucero missed trey but Evan Nelle came right back with a looping three-pointer that trimmed the Fighting Maroons’ lead to just six points, 41-35.
Just when the Fighting Maroons thought they could repeat its mastery against the Green Archers like their first encounter, the Derrick Pumaren-led squad made some huge adjustments that paid off big time in the second half.
The Green Archers opted to play former UAAP Rookie of the Year Mark Nonoy heavy minutes in the third period and carried the load offensively after dropping 13 of his 15 markers in just 10 minutes.
Nonoy’s three-pointers helped DLSU get back into the ball game and also paved the way for their stinging defense that became efficient in the last three minutes of the third.
The Fighting Maroons weren’t willing to surrender their lead in the final frame and got a huge lift from James Spencer and Harold Alarcon but the Green Archers always had answers and helped the momentum swing in their direction.
Newly-acquired power forward and candidate for Rookie of the Year Kevin Quiambao played one of his best games of the season and served as DLSU’s closer.
Quiambao scored 13 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter alone and was also the one who iced the game with two cold-blooded shots from the charity stripe with 11 seconds remaining in the game.
DLSU’s win broke the Fighting Maroons’ seven-game winning streak and also solidified their bid for a Final Four contention.
