By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers handed the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers a harsh reality check after demolishing them, 88-67, in the ongoing UAAP Season 87 Men’s Basketball Tournament on September 29, 2024, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Heading to the matchup with the majority expecting the showdown to go down to the wire, the UAAP defending champions showed that they are on a different level as they out-maneuvered the revamped UST squad in all four quarters.
DLSU’s game plan was to avoid a slow start and bounce back from their past two opening quarter outings and just steamrolled UST with their efficient two-way outing.
It was DLSU’s offensive rebounding that set the tone in the game backstopped by their relentlessness to put the UST front court in early foul trouble with their aggressive drives.
After UST tweaked its rotation due to early foul trouble, the Green Archers seized the momentum and added more headache for the Growling Tigers when Mike Phillips dominated the shaded lane.
DLSU’s energetic center was everywhere on the floor, rewarding them with several second- chance points while also anchoring the paint that added more woes to UST’s difficulty in converting a bucket.
The Growling Tigers tried to catch DLSU off guard with a small ball lineup in hopes of giving the defending champs a different look defensively but Phillips’ versatility to cover the perimeter gaps made the difference, leaving UST with limited options in a game that had started to slip away in their hands.
DLSU then dealt them the final fatal blow after an 8-0 run in the fourth that sucked the life out of the Growling Tigers.
Phillips was spectacular during their win as the athletic center tallied a dominant double-double performance of 12 points, 18 rebounds, two assists, and a block.
Raven Gonzales also stood his ground against the UST frontcourt and backstopped Phillips with 10 markers, five boards, and two steals.
With the win, the Green Archers maintained their mastery over the Growling Tigers and extended their winning streak to 15 straight UAAP games.
DLSU will aim to pick up where they left off as they are set for a UAAP finals rematch against the UP Fighting Maroons on October 6, 2024.
