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DE LA
SALLE beat National University (NU) Saturday via a huge
margin but the Green Archers are expected to play
cautiously against upset-conscious Adamson today in
Season 71 men’s basketball action of the University
Athletic Association of the Philippines at the
PhilSports Arena.
The
Green Archers, owners of a 3-1 win-loss slate, take on
the Falcons at 2 p.m. hoping to take solo second place
over idle Far Eastern University (FEU). They trounced
the Bulldogs, 93-69, on Saturday.
But they
are aware the Soaring Falcons could not be taken
lightly. Adamson shocked last season’s runner-up
University of the East, 66-64, on Sunday for their
second consecutive game. They beat NU, 73-65, earlier.
In the
second game at 4 p.m., the Red Warriors aim to get back
to winning form against the University of the
Philippines (UP).
Meanwhile, UP will not protest its 83-66 loss to Ateneo
after players from the Blue Eagles were found to have
worn the wrong set of uniform Saturday.
Kirk
Long and Vince Burke wore uniforms that did not bear the
logo of league sponsor Smart. But UP coach Aboy Castro
decided not to file any protest.
De La
Salle-Zobel and Ateneo, meanwhile, trounced separate
rivals to stay atop the standings in juniors basketball.
The
Junior Archers beat Adamson, 74-50, while the Blue
Eaglets knocked UP Integrated School, 76-29, to improve
to a 4-0 win-loss card.
Far
Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Educational Foundation
stunned previously unbeaten University of Santo Tomas,
64-59, for its second win in four outings. The Tiger
Cubs dropped to 3-1.
NU
bagged its first victory after four games by defeating
UE, 53-50.
Adamson
coach Leo Austria said hopes that triumph over UE will
be the start of something good for his crew.
“Maybe
this is the start of believing in ourselves. Hopefully,
this will be the start of us being competitive,” said
Austria.
The
Falcons will be facing a De La Salle system similar to
that of UE—a full-court defensive team.
“The
difference is they are a champion team. They know how to
play their game. I hope iyong mga players ko,
maglaro ng ganito katulad sa UE. ‘Pag dating sa
ganitong kalaban ang La Salle, sana mawala ‘yung
stigma sa mga players na ‘This is La Salle,’”
said Austria.
Adamson’s Paul Gonzalgo scored 12 points including the
marginal triple with 1.6 seconds to go to lift Adamson
to that victory over the Red Warriors. Sophomore forward
Jan Colina was also superb with a game-high 15 points.
De La
Salle’s Peejay Barua was six-of-eight from the
three-point zone for a 26-point performance. Rico
Maierhofer had 16 points and 13 rebounds in that blowout
victory over the Bulldogs.
Standings (seniors): Ateneo 4-0, De La Salle 3-1, FEU
3-1, UE 2-2, Adamson 2-2, UST 1-3, UP 1-3, NU 0-4. |
