De La Salle Green Archers race to fourth win in row
THE defending champions De La Salle Green Archers continued to roll in their recoil in Season 80 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, racing to their fourth straight win with a victory over the University of the East ( UE) Red Warriors, 99-78, yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
While they were challenged early on in the contest, the Archers never looked back when they got their collective groove en route to the win, that saw them improve to 9-2.
UE was in the match to start the opener, down by just two points, 18-16, past the first half of first quarter.
Ben Mbala though would lead a pullaway late in the frame to seize a 28-18 lead in the end.
The Archers continued their juggernaut in the middle quarters, taking a 53-34 lead at the half and a 77-55 separation at the end of the third.
UE, however, would not go down without a fight, clawing their way back to within 14 points, 88-74, with less than five minutes left in the game.
That was the closest the Warriors would get as the Archers stepped on the gas anew and sped to the victory.
Mbala led La Salle with 25 points and 14 rebounds while Santi Santillan had 14 points.
Ricci Rivero and Justine Baltazar had 13 points apiece.
UE, meanwhile, was led by Alvin Pasaol with 23 points, a far cry, however, from the 49 he dropped in their first encounter with La Salle. He also grabbed nine boards.
With their ninth win in 11 games so far, the Archers assured themselves of advancing to the next round of the tournament.
The Warriors, for their part, dropped to 3-8 with the loss.