Green Archers dump Maroons
The La Salle Green Archers reminded rival teams why they should fear the “House of Chaos” of coach Aldin Ayo. With their relentless pressure defense in full effect right especially in the second half, the Green Archers frustrated the University of the Philippines Maroons, 89-71, last night to gain the early lead in the UAAP basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
La Salle showed no mercy in the third quarter with a big run anchored on a second unit that made Ayo’s selfproclaimed “Mayhem” defense work to near perfection, turning a 61-48 lead into 76-48 advantage that left UP play in desperate mode.
If Wednesday’s 83-78 victory over defending champion Far Eastern University showed some kinks in La Salle’s armor, last night’s performance may have proven otherwise especially after converting UP’s 34 turnovers into 34 points.
“It just showed that our team doesn’t depend on one, two or three players. We don’t rely on our offense. Nung pinasok ko yung mga second stringers ko, they didn’t do anything special, they just played good defense,” said Ayo, whose second game as La Salle tactician ended on a more convincing note.
Cameroonian Ben Mbala was again dominant in his second game in the UAAP, finishing with 30 points highlighted by back-to-back dunks in the fourth quarter that gave La Salle fans more reason to believe that a dominant season is on the horizon.
Mbala also grabbed 14 rebounds, but his performance was almost overshadowed by the performance of the supporting cast that included Abu Tratter (12 points and seven rebounds), Jollo Go (11 points in 15 minutes), Thomas Torres (eight points and five assists) and guard Julian Sargent, who provided intangibles on defense.
Jeron Teng, who had 28 points against FEU, was held to just 12, but was perhaps content of seeing almost everyone contributing on the victory.
Paul Desiderio scored 21 points for the Maroons, who once again lost by double digits in the second game of new coach Bo Perasol.
Earlier, Renzo Subido had the game of his life and University of Santo Tomas barged into the win column over a frustrated University of the East side, 88-87.
Subido, the former La Salle Zobel standout who is now in his third season at Espana, fired 26 points to help power the Growling Tigers to their first victory after falling to the Ateneo Blue Eagles exactly a week ago.
UST overcame 31 turnovers and a 22-9 first quarter deficit to give first year mentor Boy Sablan his first coaching triumph.
UE joined UP at the bottom at 0-2, despite trying to erase a 78-66 deficit in the fourth quarter. Nick Abanto and Bonbon Batiller scored 15 apiece for the Red Warriors. Subido 26, Sheriff 15, Lee 14, Vigil 10, Macasaet 8, Basibas 4, Faundo 4, Lao 3, Bonleon 2, De Guzman 2, Afoakwah 0, Huang 0. Abanto 15, Batiller 15, Olayon 14, Palma 10, Pasaol 8, Bartolome 6, De Leon 4, Charcos 4, Manalang 4, Varilla 3, Armenion 2, Gagate 2, Derige 2, Larupay 0, Penuela 0. Quarters: 16-24; 39-47; 69-64; 88-87.
Mbala 30, Tratter 12, Teng 12, Go 11, Montalbo 9, Torres 8, Caracut 3, Sargent 2, Rivero R. 2, Baltazar 0, Melecio 0, Rivero P. 0, Dyke 0, Paraiso 0.
Desiderio 21, Manuel 13, Harris 8, Dario 8, Vito 5, Webb 4, Lim 4, Romero 2, Gomez de Liano 2, Jaboneta 2, Lao 0, Asilum 0, Prado 0, Longa 0, Moralde 0.
Quarters: 31-19; 43-34; 76-52; 89-71.