MANILA – De La Salle University Green Archers needed a huge fourth quarter to shrug off also-ran Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 80-70, in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball on Wednesday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Pushed to the limit by the Tamaraws until early in the fourth quarter, the Green Archers broke the 64-all deadlock via a three-point conversion from Evan Nelle to start their pull away.
Raven Cortez, CJ Austria, Francis Escandor, and Kevin Quiambao then contributed 13 more points while holding the Tamaraws to just two points to build a commanding 80-66 lead with just 3:19 to go.
Cortez top-scored with 16 points, with 12 coming in the second half, while Negrense Mark Nonoy had another solid game as he ended up with 15 markers as the Green Archers improved to a 10-3 win-loss slate.
Kevin Quiambao added 13 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, a steal, and a block, while Nelle supplied 12 assists to go with seven points and four steals as the Green Archers stretched their winning streak to seven games.
“FEU has zero chance of making it to the next round but we expect that they’re gonna come out with 100 percent effort. They kept us on our toes, kept us grounded and I’m just happy how our players responded,” said DLSU head coach Topex Robinson.
Jorick Bautista delivered 17 points on four three-pointers Patrick Sleat chipped in 11 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while L-Jay Gonzales and Cedrickh Ona produced 10 points apiece as the Tamaraws dropped to 3-19.
Meanwhile, Adamson University Falcons kept their Final Four hopes alive after hacking out a 68-62 stunner against National University Bulldogs. The Falcons improved to 6-7, while the Bulldogs dropped to 10-3.
Didat Hanapi top-scored for the Falcons with 13 points, Matthew Montebon added 12 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Cedrick Manzano also contributed 12 points, three rebounds, and two blocks.
The Falcons, however, will need to defeat the also-ran University of the East Red Warriors in their final elimination game on Sunday to have a chance in the last semifinals seat./PN
BOX SCORE:
DLSU 80 – Cortez 16, Nonoy 15, Quiambao 13, Nelle 7, Escandor 7, Austria 5, Abadam 4, Nwankwo 4, Policarpio 3, Gollena 3, Manuel 3, B. Phillips 0, Macalalag 0.
FEU 70 – Bautista 17, Sleat 11, Gonzales 10, Ona 10, Competente 7, Bagunu 6, Tempra 4, Torres 2, Montemayor 2, Buenaventura 1, Faty 0.
Quarterscores: 21-18, 41-40, 62-61, 80-70.
