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| La Salle big man Ben Mbala has raised his career high once again as the champs survive a late UE scare. |
QUEZON CITY -- The Big Dome has witnessed career games and legendary shootouts, but none bigger that that of La Salle and UE in the UAAP Men's basketball tilt Wednesday evening.
The Green Archers nearly put the game to bed early in the fourth quarter, leading by as much as 25 before the Red Warriors mounted a late comeback in the final seven minutes.
When the smoke cleared, the defending champs escape with a close 106-100 win that solidified their hold in second place with a 5-1 card.
Several records where made on the course of the game, including a 20-year record of single-game scoring.
Reigning UAAP Ben Mbala had raised his career high for the fourth consecutive game, notching 39 points while also completing his double-double with 15 boards.
Back-up big man Abu Tratter gave Aldin Ayo a lift off the bench with a double-double as well, notching a career high of 24 points to go along with 15 rebounds.
Despite losing for the sixth straight time this season, the Red Warriors will take pride on beating Jeff Napa and Paolo Mendoza's single game scoring records.
Forward Alvin Pasaol scored 49 on a 67% from the field, including five threes and 15/18 from inside, which broke both of UP's Mendoza in 1997 and NU's Napa on August 22, 2002.
But it was also five points shy of UST's Ed Cordero's record of 54 points set against Adamson way back in 1979.
UE and La Salle came out with guns blazing, with the latter taking a four-point lead at the end of the first, with the Green Archers taking a 54-42 lead at the break.
The lead ballooned to 17 at the end of third and even led 100-75 with four minutes to go when Pasaol went supernova, firing 16 of UE's 37 fourth quarter points to stage an improbable mutiny.
Pasaol fired a three and a coast to coast layup to break Napa's mark and ended with 49 with a split from the line
However, UE ran out of gas in the final minute as La Salle played keep-away to preserve the win.
The Scores
DLSU 106 -- Mbala 39, Tratter 24, Caracut 11, RA Rivero 8, RI Rivero 8, Montalbo 5, Santillan 4, Paraiso 3, Baltazar 2, Tero 2
UE 100 -- Pasaol 49, Manalang 14, Olayon 13, Bartolome 6, Varilla 5, Acuno 4, Derige 4, Maloles 2, Abanto 2, Cullar 1
Quarter scores: 28-24, 54-42, 80-63, 106-100
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