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| Mike Phillips soars for the jam. UAAP Season 87 Media Team |
QUEZON CITY––Defending champions DLSU Green Archers dominated the fourth-seeded Adamson Soaring Falcons, 70-55, in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 87 Men's Basketball Tournament, Saturday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
La Salle's title-retention campaign remains on track as they set up a Finals rematch against the University of the Philippines, who won their semifinal matchup against the University of Santo Tomas earlier.
“It’s the finals, it’s about how we are gonna be prepared. We know UP is always gonna be all out and trying to be the best that they could be, and it just gonna makes us better and it’s gonna challenge us,” said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson.
It was a wire-to-wire contest for the Archers as they started strong, capitalizing on the Falcons’ turnovers and converting them into baskets.
The league-leading team entered halftime with a commanding 19-point lead, 36-17.
Reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao anchored his team, extending the lead to as much as 27 points before heading into the final canto.
Despite the absence of John Calisay and AJ Fransman, who were both under the weather, Royce Mantua and Cedrick Manzano stepped up for Adamson, leading a fourth-quarter run.
However, the deficit was too large to overcome.
Quiambao, the league's top player, led the Archers with 14 points, three rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and two assists.
Joshua David and Mike Philips contributed 11 and eight points, respectively, while Liam Ramiro added seven.
For Adamson, who secured the final semifinal spot after eliminating the University of the East, Mantua and Manzano led the scoring with 14 and 13 points apiece.
The Scores:
DLSU 70 – Quiambao 14, David 11, Phillips 8, Ramiro 7, Marasigan 6, Dungo 5, Gonzales 5, Agunanne 4, Dungo 4, Konov 4, Austria 2, Macalalag 0, Gollena 0, Alian 0.
AdU 55 – Mantua 14, Manzano 13, Anabo 6, Yerro 6, Erolon 5, Ramos 3, Dignadice 3, Ojarikre 2, Barasi 2, Montebon 1, Alexander 0, Barcelona 0, Ignacio 0, Ronzone 0.
Quarterscores: 18-11, 36-17, 59-34, 70-55.
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