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| Mike Phillips powers his way for the dunk. Richard Esguerra |
MANILA--La Salle lived to fight another day in the UAAP men's basketball tournament after erasing National University's twice-to-beat advantage with an 87-77 win at the start of the semifinal round on Wednesday in front of 12,680 fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Green Archers seized control of the game for good in the third quarter, holding the Bulldogs to only eight points to open a 67-54 lead.
Despite NU showing some heart in the fourth, La Salle did enough to hold on.
Jacob Cortez led the Green Archers, who will play the Bulldogs again on Saturday, with 13 points, one rebound, four assists, and two steals.
Mike Phillips added 12 points, 17 rebounds, one assist, two blocks, and one steal, while Mason Amos and Kean Baclaan scored eight and six markers, respectively, in their first game back.
Jake Figueroa had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists to lead NU, but he too had eight turnovers as the team was pushed to the brink of blowing being the top seed and missing the finals for the second time ever.
The Scores:
DLSU (87) – Cortez 13, Phillips 12, Gollena 11, Marasigan 10, Pablo 9, Macalalag 9, Amos 8, Abadam 6, Baclaan 6, Dungo 3, Nwankwo 0.
NU (77) – Figueroa 20, John 12, Enriquez 8, Manansala 8, Jumamoy 7, Francisco 6, Palacielo 6, Garcia 4, Santiago 2, Padrones 2, Parks 2, Dela Cruz 0, Tulabut 0.
Quarterscores: 28-17, 48-46, 67-54, 87-77
