Archers overwhelm Bulldogs, notch twice-to-beat advantage
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers reigned supreme against the National University (NU) Bulldogs, 101-76, in the second round of the UAAP Season 80 men's basketball tournament on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Ben Mbala channeled most of the Archers’ offensive firepower with a 23-9 burst, creating a huge 16-point advantage during the second quarter.
Archers watch as NU’s big man Issa Gaye attempts to score. Photo by Gillian Geronimo of The Spiral Journal.
The Archers preserved their double-digit lead until the end of the game, while the Bulldogs remained unresponsive to the Archers’ scoring runs.
DLSU's top scorer Mbala lifted the team with a phenomenal 30 points and eight rebounds, with Ricci Rivero adding 16 markers to preserve their winning streak to six. Both Jjay Alejandro and Enzo Joson led the Bulldogs with 20 points apiece. The loss pushed the Bulldogs at the brink of elimination, creating the need for them to win their two remaining games to clinch a final four berth.
The next opponent of the Archers will be the undefeated Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles on Nov. 12 at 4 p.m., while the Bulldogs will face the Far Eastern University Tamaraws on Nov. 8, at 2 p.m. Both matches will be at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Ateneo-La Salle, standings [don't] matter. Rivalry 'yan eh. When it comes to the court, I don’t care sino kalaban ko, kahit Ateneo yan, I’ll go hard," DLSU's Kib Montalbo told reporters. "Once we see their flaws, we’re gonna expose them and, hopefully, we’ll win the game," with reports from Gillian Patricia Geronimo. Box scores: DLSU 101 – Mbala 30, Rivero R 16, Santillan 9, Montalbo 8, Go 8, Caracut 7, Melecio 5, Tratter 5, Paraiso 5, Baltazar 4, Rivero P 2, Tero 2, Gonzales 0, Capacio 0 NU 76 – Alejandro 20, Joson 20, Gaye 12, Lastimosa 5, Diputado 4, Rangel 4, Aquino 3, Mosqueda 2, Tibayan 2, Yu 2, Bartlett 2, Cauilan 0, Morido 0, Flores 0, Abatayo 0 Quarter scores: 26-20, 47-35, 73-57, 101-76