Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
De La Salle returned to the UAAP men’s basketball finals after a six-long wait with a 97-73 romp of National University in Season 86 on Saturday night, Nov. 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Re-emerging Mark Nonoy still displayed game brilliance despite playing in 19 minutes of action for the Green Archers after delivering a team-high 20 points spiked by four triples in an 8-of-14 field goal shooting.
The victory arranged La Salle a best-of-three championship date with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, who earlier dethroned archrival Ateneo, 57-46.
This would also be the first time in league history that the Archers and the Maroons will fight for the title.
MVP frontrunner Kevin Quiambao also registered 17 points to go with seven rebounds, Mike Philippines finished with a double-double of 11 points and 10 boards, and graduating Evan Nelle scattered an all-around performance of 15 markers, five rebounds, eight assists and two steals for La Salle, which was armed with a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four affair.
A triple from Nonoy late in the third quarter gave the Green Archers their biggest lead, 70-46, and never looked back from then on.
Jake Figueroa tried to lead NU with 19 points and nine rebounds, as well as Mike Malonzo and Kean Baclaan, who added 12 and 13 points, respectively, but La Salle was too much to handle.
The Scores:
LA SALLE 97 – Nonoy 20, Quiambao 17, Nelle 15, M. Phillips 11, Escandor 9, Policarpio 9, David 5, Cortez 4, Macalalag 4, Abadam 3, Austria 0, Gollena 0, Nwankwo 0.
NU 73 – Figueroa 19, Malonzo 13, Baclaan 12, Palacielo 8, Yu 8, Jumamoy 7, Galinato 2, Manansala 2, Padrones 2, John 0, Lim 0, Enriquez 0, Gulapa 0, Casinillo 0, Parks 0.
Quarters: 20-14; 45-36; 70-50; 97-73.
— Nikole Javier
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Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph
