Vosotros shines as Maroons sink further at the bottom after loss to Archers

Reserve guard Vosotros led the way for DLSU

They fought hard, but it still wasn’t enough.

The UP Fighting Maroons stayed in striking distance with the De la Salle Green Archers for majority of the contest until Almond Vosotros decided to take over the game to eke out a 76-69 win for the Taft based squad.

After just scoring a single point in the first half, the pint sized reserve point guard went on a tear in the second, scoring six in the third and 14 points in the all-important final quarter. He tallied 21 points, four rebounds and a steal in just 20 efficient minutes.

The win moreover increased the Archers’ chances for a Final 4 slot, leading National University by one full game. On the other hand, it also pushed the Maroons further at the bottom of the standings with just one win to show after 11 outings.

UP started the game with back to back baskets to lead 4-0 but found themselves down by six, 10-4, after La Salle’s barrage of inside shots (six coming from Norbert Torres) halfway in the first.

At the three minute mark of the first, Coach Ricky Dandan had replaced all his starters after trailing 17-8. Jett Manuel quickly responded with a rare four-point play to bring UP within four, 17-12. The Archers led 19-14 at the end of the first quarter

The Maroons seemed like a different team at the start of the second. They blitzed the Archers with a 10-4 run highlighted by Manuel’s three-point play, four freethrows and assist to Alinko Mbah to put UP up 24-21 with 6:35 left at the half.

DLSU rookie Jeron Teng made a three pointer in the ensuing possession to tie the game at 24-all. After a Norbert Torres freethrow, UP was able to grab the lead again courtesy of Mark Lopez and Mike Silungan for a 28-25 count with 4:36 left in the second.

 La Salle decided to make its run at this point with mostly inside shots and freethrows. Although missing seven of the 19 freethrows awarded to them in the first half, the Archers were still up 41-34. Teng led all scorers with 16 points.

UP just missed two of their nine attempts at the stripe and was winning the forced turnovers department as La Salle had eight errors to State U’s five. The bigger Archers won the battle of the boards with a 25-14 advantage but trailed in bench scoring as UP’s reserves scored 21 to only eight for La Salle.

 

UP started the third quarter like a house on fire, going on a 14-6 run to grab the lead at 48-47 with 3:55 left in the third. Wingmen Lopez and Alvin Padilla and point guard Henry Asilum figured in almost every play with their craftiness at the defensive and offensive end. 

At the two minute mark of the third, just when the Maroons were trying to pull away, the referees made two calls that changed the momentum of the game. First they call a charge on Lopez as UP was attempting another fastbreak. Lopez did not even lower his shoulder as he decided to pass to a teammate and his defender at that time clearly did not have established position. Second, they call a foul on Paolo Romero after what appeared to have been a clear block on Jovet Mendoza. This led to Mendoza’s split at the line to tie the game at 48-all.

La Salle took advantage of the situation and forced a 6-2 run going into the fourth, highlighted by Vosotros’ fading floater and hesitation drive to help his team go up 54-50.

The fourth quarter saw the Maroons fight back to regain control of the game only to be foiled by Vosotros. He served as the Maroon killer for DLSU in this game hitting three treys, an and-one drive and three freethrows. His highlight play came when the Archers only had a second left to shoot the ball when he effortlessly wriggled off his defender to shoot and uncontested three.

Vosotros engaged in a shootout of sorts with Silungan in the fourth. UP’s team captain scored 12 of his team’s 19 fourth quarter points including two three pointers. Vosotros  scored 14 of La Salle’s final 22.

UE-ADMU Game Notes:

Prior to the game, the UE Red Warriors dealt the Ateneo Blue Eagles their second loss of the season after Chris Javier scored another game winner at the buzzer to win it for the Recto based squad.

Javier was the same guy who won it for UE against UP (a three-pointer as time expired). The Warriors ran the same play with Roi Sumang playing decoy before handing it off to Javier.

Rookie Gene Belleza topscored for UE with 28 points, 20 coming from the three-point line (five treys)