Updated:2024-12-01 03:26    Views:108

Kevin Quiambao and the La Salle Green Archers are moving on to the Finals of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament after ousting Adamson Falcons. –UAAP PHOTO

La Salle forged a Finals rematch against University of the Philippines after defeating Adamson, 70-55, in their Final Four pairing in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“It’s nice to be back in the Finals,” coach Topex Robinson said. “And I guess we also have to acknowledge Adamson losing [AJ] Fransman and [Jhon] Calisay who are vital parts of the [Adamson] team. They still gave a good fight and that just shows how good that team is. [The Green Archers] did what they’re supposed to do.”

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As the favorites of the matchup, the Green Archers wasted no time taking control of the game as early as the opening quarter and never let the Soaring Falcons even get a chance, limiting Adamson to just six points in the second frame. La Salle eventually led by as much as 27 points at one point.

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Two-time MVP Kevin Quiambao led La Salle’s charge to defend the throne in the Finals with 14 points, three rebounds and the same number of steals. Joshua David helped with 11 points as Mike Phillips contributed eight points as well as rebounds in the one-sided victory.

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“Prior to this game, our coaches reminded us during the team meeting yesterday that even though we had a 55-point margin over them, it would all start at 0-0 again,” said Quiambao. “So we reset, focused only on ourselves, worked on our strengths, and controlled what we could control.”

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“We had our ups and downs this game, but we showed our resiliency and our ‘brother’s keepers’ mentality,” Quiambao added.

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The Fighting Maroons qualified earlier after a 78-69 dumping of University of Santo Tomas in the first game of the day with Finals Game 1 set on Dec. 8 with the venue still to be announced.

READ: UAAP: Top seed La Salle has no plans of slowing down

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“This game really started with our defense, and what I liked was that we played as a team,” said David, a graduating guard. “The coaches always remind us to play our game, so this is a great takeaway for us moving forward.”

“I think I was kind of inspired by the speech Raven [Gonzales] gave before the game,” Phillips added. “It was all about being in the present, and for me, that’s always been something I struggled with. He really struck a chord when he said, ‘Don’t think about the future or the past; just always stay in the present.’ For me, it’s really about having trust in my teammates and the community—that whatever happens, we just stay in the moment.”

Royce Mantua paced the Falcons in the uphill battle with 14 points on an 85.7 percent shooting and Ced Manzano flirted with a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds.

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Joshua Yerro dropped six points, three rebounds and two steals in his final game for Adamson. The Falcons will also no longer have the services of guard Jhon Calisayph dream, Mario Barasi and Eli Ramos. Fransman and Calisay were feeling under the weather.

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