7 November 2018
By Maxine Louise Lagman
Manila, Philippines – The De La Salle University secured at least a playoff spot in the semifinals after defeating National University, 84-77, on Wednesday in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
La Salle improved to an 8-4 win-loss record in the team standings and will try to outrun their archrivals Ateneo De Manila University on Sunday to clinch a spot in the Final Four.
Rookie John Lloyd Clemente’s hot shooting paved the way for the National U as they managed to take a 40-38 lead at the half.
The Green Archers took their defensive and offensive plays to the next level that saw them take back the lead, 65-62, coming into the payoff period. Santi Santillan and Aljun Melecio scored back-to-back baskets that stretched La Salle’s lead to seven, 75-68.
Dave Ildefonso knocked down six consecutive points for the Bulldogs to cut the deficit to one, 74-75.
Unfortunately, it was the last run they could ever make as La Salle surged for a 9-1 run that gave them a nine-point advantage, 84-75.
Santillan led the Green Archers with 18 points and five rebounds, while Aljun Melecio chipped in 13 markers, six boards and three dimes.
Andrei Caracut also added 13 points, while Justine Baltazar had a double-double record of 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Meanwhile Dave Ildefonso finished with 20 points and Clements with 19 as the Bulldogs dropped to a 3-9 slate, completely eliminating them from the Final Four race.
The Scores:
DLSU (84) – Santillan 18, Melecio 13, Caracut 13, Baltazar 11, Manuel 10, Dyke 6, Go 6, Bates 4, Serrano 3, Capacio 0, Corteza 0.
NU (77) – Ildefonso D. 20, Clemente 19, Gallego 7, Yu 7, Ildefonso S. 5, Rike 4, Gaye 4, Joson 4, Sinclair 3, Diputado 2, Malonzo 2, Aquino 0, Galinato 0, Morido 0, Salim 0.
Quarter scores: 17-13, 38-40, 65-62, 84-77
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