DLSU bounces back, downs UST with 27-point victory

Facing its former head coach for the first time this UAAP Season 81, the DLSU Green Archers bounced back from a loss and defeated the UST Growling Tigers, 99-72, Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

DLSU led as much as 30 points with 3 ticks left in the game. However, a Marvin Lee trey trimmed the deficit, giving DLSU a big 27-point win.

The Tigers tried to chase the green and white team during the second half, with both teams making 17 points at the third period, 71-51. However, the Archers went hot early in the game, finishing the first half with a 20-point margin, 54-32.

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"The primary game plan for today is for us to play 40 minutes composed. We played 40 minutes sa highest level. Good thing sa laro ngayon, everybody contributed and everybody played to the highest level. Nag-stick sila sa game plan and execution namin," DLSU head coach Louie Gonzales said.

La Salle big man Justine Baltazar led the Archers in scoring with a career high- 22 points, followed by Aljun Melecio with 19 points, 17 of which were made during the Archers' first half storm.

"Di ko iniisip 'yung score, ginagawa ko lang ng tama 'yung pinapagawa sa'kin ni Coach, tsaka kailangan kong tulungan din ang teammates ko kaya siguro gumanda ang laro ko," Baltazar said.

Asked about going against their former head coach, Melecio said the game is really more about bouncing back. "It's not really about playing against Coach Aldin [Ayo], it's about bouncing back from the loss against UP. Kailangan namin mag-bounce back," he added.

Baltazar, for his part, said it's about showing how he improved during the past months. "Siguro kay Coach Aldin, pinakita ko lang na nag-improve ako ngayon. Nagpapasalamat din ako kay Coach [Louie] na naging maganda game plan namin. Pati sa teammates ko, lagi nila akong binibigyan sa post kaya siguro naging maganda laro ko,"  the big man added.

Enzo Subido led the Tigers with 16 points, while Marvin Lee and Zac Huang listed 13 apiece.

With their string of losses, UST head coach Aldin Ayo said they are still trying to figure out how to translate their young team’s potential into the games. “Hindi lumalabas laro ng mga bata eh. Kung makita n’yo ang mga to kung paano mag-practice, kung paano maglaro doon, kung ikumpara n’yo yung mga laro rito sa mga venues, ang layo eh. We are just trying to figure that out kung paano mailabas ng bata ‘yung laro nila,” said Ayo.

Despite losing against his former team, Coach Aldin said he is still happy with his current stint as the Growling Tigers’ head tactician. “Facing against them, well, for me I’m very happy, I’m very much contented that I’m on the other side because I know the feeling pag dun ka nagko-coach (La Salle). Even though ganito ‘yung outcome, I’m still very very happy that I’m here in UST.”

The Archers will go against rivals Ateneo on Saturday, a rematch of last year's Finals contenders. "Siguro if you're playing for La Salle, and you're going against Ateneo, siguro alam mo na 'yun kung anong dapat gawin. Wala na kami kailangan sabihing any motivation. They know na it's one of their responsibilities," Gonzales said.

While Gonzales is aware of Ateneo's performance recently, he said that they will treat it just like any other game. "Going up against Ateneo, I know since the start of the tournament na they are really the team to beat. Sa amin, basta pareho lang. We'll take it one game at a time," the rookie coach added.

La Salle currently holds a 3-2 record while UST has one win and four losses.

SCORES:

DLSU (99) - Baltazar - 22, Melecio - 19, Caracut -13, Go - 11, Santillan - 11, Serrano - 10, Bates - 6, Manuel - 5, Dyke - 2, Capacio - 0, Corteza - 0.

UST (72) - Subido - 16, Huang - 13, Lee - 13, Caunan - 8, Cansino - 7, Bataller - 3, Marcos - 3, Mahinay - 2, Zamora - 2, Agustin - 0, Ando - 0.

— RSJ, GMA News