Mga laro sa Sabado:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
8 a.m. – Ateneo vs UE (JHS)
10 a.m. – FEU vs Ateneo (Women)
12 noon – UE vs UST (Women)
3:30 p.m. – FEU vs Ateneo (Men)
6:30 p.m. – UE vs UST (Men)

SUMANDAL ang La Salle kay Mike Phillips sa crunch time upang maitakas ang 58-53 panalo laban sa Far Eastern University at lumapit sa pagkopo ng No. 1 ranking sa UAAP men’s basketball eliminations kahapon sa Mall of Asia Arena.

Sa pagiging malamig ni reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao, si Phillips ang namuno sa stretch, kung saan naitala niya ang 11 sa kanyang 17 points sa final period, halos ma-outscore ang Tamaraws. Nakakolekta rin siya ng 15 rebounds, 5 steals at 2 blocks upang pangunahan ang Final Four-bound Green Archers.

Masaya si coach Topex Robinson sa panalo ng Green Archers kontra Tamaraws, na nanalo sa tatlo sa unang apat na second round games, dahil ang kanyang tropa ay humabol mula sa 12-24 deficit upang maiposte ang kanilang ika-11 panalo sa 12 laro.

“We just tried to grind it out with FEU. We know it’s gonna be a fast-paced game so we just tried to keep it simple. On our end, we tried to make it a boring game by not outrunning them because it’s gonna be a disaster for us if we did and we just stepped up in the last few minutes of the game. We did what we’re supposed to do and that’s to limit their scorers,” sabi ni Robinson.

Habang naghahanda ang La Salle para sa mas malaking laban na naghihintay, susunod na makakaharap ng defending champions ang University of the Philippines sa rematch ng Finals ng nakaraang taon sa Linggo, kung saan ang panalo ay magseselyo sa kanilang No. 1 ranking sa Final Four.

Nahulog ang Tamaraws sa 4-8 overall na naging dagok sa kanilang Final Four bid, subalit nagustuhan ni Phillips ang nakita niya sa tropa ni coach Sean Chambers’ side.

“This is what the UAAP is all about, going against teams like FEU. The standings does not depict what FEU is. They are young guys but they are really doing so well,” ani Phillips.
Kumamada si Mo Konateh ng 18 points, season-high 27 boards at 2 blocks para sa Tamaraws.

Iskor:
DLSU (58) – M. Phillips 17, Macalalag 9, Dungo 8, Quiambao 8, Marasigan 4, David 3, Gonzales 3, Austria 2, Ramiro 2, Agunanne 2, Gollena 0, Konov 0.
FEU (53) – Konateh 14, Pre 12, Alforque 11, Pasaol 11, Anonuevo 3, Daa 2, Montemayor 0, Bagunu 0, Ona 0, Nakai 0, Bautista 0.
Quarterscores: 10-19, 28-26, 40-41, 58-53