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Archers shoot down Falcons for 4th win

By Arman Carandang

07/25/2008

De La Salle University (DLSU) outplayed Adamson University, 76-61, in a game projected to be close that ended in an ugly rout in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City yesterday.

The Green Archers outgunned and outrebounded the Falcons as they dished off one of their best offenses thus far in the season to put away the team that has become the fear of everybody following its upset win over multi-titled and last year’s losing finalist University of the East (UE) last Sunday.

“We really played hard for this game because we know they (Falcons) have the capability of beating just any team this year. They have shown that when they beat UE, so we came into this game prepared,” said DLSU coach Franz Pumaren after the game.

The Archers have now notched their fourth straight win after dropping their opening game to long-time rival Ateneo to solidify their hold of the second spot behind the Blue Eagles, who are unbeaten in four games.

Joseph Casio steadied the Archers’ offense with his timely hits and finished with 19 points built around three triples and got four rebounds and issued five assists in a splendid 33-minute stint inside.

Rico Maierhofer, Alvin Villanueva, Bader Malabes and Peejay Barua also shone on offense, turning in 10 points or more as the Archers underscored their balanced scoring sock to dominate and foil the Falcons’ second straight upset bid.

Michael Galinato, who starred when the Falcons brought down the Red Warriors, 66-64 last Sunday, fared miserably yesterday as the Archers threw swarming defense on him no end.

“We brought our game away from Galinato. We made sure he won’t get most of the rebounds. Nadepensahan namin sya (Galinato),” Pumaren added.

The Falcons failed to flash the same intensity as when they beat UE, and their offense was too anemic to even keep abreast with the Archers’ running game. They thus tumbled to their third loss in five outings.