UAAP: La Salle exacts revenge on Adamson to boost Final Four bid

Detailed summary

De La Salle University got its payback against Adamson University and in the process boosted its Final Four push, pulling off an 84-69 victory on Sunday in the UAAP Season 89 at…

De La Salle University got its payback against Adamson University and in the process boosted its Final Four push, pulling off an 84-69 victory on Sunday in the UAAP Season 89 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Green Archers dominated from start to finish behind the troika of Jacob Cortez, Luis Pablo, and JC Macalalag as the Taft crew improved to 7-5 to join Far Eastern University in a two-way logjam at the third spot.

Cortez led the attack with 15 points alongside four rebounds, four steals, and two assists while Pablo and Macalalag chipped in 14 and 12 markers each laced with seven and eight boards, respectively.

Coming off a four-point loss to National University, La Salle entered the game determined to bounce back and get its Final Four bid back on track. And so they did.

The defending champions blew the game wide open early on with Pablo and Mason Amos closing out the opening period that saw La Salle build a 25-15 cushion.

Earl Abadam then shot a triple and a layup to make that a 45-23 lead in the second period before they ended the first half of things enjoying a 48-26 advantage against an Adamson side still on a high from a 62-55 win over Ateneo.

Adamson did try to come back with Monty Montebon burying a three-pointer and issuing a pass that led to a Kobe Demisana jumper to pull the Soaring Falcons to a 15-point deficit, 78-63, in the final 4:02.

But Adamson, who was eventually eliminated from contention in the process, committed a series of turnovers and missed a number of shots as La Salle cruised to the vengeful victory.

La Salle 84 – J. Cortez 15, Pablo 14, Macalalag 12, Tovera 11, Amos 7, Agunanne 7, Gagate 6, Marasigan 5, Abadam 5, M. Cortez 2, Dungo 0, Sardon 0.

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