Championship dreams remain intact for the DLSU Green Archers after stealing the second game of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball finals from the UP Fighting Maroons, 82-60 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Saturday evening, December 3.

Newly hailed Season MVP Kevin Quiambao showed the way for the Green Archers, producing nine points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks; standout Michael Philips collected 9 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks which made La Salle rise from a Game 1 disappointment.

Mythical Five member Malick Diouf paced the Fighting Maroons in the loss with an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double, along with two rejections.

After an exchange of offenses and breaking of defenses, La Salle’s Michael Philips managed to take the opening score, but Harold Alarcon of the Fighting Maroons scored and tied the game 2-2.

The Maroons had the lead during the early phases of the first quarter, 12-4, but La Salle’s Joshua David threw a 3-point basket that shortened the gap right before the end of the first quarter, 27-24.

The second quarter saw both teams fight like they were fighting for their lives as the opening point was a dunk shot by Philips of La Salle after a long 1:30 run.

La Salle’s continuous barrage of baskets made them take the lead in the second quarter from 26-27 to 34-28 which made them take the lead from their rivals at the end of the first half, 44-38.

The Green Archers took the first point of the second half after Philips intercepted their adversaries’ offense and converted it into a 3-point shot made by Jcee Macalalag.

DLSU still managed to secure their lead in the third quarter as they finished with a score of 65-49 and continued to deal damages to the Maroons during the fourth quarter as they stretched to a 20-point gap, 71-51.

The Fighting Maroons and Green Archers will extend their first-ever finals affair with a deciding Game 3 still at the Big Dome on Wednesday, December 6.

Article by Ashley Shan Paet