Posted by bigfreeze_bibby of Archerpride.com
The De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers dropped a close 45-43 decision over the National University Bullpups earlier today in the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Junior Archers abandoned their fastbreak game to slow down the tempo of the running Bullpups and their star slasher Roque Estoce. At the start, the Junior Archers were successful in doing so as they raced to an early 8-2 lead but once NU got back from their time out, Roque Estoce finally got his groove going by breaking DLSZ’s pressure defense and dishing out assists to his favorite target Raphael Atangan to score 4 points in the quarter and to close in to the Junior Archers, 12-8.
The second quarter was not kind to the Junior Archers as they scored only 2 points. The Junior Archers still played slow, as well as NU but then the Bullpups were able to execute on their halfcourt game with Ralph Tansingco scoring underneath the basket and Atangan scoring via mid-range jumpers to finally give NU the lead for the first time in the game, 15-14 with 2:02 left in the second quarter. Nico Meneses buried a trey at the buzzer to increase NU’s lead at the half, 18-14. Julio Roxas was the lone player to score for the Junior Archers.
NU’s confidence to execute on the half court continued in the third quarter. The Bullpups ignited a 7-1 run led by Meneses, Estoce, and Jonel Parungao to give NU a 25-15 with under five minutes to go. Axel Torres converted on a running lay-up to cut the lead to eight, 25-17 with 4:57 to go in the third quarter. Mikee Capacio buried two consecutive triples to bring back DLSZ in the game and trail by just one, 28-27 before Atangan countered a trey of his own before the quarter ended still in Bullpups’ favor at 31-27.
In the fourth quarter, Gabby Reyes carried the fight for the Junior Archers as he scored 11 of his 13 game points in the quarter. DLSZ did not pressure anymore full-court and just concentrated on playing zone defense. The Junior Archers had lapses on baseline inbound plays by the Bullpups which allowed NU hold onto the lead for the quarter. Parungao scored on a crucial basket off a baseline inbound play to bring NU’s lead to 39-36 with 1:11 left in the quarter. Mikee Capacio’s jumper closed DLSZ to 39-38 with 1:03 left in regulation.
Crucial lay-up misses however from Axel Torres and Roxas hurt the Junior Archers’ chances of taking the lead and Atangan came to save the game for the Bullpups with a corner jumper to give NU a 41-38 lead with 30 seconds to go. Another opportunity taken away from the Junior Archers was Gabby Reyes’ lay-up resulted to a non-call from the referees. Had that shot came in, DLSZ could have taken the lead as well.
With DLSZ’s loss, things have got complicated on the team standings as teams got jampacked from fourth to sixth places as of the moment. The Junior Archers are hanging on fourth though with a 7-6 record. The Junior Archers’ last assignment is against FEU-FERN on Tuesday, 1pm still at the FilOil Arena in San Juan.
Box Scores:
NU 45 – Atangan 17, Meneses 8, Parungao 7, Estoce 7, Tansingco 2, Rivero 2, Lara 2, Carta 0, Caparas 0, Banquiao 0.
DLSZ 43 – Reyes 13, Capacio 10, Roxas 8, A. Torres 5, N. Torres 3, Velhagen 2, Tempongko 2, Subido 0, Sajulga 0, Monteiro 0, Concepcion 0, Calugcug 0, Betia 0.
Quarterscores: 8-12, 18-14, 31-27, 45-43