Maybe they were tired from their respective dates the night before? Whatever the reason is, the De La Salle Green Archers seemed to lack luster when they faced the San Beda Red Lions last Sunday, February 15. They showed only spurts of energy as they fell to their second loss, 68-62, to the energetic Red Lions.
It was a close game during the first quarter, with the two teams making and answering each other’s shots. The quarter ended tied at 11 points.
The second quarter was a different story. The Red Lions started with a 7-0 run, before the Green Archers finally woke up from their stupor, nearly four minutes into the quarter. They answered with 6 straight points of their own to trim their deficit to 1, courtesy of LA Revilla’s trio and jumper, and Ferdinand’s split charities. Unfortunately, that was the closest that they’d get for the quarter, as they traded baskets in the next couple of plays. A very nice assist from Joshua Webb to Gab Banal, with 16 seconds to go in the quarter, brought them up 23 to San Beda’s 25. The Red Lions had the last hurrah in the half, though, as they managed to score a bucket, as time ran out, ending the first half, 23-27, in their favor.
During the halftime break, it can be noticed that the Green Archers didn’t go on the court for a shoot-around. Instead, they stayed huddled around their bench. Whatever they talked about seemed to work, as they started out the second half with another7-0 run, ending in a completed 3-point play from Norbert Torres. With the score at 30-27, in favor of the Archers, the Red Lions took the lead back with a drive and a shot from rainbow territory. The DLSU coaching staff called a time out at this point – which produced another burst of energy that saw the Archers holding their opponents scoreless for the next 2 ½ minutes, while scoring 8 straight points, putting them up 38-32. It seemed that they really can’t hold on to their lead, as San Beda regained their composure and took the lead back, yet again. The remaining minutes of the third quarter was reminiscent of the first, with the two teams answering each others baskets. At the end of the third, the score was tied at 47.
In the fourth quarter, the Red Lions opened up with a trio but the Green Archers made a basket to cut the lead by 1, with 8 minutes to go in the game. Unfortunately, that’s the closest that they’ll get as San Beda made basket after basket, and never looked back from there. By the time DLSU called for a time out, 6 minutes into the quarter, they were already down by 7 points. Things continued to spiral downwards as the Archers trailed by 9, 55-64, and Revilla fouled out with 2 minutes to go.
Final score is 62-68, in favor of San Beda.
Note : Hyram Bagatsing didn’t play in this game. The team standing is now 4-2. Their next assignment would be on Sunday, February 22, 2009 against San Sebastian College. The game would be again held at the FEU Gym at 10am.
Quarter Scores: 11-11, 23-27, 47-47, 62-68