It happens every now and then- the higher ranked and more favoured team beaten by the league-trailing team.
It happened to the FEU Tamaraws this season, after their shocking loss to the UP Fighting Maroons.
Unfortunately this time around, it happened to the DLSU Green Archers, as they were stunned by cellar dweller University of the East Red Warriors, 74-69, in the continuation of the UAAP Season 75 Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.
Paul Zamar and John Noble combined for 35 of the 74-point output of the Red Warriors to help notch for their team its 2nd win in 8 games, and consequently hand the Green Archers its fifth loss this season. With the win, UE now ties UP for the last spot, while DLSU will join UST, who likewise lost to league leader ADMU, in the 4th to 5th slots.
Both teams performed almost evenly in the first quarter. But UE, behind the hot shooting of Noble and Zamar, capitalized on the errors, and poor free throw shooting of DLSU in the second to edge out the latter at halftime, 39-35.
After the half time break, both teams played sloppy basketball, committing turnovers after another. But the Recto-based squad unleashed a 9-0 run at the opening of the final canto, which saw UE’s lead balloon to 11.
The Archers’ attempt to turn the game around went to naught, as they failed to find their offensive groove and struggled in defending against the Red Warriors.
THE SCORES:
UE 74 – Zamar 19, Noble 16, Sumang 7, Santos 7, Duran 7, Casajeros 6, Javier 4, Enguio 4, Tagarda 4, Sumido 0, Flores 0.
DLSU 69 – Torres 12, Webb 11, Revilla 9, Vosotros 9, Marata 5, Atkins 5, Van Opstal 4, Dela Paz 4, Tampus 2, Paredes 2, Villanueva 2, Mendoza 2, Andrada 2
Quarter Scoring: 17-19, 39-35, 56-52, 74-69