The Green Archers of La Salle secured the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball championship with a thrilling victory over the UP Fighting Maroons. The game, held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, drew a record-breaking crowd of 25,192 fans.
La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao played a crucial role in the team’s defensive prowess during the clutch moments of the game. Alongside Evan Nelle, Quiambao led the charge as the Green Archers limited UP to only four points in the last eight minutes. This impressive defensive performance sealed the win and completed a reverse series sweep, marking La Salle’s first championship since 2016.
This victory marked the 10th UAAP title for the Green Archers, a remarkable achievement considering their initial setback in the finals opener, where they suffered a 30-point defeat against UP.
However, La Salle bounced back in Game 2, handing UP their biggest loss of the season with a score of 82-60.In the decisive Game 3, La Salle closed out the game with a 15-4 run, overturning a 58-65 deficit.
Coach Topex Robinson, in his first year at Taft, expressed his gratitude to the team for responding to the challenge. This victory marked his first collegiate championship after experiencing heartbreaks with San Sebastian and Lyceum in the NCAA.
Source: PhilNews24 | December 7, 2023
