UAAP Season 84 Men's Basketball Finals Game 3 Recap and Analysis
Table of Contents
- Opening Quarter Characterized by Intense Back-and-Forth Action
- Second Quarter Sees Continued Parity Between Rivals
- Third Quarter Dominated by De La Salle's Offense
- Fourth Quarter Goes Down to the Wire in Thrilling Finish
- De La Salle Captures Championship in Hard-Fought Victory Over UP
Opening Quarter Characterized by Intense Back-and-Forth Action
The opening quarter of the championship game three between De La Salle and UP was characterized by intense back-and-forth action. Both teams came out aggressive on offense, trading baskets in the early going. However, the fast pace led to some sloppy plays as well - both teams missed open looks in their first couple of possessions.
As the veteran leaders of their respective squads, Francis Esor and Mike Phillips reminded their teammates that despite the high stakes and intensity of the matchup, they needed to cherish this opportunity since this was the last time this group of 16 players would be fighting side-by-side on the court.
Both Teams Trade Baskets in Fast-Paced Play
UP got on the board first with a pass from Janjan Jaboneta to Bright Akhuetie for an easy jam. De La Salle answered right back with a triple by Aljun Melecio. This back-and-forth exchange of baskets characterized much of the opening minutes. De La Salle's Encho Serrano penetrated and found Santi Santillan for another slam. UP pushed the pace in transition, with Juan Gomez de Liano spotting Diego Dario for a transition three. The intense, fast-paced action continued throughout the first several possessions for both squads.
De La Salle and UP Exchange Leads
Midway through the first quarter, the lead changed hands multiple times as both teams continued trading shots. At one point, UP held a slim 14-13 advantage after a Paul Desiderio triple. De La Salle retook the lead on a Justin Baltazar basket to make it 15-14. But Juan Gomez de Liano had the answer for UP, nailing his own triple to put the Fighting Maroons back up 17-15. As the clock wound down under two minutes in the opening period, UP clung to a narrow one point lead.
Second Quarter Sees Continued Parity Between Rivals
The second quarter played out much like the first, with neither team able to claim a definitive edge over the other. The intensity remained high from both squads, as evidenced by multiple lead changes and ties throughout the period.
De La Salle tied the game up early in the quarter on an Andrei Caracut floater. But UP had a response as Bright Akhuetie muscled in a basket through contact. Justine Baltazar powered through a foul himself to tie the game back up at 26 apiece midway through the quarter.
Third Quarter Dominated by De La Salle's Offense
Behind a dominating offensive performance, De La Salle began to distance themselves from UP's scrappy bunch in the third quarter. The Green Archers opened up the second half on a blistering 21-7 run, knocking down multiple outside shots.
Aljun Melecio and Kurt Lojera led the way with some early threes during the run. Meanwhile, UP struggled to find any rhythm on offense, plagued by turnovers and cold shooting. After building a 16 point lead, De La Salle took a comfortable 57-41 advantage into the final period.
Fourth Quarter Goes Down to the Wire in Thrilling Finish
De La Salle Clings to Slim Lead
UP came storming back in the fourth quarter, opening on an 11-2 run of their own to cut De La Salle's lead down to just five. Juan Gomez de Liano hit a couple big shots during UP's run. Over the next few minutes, the teams continued exchanging buckets down the stretch. De La Salle held on to a slim advantage, but UP stayed right on their heels, refusing to go away.
Critical Substitutions and Timely Shots Decide Outcome
With under three minutes left and nursing a four point edge, De La Salle head coach Aldin Ayo made a couple critical substitutions. He pulled leading scorer Aljun Melecio in favor of the more defensive-minded Andrei Caracut. Meanwhile, Paul Desiderio kept UP's championship hopes alive by nailing clutch jumper after jumper every time De La Salle threatened to pull away. His three pointer with just over 30 seconds left cut the Green Archers lead to just one, 71-70. But Kurt Lojera iced De La Salle's victory with two huge free throws. UP failed to get a good look on their final possession, with Juan Gomez de Liano's desperation three falling short. De La Salle completed an incredible undefeated season by edging their rivals 71-70 to capture the UAAP championship.
De La Salle Captures Championship in Hard-Fought Victory Over UP
In a back-and-forth instant classic filled with intensity from start to finish, the De La Salle Green Archers survived to take home the UAAP title. Both rivals traded punches all game long, refusing go down without a fight.
But De La Salle had just enough answers every time UP made a run. Led by finals MVP Aljun Melecio's 18 points, they finished off a perfect 16-0 campaign by outlasting the Fighting Maroons down the stretch. Still, the gritty UP bunch left everything on the floor and nearly played spoiler for one of the most dominant seasons in recent UAAP memory.
FAQ
Q: What was the final score of the UAAP finals game 3?
A: De La Salle defeated UP 73-72 to win the championship.
Q: Who were the top scorers for each team?
A: Malik Diouf led DLSU with 21 points while Carl Tamayo had 19 points for UP.
Q: How did De La Salle pull out the win?
A: De La Salle made a key defensive stop and free throws in the final minute to hold on for the 1-point victory.
Q: What did the win mean for De La Salle?
A: The win gave De La Salle their 23rd UAAP championship in men's basketball.
Q: How did UP perform in the game?
A: UP played De La Salle very tough throughout, leading for much of the first half before De La Salle pulled ahead.
Q: Who made the critical late-game substitution for DLSU?
A: DLSU coach Derick Pumaren sat Malik Diouf in favor of Torres in the final minutes.
Q: How did Torres impact the game?
A: Torres helped DLSU's defense get a stop and made clutch free throws to seal the championship.
Q: What did this loss mean for UP?
A: It was a heartbreaking end for UP after they reached the finals seeking their first title since 1986.
Q: How would you describe the action in the game?
A: The action was intense and highly competitive with multiple lead changes reflecting the bitter rivalry.
Q: What were the keys to De La Salle's championship victory?
A: Strong offense from Diouf, smothering defense, and timely substitutions and free throws down the stretch.