The La Salle Green Archers are back in the finals after six long years.
The Green Archers banked on the big efforts of Mark Nonoy and Kevin Quiambao in the early stages of their game with the National University Bulldogs, and coasted to a 97-73 whipping on Saturday night at the Araneta Coliseum.
Nonoy and Quiambao scored easy baskets from the start, and La Salle’s fluid offense throughout their 40-minute encounter sent the Green Archers to a best-of-three finals showdown with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.
The 5’8” Nonoy unloaded 20 points for the Green Archers, who booked their 20th finals appearance since joining the league in 1986.
“We came into the game, knowing that NU will throw everything at us. We just reminded everyone that we are going to the finals because we are going to get it, And its not going to be given to us,” said Green Archers coach Topex Robinson, who is on his first year with the team.
Quiambao backed Nonoy with 17 points for La Salle and denied the Bulldogs since their first ever title conquest in 2014.
The 6’6” Quiambao and Nonoy took turns with three other teammates in coming up with crucial baskets in the third period, combining for 25 points with Evan Nelle, Francis Escandor and Jonel Policarpio and pushing La Salle for a 20-point, 70-50 edge at the end of the quarter.
“So, we really have to earn every possession from the jump ball up to the final buzzer, and making sure that these guys will work together as a team. And so, the breaks came our way, and the guys just played and competed with NU,” added Robinson.
Unloading seven points in the last period, Quiambao’s dominance under the boards also yielded him eight rebounds, and their biggest lead at 24 when the game ended.
Jake Figueroa made 19 points while Mike Malonzo eked out 13 points for the Bulldogs.
Earlier, the Fighting Maroons drew double-digit performances from Malick Diouf and Francis Lopez, as they held the dethroned champion Ateneo Blue Eagles to nine points in the fourth period, and to a 57-46 triumph to earn the first Final Four seat.
Diouf shot 12 points and hauled down 16 rebounds, while Lopez also made 12 points, and added 10 rebounds in helping send the Fighting Maroons to the best-of-three finals for the fourth time in five seasons.
Janjan Felicilda knocked in 10 points, while Gerry Abadiano chipped in nine points, including six in the fourth as the Fighting Maroons moved away from a 42-37 third quarter edge.
Game 1 is set on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.