JC Macalalag couldn’t have picked a better moment to shine for La Salle, as his breakout performance against UST helped the Green Archers peak at the perfect time possible in the UAAP men’s basketball play.
JC Macalalag picked the perfect time for his breakout game in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.
After scoring just 10 points combined in his last three games, Macalalag exploded for 18 points to help the DLSU Green Archers secure a 86-77 second-round win over the UST Growling Tigers.
Macalalag got hot early, pouring in 14 first-half points as La Salle built a lead as large as 22 points, taking a 52-36 advantage into halftime.
UST threatened a comeback in the second half, trimming the deficit to six points late in the final frame.
But La Salle found a late-game hero in EJ Gollena , who hit clutch shots to quell the Growling Tigers’ rally.
Gollena hit two clutch threes down the stretch, including the dagger three that gave La Salle an 82-73 cushion with just 39 seconds left en route to resounding victory over its first-round tormentors.
[ALSO READ: Vengeful La Salle gets one back vs UST to force triple tie at no. 2 in UAAP Season 88]
Jacob Cortez added 12 points, while team captain Mike Phillips finished with 13 rebounds, six assists, and six points.
“We know how strong UST is right now. They are really playing tremendous basketball. We just made sure that we’re gonna be coming in confident knowing we prepared for whatever UST will throw at us,” La Salle head coach Topex Robinson said post-game.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: Streaking La Salle defies odds by ‘playing for each other’ amid injury-hit season]
La Salle, now on a three-game winning streak, improved to 5-3, sharing second place with defending champion UP and the Growling Tigers.
"Animo" All-together
While Macalalag, who hit four of DLSU’s 10 three-pointers, scored his season-high, it was a total team effort for the squad with four players reaching double figures.
DLSU's JC Macalalag drives to the basket against UST in their UAAP Season 88 men's basketball second-round encounter | Photo: The UAAP
Vhon Marasigan and Abadam combined for 20 of La Salle’s 41 bench points, proving the depth of the Taft-based squad.
“Kitang-kita naman sa preparation namin for this game, yung intensity, yung focus during training nandoon. Masarap lang sa pakiramdam na yung mga kasama mo prepared and willing ibigay lahat ng kaya nila,” Macalalag said.
Now, the Green Archers aim to sustain their momentum when they face the winless UE Red Warriors in their next outing.
For UST, rookie center Collins Akowe finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds as the Growling Tigers hope to snap their two-game slide when they meet teh surging Adamson squad next Wednesday.
—
Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.