Archers clobber Maroons in hot start

MANILA, Philippines - La Salle leaned on the hot hands of Simon Atkins and a concerted effort from the rest of the team as the Green Archers walloped the University of the Philippines Maroons, 80-62, yesterday at the start of the UAAP Season 73 men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

Assuming the leadership mantle, senior player Atkins pumped in 20 points on a hot 4-of-9 clip (44.4 percent) from the three-point area to power the Archers to the victory, their first under new coach Dindo Pumaren.

It was a new career-high for the 21-year-old Atkins, a normally mediocre shooter from beyond the arc (11-of-47 prior to the season) whose previous best production was 12 two years ago.

“My veterans played well, especially Simon. Even the rookies played well and provided a lot of energy,” said Pumaren, whose wards humbled the much-fancied Fighting Maroons in front of their alumnus, Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Atkins fired his fourth triple of the game to spearhead an 11-3 run that shoved the rookie-laden Green Archers to a 51-38 lead in the third.

It was basically all-La Salle show from there as rookie Luis dela Paz and veterans Samuel Marata, Alvin Villanueva, Joshua Webb and Yutien Andrada took turns to break the hearts of the Maroons.

Villanueva had a double-double output of 13 points and 13 rebounds while Marata added 10 and Webb and Andrada had 9 and 7, respectively, for La Salle, which enjoyed its biggest lead at 20, 78-58, late in the game.

“I’m very happy for this win. I know UP is a favorite but of course they will make an adjustment as the season moves along,” said Pumaren, who took over the reins from older brother Franz at the end of Season 72.

Installed as one of the contenders for the Final Four this year with a nearly intact core and a solid performance in the pre-season, the Maroons had their erratic plays to blame for this loss. UP committed 21 turnovers, which La Salle parlayed into 22 points.

Fil-Am Michael Silungan gave a glimpse of what he’s capable of as he topped the Maroons with 17 markers, the same output delivered by fifth-year player Woody Co. Center Magi Sison, a Gilas Pilipinas mainstay, was essentially a disappointment on the scoring end, finishing with only eight markers on a 3-of-8 clip, although he grabbed 12 boards.

 “I think we were tight. Obviously in the first half, I didn’t really see our team out there, except in the last three minutes when we made a run and cut the lead to three. I don’t know, it must be the hype or the environment down there being the first game and all,” said UP coach Aboy Castro.

Meanwhile, the consensus top seeds for Season 73 – three-peat-seeking Ateneo and Far Eastern U – quickly test each other in today’s 4 p.m. tussle also at the Big Dome.

Adamson and National U, teams fancied to contend for the four semis berths, launch their respective campaigns in the 2 p.m. curtain-raiser.

In the second game, University of Santo Tomas proved it is capable of pulling surprises as the Tigers devoured last year’s runner-up University of the East, 80-67.

With no more Dylan Ababou to depend on, the Tigers used a balanced attack that saw five players finish in double figures, led by Season 72 rookie of the year Jeric Teng with 15 markers.

Teng also put the cuffs on UE’s ace gunner Paul Lee, who was limited to a mere seven points.

Complementing the son of former PBA enforcer Alvin Teng in scoring were Clark Bautista with 14 and rookie Eduardo Daquiog and holdovers Chris Camus and Carmelo Afuang with 10 apiece.

Camus was a monster off the boards with 15 caroms, helping the Tigers outrebound the Warriors, 45-34.