Falcons, Archers produce big wins, gain ground

MANILA, Philippines - Adamson and La Salle clobbered separate foes and sustained their surge in the UAAP Season 74 men’s basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena yesterday.

The Falcons pummeled the University of the East Warriors throughout for an 85-54 rout and a share of second place with the Far Eastern U Tamaraws at 3-1.

The Archers, meanwhile, built a huge lead early that proved enough cushion in a second-half meltdown as they repulsed the NU Bulldogs, 74-63.

La Salle bucked a two-point production in a long stretch in the final half and closed in on the leaders with a second straight win following two successive defeats.

The Bulldogs slid down to 1-4 while the Warriors reeled with a fifth loss in as many games.

Lester Alvarez tossed in 16 points while Alex Nuyles added 11 for the Falcons who dominated the hapless Warriors, fashioning out the most lopsided win in the league in 11 years.

“The boys played according to the game plan. The idea really was not to take UE for granted,” said Adamson coach Leo Austria.

The 31-point win was the biggest in the league since University of the Philippines walloped Adamson 73-42 on Aug. 21, 2008.

So overpowering were the Falcons who scored the game’s first nine points, took the half at 39-27 and led by as many as 36 at 80-44 in a relentless spirited performance.

The Archers came out with their guns ablaze racing to a 59-36 halftime lead before suddenly losing firepower, making only two free throws in the first 13 minutes of the second half.

Point guard LA Revilla shook up La Salle from its second-half nightmare, and the Archers went on to score a follow-up on their 79-67 win over the UP Maroons Saturday.

The Archers went 0-of-10 from the field in the third quarter, allowing the Bulldogs to charge to within 12 at 49-61.

The Bulldogs came closer at 54-61 before the Archers regained their bearing, reestablishing a double-digit margin at 69-56 entering the last three minutes of the game.

“We kinda relaxed (in the third period) but we did not give up and we just continued playing,” said Revilla, the comebacking guard who led the Archers with 19 points that went with six steals and five rebounds.

Sophomore wingman Joseph Marata added 12 points while rookie center Arnold Van Opstal and Oda Tampus chipped in 10 points apiece.

Glenn Khobuntin had a career-high 21 points and seven rebounds while Bobby Ray Parks produced 13 points, five boards and three steals for NU.