La Salle overcomes UP, forces do-or-die Game 3

It's not over 'til it's over.

De La Salle University overcame University of the Philippines, 82-60, in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 86 men's basketball finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

In the first UP-La Salle finals faceoff in the history of the league, the Fighting Maroons drew first blood in the best-of-three series, 97-67.

However, the Green Archers refused to lay down as they scored their own lopsided win in this one.

After trailing 27-24 at the end of the first period, La Salle limited UP to just 11 points per quarter in the next three and led by as much as 20, 71-51, after a jumper by JC Macalalag.

Tensions rose at the 6:25 mark as UP's Reyland Torres and La Salle's Evan Nelle had a heated moment, but the two were given warnings. Joaqui Manuel was given a technical foul for entering the court during the said moment.

With the win already inevitable for the Taft-based squad, CJ Austria and Francis Escandor sank triples to seal the deal.

Escandor and David had 14 and 12 points apiece, with both players shooting four triples each, while Austria had 11 points.

League Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao and Michael Phillips both posted nine points and 13 rebounds, while Nelle had 12 rebounds, 10 assists, and four points.

CJ Cansino had 11 points, while Malick Diouf had 11 points and 11 boards. Harold Alarcon had 10 points, while Francis Lopez posted 13 boards on top of his nine-point output.

Game 3 of the finals will be played on Wednesday in the same venue.

Scores:

DLSU 82 – Escandor 14, David 12, Austria 11, Quiambao 9, M. Phillips 9, Nonoy 8, Macalalag 7, Cortez 6, Nelle 4, B. Phillips 2, Manuel 0, Abadam 0, Policarpio 0.

UP 60 – Cansino 11, Diouf 11, Alarcon 10, Lopez 9, Cagulangan 6, Felicilda 6, Torculas 4, Abadiano 3, Belmonte 0, Torres 0, Alter 0, Pablo 0, Gonzales 0, Briones 0.

Quarterscores: 24-27, 44-38, 65-49, 82-60.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News