La Salle secures No. 1 spot, completes elims sweep of UP; Adamson ousts NU from F4 race

De La Salle University secured the top spot of the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball elimination round standings after defeating University of the Philippines in their second round faceoff, 77-66, on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Fighting Maroons led 37-26 in the second quarter before the Green Archers clawed their way back and finished the first half trailing 43-40. The Taft-based squad then continued to pound on UP in the third as it limited the latter to just eight points against their 17 points.

La Salle opened the fourth period with baskets from Kevin Quiambao, with a JD Cagulangan jumper in between, for the Archers to claim a 62-53 lead before UP came to within seven, 69-62, with 2:48 left. Back-to-back baskets from Raven Gonzales and Joshua David gave the Green Archers their biggest lead, 73-62, before cruising onto their ninth straight victory.

Quiambao had 15 points, while Mike Phillips registered a double-double of 14 points, 10 rebounds, an assist, and a steal as La Salle improved to 12-1.

JD Cagulangan led the Fighting Maroons with 22 points as UP (9-3) missed the services of Quentin Millora-Brown who flew abroad due to the death of his grandfather. 

With the win, La Salle also swept UP in the elimination round as the Fighting Maroons also locked in on the second spot.

Earlier, Adamson University stayed in the Final Four race after beating National University, 53-41.

AJ Fransman had a double-double outing for the Soaring Falcons with 18 points and 11 boards as they improved to 5-7 and took the fifth spot behind University of Santo Tomas.

PJ Palacielo scored 10 points for the Bulldogs who were booted out of contention as they slipped to 4-9.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News