Photo by Hannah Kassey Bacolod
La Salle-Dasmarinas kept its solid mark in the 9th Universities and Colleges Athletic Association after posting a 2-3 slate at the end of the league’s first round.Despite two consecutive losses to league-leading Olivarez College and Colegio de Sta Monica, the Patriots kept their hold of fourth spot in the team standings to move halfway into making the Final Four for the first time since 2005.
That was the same year when DLSU-D was able to gain a spot in the finals but lost in three hard-fought games to the Ronjay Buenafe-led Emilio Aguinaldo College. Prior to the start of the season, the Patriots got a significant boost when it was able to recruit scorer Marlito Escobal and big man Rudy Onde to banner the squad of long-time mentor Ephraim Serrano.
Escobal transferred to the Dasmarinas campus after playing a key role in San Sebastian-Cavite’s two consecutive National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities championships from 2008-2009.He was also able to gain a short stint with regional powerhouse M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Cebu Ninos during the latter part of the 2009 Liga Pilipinas Conference III where they won the championship via a convincing 21-game sweep.
On the other hand, Onde is somewhat of a prodigal son having played for the Patriots from 2006-2007 before opting to make a short stint with Jose Rizal University in 2008. He failed a chance to make it to the NCAA before resurfacing in Cavite.DLSU-D barged into the win column on August 18 when it blasted neighbors EAC-Cavite, 92-77, at the Technological Institute of the Philippines gym in Manila.
In that contest, point guard Sam Plameras erupted for 25 points to give the Patriots an even 1-1 slate. Two days later, they were able to beat Philippine School of Business Administration behind a stellar game from Onde. However, their two-game streak came to an end on August 23 in front of a jubilant home crowd at the Ugnayang La Salle gym – DLSU-D’s sports facility – where they lost to Olivarez, 82-79.
The Patriots led 9-8 early but the Sea Lions’ full-court press made life miserable for them and fell behind by as much as 15 points in the second half. They tried one last comeback attempt when a series of threes from bulky guard third-year Management student Jhonnel Marquez cut the lead to four but wasted opportunities in the final 20 seconds or so ultimately sealed their doom.
Two days later, DLSU-D absorbed a 63-57 setback to the Cougars at the EAC-Cavite gym, a jeepney ride away from the campus and a walk from the La Salle-Health and Science Institute.
While the men’s basketball team is trying to change its luck, their counterparts in the men’s and women’s volleyball remained on pace to rule their respective divisions. The Lady Patriots are currently unbeaten after three games led by former Shakey’s V-League guest player Jennifer Manzano, who has taken the leadership roles after April Almaden and Precious Abano already exhausted their playing years.
The Patriots also hold the same slate after an easy three-set drubbing of TIP at the ULS gym on Monday.
