LA SALLE survived a furious late charge from National Chengchi University of Chinese Taipei to come away with an 89-84 victory in the World University Basketball Series on Saturday at Yoyogi National Stadium Second Gymnasium in Tokyo.
Mike Phillips saved the day for the Green Archers, blocking Te Chi-hsu on the fastbreak with 21 seconds remaining after EJ Gollena lost the leather.
The Taft side still had to make a strong defensive stance after JC Macalalag missed on his drive, but fortunately, Zhi Kai-wu muffed his potential game-tying three.
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Luis Pablo iced the game after canning both of his charities with 2.1 ticks left, as La Salle began its title defense with a well-earned win.
Phillips finished the game with 15 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks to show the the way in Green Archers' opener for the three-day tourney.
Mason Amos also waxed hot for the green-and-white, going 4-of-7 from deep to drop 14 points and five rebounds, Pablo had 11 points and four boards, and Vhoris Marasigan nabbed 10.
They now await in the semifinals on Sunday the winner of the game between University of Hong Kong and Japan University Select Team.
Hot start to La Salle title defense
Tensions flared late in the game, as Boubacar Mboup and Marasigan got entangled in a rebound play at the 2:36 mark of the fourth. An ensuing exchange with Kean Baclaan led to the burly Senegalese big picking up two technical fouls, leaving the Griffins with a gaping hole in the middle for the remainder of the game.
Wu Zhi-kai led NCCU with 21 points on 4-of-12 shooting from threes, as the Taiwanese side shot a blistering 6-of-14 clip from downtown in that failed second half assault.
Sung Hsin-hao added 20 points and five rebounds as Hsu got 17 in the defeat.
The Scores:
LA SALLE 89 - Phillips 15, Amos 14, Pablo 11, Marasigan 10, Cortez 9, Macalalag 8, Baclaan 8, Gollena 6, Abadam 6, Daep 2, Dungo 0.
NCCU 84 - Wu 21, Sung 20, Hsu 17, Mboup 9, Lin EY 6, Hsieh 5, Lin TH 4, Ndiaye 2, Pan 0, Fu 0, Wang 0.
Quarters: 29-17, 46-36, 69-58, 89-84.
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