DEFENDING champion La Salle showed up against University of Santo Tomas last night with a crucial reminder from Green Archers coach Topex Robinson—they need to outplay the Growling Tigers. They did.

The result was La Salle carving out an 88-67 victory for its second straight win and kept its hold on second in the 87th UAAP basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

CJ Austria drove baseline, his shot getting swatted by UST’s Mark Llemit. But Austria did not give up on the play and fired a pass to an open JC Macalalag who banged in a left corner three-pointer that made it a 67-52 bulge for La Salle with 8:32 remaining.

“I think the key for us this afternoon was we just really tried to outwork them. We know what they’re capable of. We know how well-coached they are,” Robinson said. “They’re riding off a very good momentum coming to our game and sabi nga namin our goal right now is to just outwork UST.

“Glad that, you know, we just really did what we’re supposed to do this afternoon and we’re just fortunate and blessed to get this win,” he added.

Mike Phillips showed the way for the Archers with 12 points, 18 rebounds, two assists, and one block. He dedicated the game to Doleo Susalta, the team compound’s security guard who is one of his close friends who passed away recently.

Rookie Vhoris Marasigan also added 11 markers on 4-of-5 shooting while Raven Gonzales had 10 and five for La Salle.

Reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao and Macalalag had 10 apiece as the Archers scored a fitting follow up to a 68-62 triumph over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws last Wednesday and rose to 5-1.

The Tigers, coming off a 67-64 decision over the National University Bulldogs last Sept. 21, slipped to 3-2 in a tie with the University of the East for fourth.

The Taft-based dribblers took a 36-28 edge at the break and still held a 61-50 lead entering the final period.

La Salle’s lead ballooned to as much as 24 points on a Marasigan three-pointer, Austria’s layup, and another triple from Alex Konov 88-64.

Nic Cabanero carried the fight for UST with 16 points while Forthsky Padrigao posted a double-digit scoring output for the first time this season with 15 points to go along with five assists.

Malian foreign student athlete Mo Tounkara, who exited the game with less than seven minutes left after committing his fourth foul, was limited to five points and five rebounds, but was still able to contribute defensively with a pair of steals and blocks.