De La Salle University got its payback against Adamson University and in the process boosted its Final Four push, pulling off an 84-69 victory on Sunday in the UAAP Season 89 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Green Archers dominated from start to finish behind the troika of Jacob Cortez, Luis Pablo, and JC Macalalag, as the Taft crew improved to 7-5 to join Far Eastern University in a two-way logjam at the third spot.

Cortez led the attack with 15 points, four rebounds, four steals and two assists, while Pablo and Macalalag chipped in 14 and 12 points, with seven and eight rebounds respectively. Coming off a four-point loss to National University, La Salle entered the game determined to bounce back and get its Final Four bid back on track. The defending champions blew the game open early, with Pablo and Mason Amos closing out the opening period with La Salle ahead 25-15.S1

Earl Abadam then hit a triple and a layup to stretch the lead to 45-23 in the second period, and La Salle went into halftime ahead 48-26, a 22-point cushion built largely by Pablo, who scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half. Adamson, still riding high from a 62-55 win over Ateneo, tried to come back, with Monty Montebon burying a three-pointer and setting up a Kobe Demisana jumper that cut the deficit to 78-63 in the final 4:02.S1S2

Adamson, which was eventually eliminated from contention in the process, committed a series of turnovers and missed a number of shots as La Salle cruised to the vengeful victory. Torres and Anabo each scored 14 points for Adamson, which finished with 69, while Montebon added 11.S1