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MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The De La Salle Green Archers showed the endgame poise that made them the UAAP Season 76 Champions, as they nipped the NCAA Champions San Beda Red Lions, 64-60, in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) on Thursday, December 12 at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
In a tight match that saw both champions going back and forth up until the final minute, the Archers once again relied on clutch plays coming from the same UAAP hero Almond Vosotros.
“The players just came up with big plays in the end. We just played big in those possessions,” DLSU head coach Juno Sauler said, commended his boys, especially Vosotros and Jeron Teng.
Following a crucial go-ahead and-one play from Teng at the 1:37 mark in the fourth that put the Archers up, 60-58, Vosotros sank a runner with 34 seconds remaining to give his team more cushion, 62-58. More importantly, the basket deflated the Red Lions and made it more difficult for them to steal the game.
But Art Dela Cruz had no plans of giving up that easily as he made a quick bucket to cut the deficit, 62-60, with 32 seconds left to play.
Vosotros, however, saved another possession for the Archers as he tracked down the offensive rebound, resulting to a putback by Jason Perkins with 6.6 on the clock. It effectively shut the door on the Lions for good.
Teng led La Salle with 23 big points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. While Perkins was a monster on the boards with 14 along with 15 markers. Vosotros had 12 points, 5 boards and an assist to his name.
For the Red Lions, Dela Cruz topscored with 19 points, as Baser Amer and Ola Adeogun added 15 and 14, respectively.
Praise, experience for Archers
Sauler praised Robert Bolick for his solid play and contributions to the team in the PCCL so far. While he only finished with a quiet two points in 20 minutes of play in this game, Sauler is still happy about his performance.
“He’s playing very well,” Sauler said. “He’s been like our sixth man coming off the bench. Hopefully he continues to play that way in the Finals.”
He also spoke of how Teng has been among the most determined players on the floor no matter the situation, and is also being a leader by motivating his teammates. “You can see how bad Jeron wants it, especially in the endgame,” he explained. “Even with 4 fouls, he’ll play hard defensively. He’s there to motivate also his teammates.”
However, he still mentioned what Teng needs to work on.
“Sometimes, though, he’ll take bad shots but that’s what I have to live with. But I like his mentality in the endgame where he takes it hard to the basket,” Sauler said.
Overall, Sauler sees the game against a champion team like San Beda as a significant learning experience for the whole team, including himself.
“More than the result it’s the experience of playing a team like them,” he said. “NCAA champion, very strong team for how many years already, well-coached.”
The two teams played against each other for the first time in a recent charity game that ended in a draw, 74-all.
“Just by playing them, players get to learn a lot. I also get to learn something here and there from the coach. Just the experience, more than there result, is what I’m grateful for.”
The Archers will be facing Southwestern University in a best-of-3 Finals affair starting on Monday, December 16. – Rappler.com
SCORES
La Salle (64): Teng 23, Perkins 15, Vosotros 12, Torres N. 6, Salem 4, Torres T. 2, Bolick 2
San Beda (60): Dela Cruz 19, Amer 15, Adeogun 14, Dela Rosa 5, Sara 3, Pascual 2, Semerad A. 2
Quarter scores: 17-16, 25-27, 46-47, 64-60
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