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MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The De La Salle Green Archers live to defend their championship another day.
After losing their first three games to the FEU Tamaraws in Season 77 of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament, DLSU finally broke through and pulled out a dominant 94-73 win over their rivals on Saturday, September 27, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
As the no. two seed and owners of a twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Final Four round, FEU will still have a chance to make the tournament finals, but they’ll have to do so by defeating La Salle, the no. three seed, in a do-or-die knockout match on Wednesday, October 1.
It was an all-around performance from the Green Archers, who was spearheaded by 25 points and 7 rebounds from Jeron Teng but also received 18 and 17 markers from Norbert Torres and Almond Vosotros, respectively.
Vosotros also compiled 8 rebounds and 4 assists, while Torres attained 7 boards.
“We were just grateful for the opportunity to play,” DLSU head coach Juno Sauler said after the game.
“It takes a team effort,” he added later on. “We can’t win with just two, three guys.”
“We really had to bounce back,” added Teng, talking about their prior defeat. “We thought we had to give it for the seniors.”
“We want to play more games,” he also noted.
The second half opened with DLSU rookie Prince Rivero taking two free throws by virtue of an unsportsmanlike foul called on FEU (hit to the head) before the second quarter finished.
After Rivero made his charities, La Salle went on a roll as they converted on their next three offensive possessions to establish a 43-31 edge. Moments later, Perkins hit a pair of free throws to up the lead to 14.
Just when the Tamaraws started getting stops on defense, a technical foul on head coach Nash Racela halted their momentum. A pair of charities were awarded to Vosotros, who calmly sank both to put La Salle ahead 49-35.
The Green Archers stayed in charge for the rest of the third period, though the quarter didn’t come to a close before the game heated up. With a little over a minute to go, Teng’s drive saw him attain a basket, but he was also hit in his private area thanks to an elbow by Rob Dennison, which the game’s officials deemed an unsportsmanlike foul.
Mac Belo was able to put a couple of points on the scoreboard after, but De La Salle still took a 63-47 edge heading into the final period.
A trio of 3-pointers by Alfrancis Tamsi and Achie Inigo kick-started a mini FEU run in the fourth period, as they cut the lead to 16 after it went up by as much as 21.
However, La Salle didn’t permit their rivals from extending their rally as they turned to Teng to re-take the momentum. A few plays later, Jason Perkins’s post entry pass reached an open Arnold Van Opstal, whose two-handed slam proved to be the dagger as the archers erected a 20-point lead, 82-62.
Belo had 32 markers to lead FEU, who had no other double-digit scorer with Tolomia coming in second after recording just 7 points.
La Salle shot 42% from the field and 40% from downtown, while out-rebounding their opponents 54-41.
Julian Sargent pitched in 11 points for DLSU, while Perkins finished with 8.
The winner of La Salle and FEU’s knockout match on Wednesday will face the winner of Ateneo and NU’s do-or-die contest that will take place on the same day. – Rappler.com
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