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DLSU gets opening win versus Bulldogs, can exhale now

The defending champs were perilously close to 0-3 last Wednesday. It seemed everything was going against the Archers in their tiff against the NU Bulldogs.

Guard Thomas Torres suffered a fractured foot versus Ateneo and didn't play, so Juno Sauler's side was behind the eight ball from the opening tip off. La Salle was up 35-29 at the half, when the going got painfully slow.

DLSU were excruciatingly cold from the field in the third quarter, as if a navy blue-and-gold force field was surrounding the rim. Three point shots jangled out, layups strayed wide, and midrange jumpers rattled harmlessly away. They only mustered ten points in that period.

But the Archers stayed the course and hacked out a 57-55 win, thanks in large part to Jason Perkins' gutty undergoal stab through the arms of Kyle Neypes and Try Rosario with just seconds to go to put the contest beyond reach at 57-53.

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The Archers will certainly take the win that gets them to 1-2 and within pace of the unbeaten squads. The feelling of relief among the green-and-white faithful was almost palpable in the MOA Arena. The stats, though, make for unsightly reading.

DLSU only shot 22 of 62 from the field for just 35%. (NU went 23 for 62.) None of the sixteen Archer heaves from beyond the arc funneled through the nets. Almond Vosotros went 0 for 9 from three point land. The bright spots for the Archers were Perkins and Norbert Torres, who produced 14 and 13 points, mostly from the paint.

NU also outrebounded their foes 43 to 40 thanks to 25 boards from the triumvirate of Alfred Aroga, Glenn Khobuntin, and Rosario. Fortunately for De la Salle, NU were just 6 of 11 from the free throw line.

In the post game presscon Sauler was his usual reserved self but nonetheless had the air of a man who had walked away from a car accident unscathed.

We can't celebrate. We still have to find ways to execute things.”

When asked about Perkins' play that sealed the game, he said that they were lucky. Perkins, who willed that ball into the hole in another solid outing, might feel a bit differently.

The misfiring shooting didn't seem to bother the coach either.

Almond went 0 for 9 but that's how he plays. I can't take that away from him. Kib Montalbo had open jumpers that he missed but those are good shots. I have to keep my players taking those. If we keep on practicing them in practice they will go in in games."

Sauler praised Montalbo, who gave him two points in 21 minutes of action. “I was satisfied with his play. He really took on the challenge.”

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Montalbo will need to continue stepping up. Thomas Torres is likely out for six weeks, with the best-case scenario being he returns for the second round.

Another issue cropped up in the press con. A reporter noted that DLSU have struggled against teams composed of speedsters, and Sauler did not disagree.

Wala, mabagal talaga kami” he admitted with remarkable candor. “We have to work on execution and spacing so we can take away the quickness of other teams." UE and their swift guards, Roi Sumang especially, loom next on the schedule.

But La Salle are in the win column, and can now relax a bit. They can take their cue from their coach, who remains preternaturally calm no matter what the situation.

I asked him if this was the most pressure he had felt to win since last year's finals, and his four-word answer was vintage Coach Juno.

No, its the same.”

Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.