No fourth-quarter meltdown this time for DLSU against FEU
This time, De La Salle University showed ample poise and composure in the crunch to get the job done.
The Green Archers nearly blew a whopping 23-point lead but go their act together in time to get back at the Far Eastern University Tamaraws Sunday with a 75-66 win and move up to solo fourth in the UAAP Season 76 men’s basketball action at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Power forward Jason Perkins dished out a double-double outing of 18 points and 13 rebounds while ace forward Jeron Teng took charge in the fourth canto by firing away seven of his 16 markers as La Salle notched its second consecutive win and fifth overall against four setbacks.
The Green Archers also avenged a stinging 79-83 setback in their initial meeting last July 13 while dealing the Tamaraws their second straight loss after sweeping the first round of eliminations.
Hardworking forwards Roger Pogoy and Mac Belo tallied 16 points apiece for the Tams but ace guard Terrence Romeo struggled from the field, missing 14 of his 18 shots while finishing with just 12 markers.
Former league MVP RR Garcia also groped for form, coming up with just five points–all in the fourth–in seven attempts from the field.
The Main Man: Jeron Teng wouldn’t let this big opportunity slip away.
After the Tams threatened to within 60-64, the 6-foot-2 forward took matters into his own hands and delivered in style with seven of his 16 points in the payoff canto.
Teng also a fair share of La Salle’s 59-rebound performance, hauling down nine, three from the offensive end.
Honorable Mentions: Using his heft to the hilt, Jason Perkins was a big difference in the paint with 18 points in the first three quarters and also corralled a game-high 13 boards, seven offensively.
When Perkins suddenly turned cold from the field, gunner Almond Vosotros took the cudgels along with Teng.
The 5-foot-10 shooting guard added 13 points, including a booming triple that ignited La Salle’s decisive seven-to-nothing run in the crucial stretch.
Game Turning Point: Despite trailing by as many as 21-43, the Tams methodically fought their way back and pulled the closest at 62-64 off an RR Garcia bank shot.
Instead of crumbling, the Green Archers showed ample composure, starting with a big triple from Vostros followed by four quick points by Teng that restored their lead at nine with 3:13 left to play.
FEU still had several chances to pull closer but failed to capitalize. Back-to-back lay-ups by Carl Cruz and Mac Belo made it a five-point game, with the time down to just 47.6 seconds.
La Salle preserved the win by making four from its six attempts from the charity stripe.
The scores:
La Salle (75) – Perkins 18, Teng 16, Vosotros 13, Van Opstal 9, Salem 6, Montalbo 5, N. Torres 4, Tampus 4, Revilla 0, Bolick 0.
FEU (66) – Pogoy 16, Belo 16, Romeo 12, Tolomia 7, Hargrove 6, Garcia 5, Cruz 4, Inigo 0, Sentcheu 0, Mendoza 0, Lee Yu 0, Jose 0, Dennison 0, Delfinado 0, Aguilon 0.
Quarterscores: 23-14, 44-33, 60-50, 75-66.
