Still alive! Archers get flawless victory over Tamaraws to force knockout match
The De La Salle University Green Archers pulled out one of their best performances just when they needed it most. With their backs against the wall, the Archers dealt the Far Easter University Tamaraws a wire-to-wire 94-73 victory, Saturday evening at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Jeron Teng bounced back from his horrible outing in the last game with 25 points, seven rebounds, and three assists while Norbert Torres added 18 points and seven rebounds.
FEU’s Mac Belo established a new career high with 32 points but he was the only Tamaraw who showed up for the important game. After averaging 22 points in their first three meetings against La Salle, Mike Tolomia was silent for most of the game as he only scored seven points going 2 of 14 from the field.
The Tamaraws also got sub-par games from their frontline rotation as Carl Cruz, Roger Pogoy, and Anthony Hargrove only managed to score a combined eight points.
La Salle could not solve the puzzle that was FEU in their first three meetings but a different team showed up when it was win-or-go-home for them.
The Archers joined the National University Bulldogs in forcing deciding games in the Final Four. As a result, FEU will battle La Salle and NU will take on Ateneo on Wednesday with the winners qualifying for the UAAP Finals.
Julian Sargent rained down three triples in the first quarter to lead La Salle to a 24-14 advantage after the first 10 minutes. FEU cut it somewhat to seven points, 34-27, heading into the half time break.
It didn’t take long for the Archers to heat up and double their halftime lead. With Almond Vosotros heating up from mid-range and their bigs dominating the boards, La Salle re-established a 14-point lead at 45-31 with 6:44 left in the third.
La Salle stretched its lead to 19 points, 61-42, as they got five points in a single possession after Roy Dennison was called for a flagrant foul after a low blow elbow on Teng.
Belo tried his best to carry the fight for the Tamaraws but no other FEU player stepped up to help him. Arnold Van Opstal capped La Salle’s dominant performance with a two-handed dunk at the 3:33 mark to give the Archers an 82-62 lead.
Up by 23 with less than two minutes in the game, both coaches emptied out their benches to rest their starters for the do-or-die game this Wednesday.
The Main Men: Teng and Norbert Torres poured in much of the offense for La Salle as they combined for 43 points
Honorable Mentions: Vosotros added 17 points, eight rebounds, and four assists while Sargent chipped in 11 points and four rebounds. The two keyed scoring runs in the first and third quarters to give La Salle the separation they needed against the Tamaraws.
Game Turning Point: The Archers quickly doubled their seven-point halftime lead early in the third quarter. Already up by 14, Teng scored a basket while receiving a nasty low blow from Dennison. Teng sank the bonus free throw and La Salle scored two more points as they kept possession to lead by 19. The Tamaraws failed to threaten from that point on.
They Said It:
La Salle coach Juno Sauler: We were just grateful for the opportunity to play. I told the players to make most of the situation we were in. It doesn’t matter if we win or lose as long as we take advantage of the opportunity. FEU was plugging the paint too much. I told the players to read the defense and if the three is open, take it.
Jeron Teng: We had to win for the seniors. It’s too early for them to end their UAAP careers.
The scores:
DLSU 94: Teng 25, Torres 18, Vosotros 17, Sargent 11, Perkins 8, Van Opstal 4, Montalbo 3, Torres 3, Rivero 2, Salem 2, Mustre 1, Andrada 0.
FEU 73: Belo 32, Tolomia 7, David 7, Inigo 6, Tamsi 6, Jose 5, Cruz 4, Pogoy 2, Hargrove 2, Ugsang 2, Lee Yu 0, Dennison 0, Escoto 0, Delfinado 0, Denila 0.
Quarters: 24-14, 34-27, 63-47, 94-73.
