UAAP: Green Archers escapes Red Warriors for solo lead

In unfamiliar territory no more is the DLSU Green Archers after its win over the UE Red Warriors. July 19 at the Big Dome, and the hot start of the Taft squad was marked. Their 67-59 escape brings them ahead of all the competing UAAP schools, with their 2-0 record.

Struggles, competencies

It was an unusual start for the Archers when they found themselves down by five with over five minutes remaining in the first canto.

 

Aeries of misfortunes derailed the Archers’ game, including the early fouls of premier big man Norbert Torres, incurred with still eight minutes to play in the opening quarter.

 

A couple of turnovers and a low field goal percentage gave Archers’ Coach Gee Abanilla something to fret on. Despite their slow start, though, the Green-and-White squad still managed to edge out the Cordiñerra-mentored squad by two, leading the game to 13-11.

 

The Archers came to pick up their real game in the second quarter, if slowly. The squad focused on defense, giving up only three field goal conversions for the Red Warriors.

 

They anchored a 9-0 run to end the half in style, after two consecutive triples of the Recto-based squad.

 

The Red Warriors won a seesaw battle in the third-frame of the match. The Warriors opened the second half on fire to go within three with 5:25 remaining on the clock.

 

The Archers got back and established a nine-point lead, but the boys from Recto reduced their deficit to just four, 43-39.

 

After being uncertain with maintaining their form in the match, the Archers finally found their rhythm and gained composure in the final period.

The team scored 24 points in the payoff period, behind Jeron Teng’s nine markers and LA Revilla’s seven points.

 

Scenarios of survival

Based on their opening match against the UP Fighting Maroons, there were differences;but role players from the deep bench of the squad filled the loopholes.

 

Norbert Torres’ double-double may be gone, but his rebounding was carried on by Arnold Van Opstal, who grabbed nine boards in the game.

 

His scoring, meanwhile, was taken over by hardworking big man Jovet Mendoza who had an 11-point performance.

 

Revilla was missing in the first half without a single point to his name, much unlike his 13-point first half output in their last outing.

 

Rookie Thomas Torres, who scored seven points in the first half, kept the Archers ahead, filling Revilla’s niche.

 

However, Revilla picked up his game in the second half, scoring all of his 11 markers in the closing half.

 

Teng, on the other hand, was for real.

 

With LA and Norbert shaken up, rookie sensation Jeron Teng took over to lead the Archers.

 

Backing up his last game’s 15 point and six rebound output are his 16 markers, despite six missed free throws, coupled with five boards in his follow up performance.

 

He showed consistency and proved that he could be reliable in their coming games. “Kulang pa, bad start, I had lots of turnovers, so I still have lots to improve for this UAAP,” said Teng as he mentioned about the room for improvement in his performance.

 

Assessing the Archers’ level

“Ultimately, we want to get better as the season progresses,” said Coach Abanilla as he anticipated, given that they still have a lot of games left, although adding that they need to take the games one at a time.

 

He also mentioned that for their next game against a tough team in the FEU Tamaraws, their A-game should be out.

 

Now at 2-0, beating the only two squads under them last season to open up the 75thUAAP season, the Archers still has lot to prove when it comes to its games.

 

But there are things which are already for real: their composure to stay in the game, and their confidence inside the court, and a will to win.

 

Tough assignments are left with all final four teams.

 

FEU, ADMU, UST, and AdU are in line for the Archers in the games to come.