The DLSU Green Archers started the 2013 FilOil Flying V Pre-season Premier Cup with a hard-fought, 73-67, win against UAAP rival, the UST Growling Tigers, yesterday afternoon at the Arena in San Juan.
Newcomer Jason Perkins led the team with 17 points and 13 rebounds while sophomore Gabby Reyes added 13 markers of his own. UAAP Season 75 standouts Jeron Teng and Almond Vosotros also jolted 10 points apiece while seven other Archers barged into the scoring column.
On the other side, two key veterans led the Growling Tigers squad. Jeric Teng scored a game-high of 31 points while Aljon Mariano pitched in 28 more points. Together, the duo tallied 59 of UST’s 67 points in the game.
The first quarter of the game started out slow for both teams. Thomas Torres drew first blood with a short jump shot after both teams failed to score points during the first three minutes of the quarter.
With the game tied at eight-all in the 2:20 mark of the first period, the Growling Tigers pulled away early as Mariano and Teng teamed up for eight straight unanswered points to put UST early in the driving seat.
During the second quarter, the Green-and-White bounced back after much-needed help off the bench was provided by Reyes, Robert Bolick, Yankie Haruna and Kib Montalbo who combined to level the score at the end of the half.
With both teams having several chances to score from the free throw stripe in the third period, the Green Archers struggled to drill the freebies that led UST to regain control of the match, 57-51, at the end of the third quarter.
After trailing by six points in the beginning of the last quarter, the Green Archers mustered a 16-3 run in the middle of the payoff period, which placed DLSU ahead by five, 67-62, with 2:27 remaining.
Mariano scored a two-pointer to trim UST’s deficit, but clutch baskets from Perkins and Oda Tampus restored La Salle’s advantage to seven. The Growling Tigers regained hope with Mariano’s trey in the last minute of the game, but Jeron Teng’s pair of charity shots from the stripe sealed the win for the Green Archers.
When asked about the performance of the team during the match, Assistant Coach Allan Caidic stated, “We cannot be satisfied with this. They should improve this, sa free throws and sa three points.” Caidic is planning to address this issue by adding more drills in the upcoming training sessions.
Head Coach Gee Abanilla has high hopes for his new additions to the team; he also plans to put a premium on defense.
On April 20, the Green Archers will face the South Western University Cobras, 2 pm, at the same venue.
Scores:
DLSU 73 — Perkins 17, G. Reyes 13, Teng 10, Vosotros 10, N. Torres 6, T. Torres 4, Tampus 4, Montalbo 3, Van Opstal 2, Bolick 2, Haruna 2, Andrada 0, Paredes 0, M. Reyes 0.
UST 67 — Teng 31, Mariano 28, Abdul 3, Marata 3, Ferrer 2, Daquioag 0, Pe 0, Lo 0, Sheriff 0, Bautista 0, Hainga 0, Tan 0, Tan 0, Vigil 0.
Quarter scores: 10-16, 34-34, 51-57, 73-67.
