The DLSU Green Archers fell to the FEU Tamaraws in overtime, 83-79, dropping to a 2-2 slate while FEU remains the only undefeated team in the UAAP this season with a 4-0 record.
The Tamaraws started the game hot, scoring eight points, highlighted by five straight points by Mike Tolomia to erect a six point lead with 8:30 remaining in the first quarter. The Green Archers answered with a run of their own to keep the game close as they quickly gained momentum. With Jeron Teng leading the squad, La Salle pulled off a 12-3 run to end the quarter to claim the lead at 21-17.
The second quarter was a back-and-forth match-up as both teams had an answer for every run. Eventually, the Tamaraws gained momentum towards the end of the half as they finally reclaimed the lead, 35-34, entering half time. Jeron Teng paced the DLSU, scoring 15 of his game-high 25 points in the first half.
La Salle came out of the halftime break cold as they missed several shots early in the third canto. FEU had an 11-5 run that gave them a seven point lead. This prompted DLSU coach Juno Sauler to call a timeout then the frontcourt of La Salle, composed of Teng, Arnold van Opstal, and Jason Perkins, came out of the break with a 12-4 run to give the lead back to their squad, 51-50.
Teng scored eight more points in the third period to give the Green Archers the lead at the end of the quarter, 58-54. Van Opstal and Perkins scored seven and six points apiece in the quarter and they finished the game with 20 and 10 markers respectively.
La Salle struggled to take care of the ball in the fourth quarter, but they compensated with steady rebounding on both the offensive and defensive ends. Thomas Torres started the final quarter strong with back-to-back baskets to give him his only points in the game. The Green Archers looked to close the game with a 15-6 run sparked by the shooting of Luigi dela Paz and this forced FEU head coach Nash Racela to call a timeout with less than three minutes left in the game. The Tamaraws then answered back with a 15-2 run initiated by their defense, forcing the Green Archers to commit crucial turnovers and they managed to force overtime, tying the count at 75 at the final buzzer.
The Green Archers had several chances to seal the win but they came up short. Almond Vosotros missed crucial free throws with 22.4 seconds remaining on the clock that could have extended their lead to as much as four points then Mark Belo was able to tie the game at 75 with a short jumper on the next possession. DLSU had a chance to win the game at the end of the fourth quarter, but the midrange jumper of Teng bounced in-and-out of the rim.
Arnold van Opstal gave DLSU a two point lead at the start of overtime, but the never-say-die Tamaraws once again answered with two points from RR Garcia to tie the game at 77. Jeron Teng was then fouled with 3:18 remaining in the game and he split his free throws to give La Salle their final lead of the game, 78-77.
The Tamaraws scored two baskets in a span of 31 seconds to give FEU a three point lead with two minutes remaining in the game while their excellent defense prevented the Green Archers from getting easy looks at the basket as they ran away with the victory to defeat La Salle, 83-79.
Jeron Teng had a double-double with 25 points and 15 rebounds, but only converted on 27 percent of his free throws as he shot 3 for 11. Arnold van Opstal, who looks like this year’s revelation for the Green-and-White, scored 20 points while grabbing 11 rebounds. He was also the lone Green Archer to have a free throw percentage better than 50 percent, as he shot eight out of nine from the charity stripe–an impressive 89 percent.
Up next for the Green Archers are the UE Red Warriors whom they will face on July 20 at 2PM in the Mall of Asia Arena. Despite their 1-3 standing, the Red Warriors have a formidable team that won the Fil-Oil Flying V Preseason Premiere Cup and the match-up between the two teams will be crucial for positioning in the middle of the standings.
The Scores:
FEU 83 – Romeo 25, Garcia 19, Belo 10, Tolomia 9, Pogoy 9, Hargrove 4, Cruz 4, Mendoza 2, Jose 1, Sentcheu 0
DLSU 79 – Teng 25, van Opstal 20, Perkins 10, de la Paz 9, Vosotros 8, T. Torres 4, Revilla 3, N. Torres 0, Tampus 0, Reyes 0, Montalbo 0, Bolick 0
Quarter scores: 17-21; 35-34; 54-58; 75-75; 83-79
