UAAP: Teng lifts DLSU past streaking Ateneo

With the game tied at 64 apiece, sophomore forward Jeron Teng had the ball at the top of the key. As the 15 seconds left on the game clock began to tick, he drove past Chris Newsome, spun, faked the shot, then went up for the tough floater.  It was a tough game for the reigning Rookie of the Year as he struggled throughout the contest, even committing the offensive foul that put the game in peril late. The shot was up, and as it danced around the net, the Lasallian community was in a frenzy.  Teng broke the tie and more importantly, won the game for the DLSU Green Archers, completing a season sweep of their arch rivals, the ADMU Blue Eagles.

“Naisip ko na blessed ako for this game,” a composed Teng said after the game.

It was a tough match-up for the Green Archers, as they played from behind for most of the game, even going down by as much as nine points in the second quarter. Strong performances from Jason Perkins and Almond Vosotros helped them overcome the Ateneo lead and the Green Archers stayed within striking distance and finally took charge in the final quarter.

Vosotros led the Green Archers with 19 points and six rebounds while Perkins once again had a stellar game with 13 points, 15 rebounds, and two blocks. Guard LA Revilla had 11 points, six in the first period, and seven rebounds, rounding out the three Green Archers who scored in double figures. Despite nailing the game winner, Teng sat out most of the game due to foul trouble but finished with eight points.

It was all hands on deck as everyone, save for the suspended Thomas Torres, played in the game for DLSU. Gabby Reyes played 13 minutes, all in the second half, and he came up with solid defense on Chris Newsome, who was limited to 8 points during the game after scoring 27 in the first meeting.

Kiefer Ravena, who was absent in DLSU’s victory over Ateneo in the first round, finished with 12 points on 13 shots and also uncharacteristically struggled at the free throw line, missing five attempts. Ryan Buenafe wasn’t his usual self, as he usually relishes battling DLSU, and he finished with nine points on 17 shot attempts. He seemed to be less aggressive in this game and he failed to even attempt a free throw.

Opening jitters

Early on though, the Blue Eagles were in command and in the second quarter, Ateneo went on a 6-0 run. Their lead ballooned to its biggest at nine points, 22-13, with eight and a half minutes left in the first half. With Ateneo on the verge of pulling away, Perkins made a bull-like drive and drew the foul. DLSU would not let the game slip away though and they went on a 7-0 run to close the half, capped off with a three that beat the halftime buzzer by Vosotros. With the basket, the Green Archers went into their dugout down by just two points, a deficit that was very much welcome, especially with their lackadaisical performance in the opening half.

The Green Archers opened the second half with Gabby Reyes, who filled in for Teng, who was riddled with three fouls. A well-executed post up play for team captain Norbert Torres tied the game at 33 all then Vosotros banked in another triple to give the Green Archers their first taste of the lead.

An 8-2 offensive surge orchestrated by Tiongson though fueled the Blue Eagles right back into the game to take the lead back. Former Green Archer Nico Elorde capped it off with a three to give the Blue Eagles a five point lead, 47-42.

Arnold van Opstal opened the fourth with his only field goal of the game to cut the Ateneo lead to one, but Ravena split his free throws and knocked down a difficult three to give the Blue Eagles a 53-48 lead with 8:35 remaining in the game.

Late surge

Kib Montalbo and Almond Vosotros then orchestrated a masterful 9-0 run that injected new life into the Lasallian faithful and gave the Green Archers a four point cushion at 57-53 with 5:29 to go in the game.  With a minute left, a rebounding sequence in which Perkins was fouled enraged Ateneo’s head coach Bo Perasol as he stormed right to the referees in the middle of the court. The first year Ateneo coach received a technical foul thus meriting DLSU two free throws which Almond Vosotros calmly converted.

A Buenafe three cut the DLSU lead to one with less than a minute to play and after a Jeron Teng free throw split, Ravena tied things up at 64 with 14.5 seconds remaining. With the game on the line, Teng heeded the call as he nailed the game winner with 1.9 seconds remaining and he gave the Green Archers a much needed win, their seventh of the season. The Green Archers are now just a half game behind FEU for second place in the standings and a twice-to-beat advantage for the Final Four is not a farfetched proposition.

Up next for the DLSU Green Archers is a duel with the UE Red Warriors, who will be without the services of big man Charles Mammie who will be serving the back end of his two game suspension, on September 4 at 4 PM in the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

The Scores:

DLSU 66 – Vosotros 19, Perkins 13, Revilla 11, Teng 8, N. Torres 6, van Opstal 4, Montalbo 3, Salem 2, Tampus 0, Reyes 0, De la Paz 0, Bolick 0

ADMU 64 – Tiongson 14, Elorde 13, Ravena 12, Buenafe 9, Newsome 8, Pessumal 4, Golla 2, Erram 2, Tolentino 0, Enriquez 0, Capacio 0

Quarter scores: 13-16, 31-33, 46-49, 66-64