Fil-Oil: Green Archers outlast UE in preseason opening

The DLSU Green Archers showed no signs of rust in their game as they opened the 2014 Fil-Oil Flying V Premier Cup on a winning note. The reigning UAAP and PCCL champions defeated the UE Red Warriors, 69-62, in the opening day of the preseason tournament earlier today at The Arena in San Juan.

Starting center Arnold van Opstal led the Green Archers with 16 points, six rebounds, two assists and one block. The last UAAP season’s Most Improved Player started the heat for the Green Archers early in the first quarter as he scored eight straight points to lift his squad to a five-point lead, 12-7. The Taft-based squad continued to silence UE in the first 10 minutes of the game and ended the first quarter up by 10 points, 20-10.

The momentum stayed with the La Salle side despite head coach Juno Sauler opening the second quarter with a couple of his bench players on the court. Prized freshman Prince Rivero, along with fellow rookie Abu Tratter, scored early two-point field goals for the Green Archers. UE sought refuge to veteran Roi Sumang to cut La Salle’s lead to just two, 28-26, with only a couple of minutes left on the clock. At the end of the first half, La Salle still remained to be on top, 32-28.

The Green Archers suddenly went shaky in the second half as UE was able to tie the game at 47-all. UE’s steady field goal shooting and tight defense became the thorn for La Salle’s way as the game reached another deadlock at 58 points. At the last two minutes of the game, the heat went back to the Green Archers as La Salle veteran Almond Vosotros scored the remaining crucial points for the squad from the free throw line. Vosotros tallied a total of 10 points with four assists. As the final buzzer sounded, the game went in favor of the Green Archers 69-62.

Green Archer Jason Perkins was not able to play for the squad due to medical reasons and was asked to take a break from basketball for at least five days. However, the loss didn’t seem to affect much of La Salle’s performance as the game saw the comeback of Yutien Andrada from an ACL injury that kept him out for almost a year. The veteran La Salle forward contributed four points, six rebounds and one assist.

Jeron Teng and Thomas Torres also played significant roles for the Green Archers as they contributed combined for 20 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

Up next for the Green Archers are the JRU Heavy Bombers whom they will face on May 10, 2014 at 4pm at The Arena in San Juan.

DLSU 69 – Van Opstal 16, T. Torres 12, Vosotros 10, Teng 8, Salem 5, Andrada 4, Montalbo 4, Rivero 2, Torres N. 2, Tratter 2, Mustre 2, Dela Paz 2, Sargent 0

UE 62 – Sumang 15, Arafat 12, Galanza 7, Olayon 7, Palma 6, Javier 5, Varilla 3, Alberto 3, Caparida 2, Charcos 2, Jumao-As 0, De Leon 0, Hernandez 0