Coming from a close-game defeat against University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, the Green Archers relied on rookies Jeron Teng and Mark Tallo’s clutch-game tango to bounce back against the FEU Tamaraws, 58-54, at the Trinity University of Asia gymnasium last May 1.
The win gave DLSU a 2-1 record and clinched for them a second spot tie with the Green-and-Gold squad at Group B of the 18th Fr. Martin Summer Cup basketball tournament.
Tallo’s left corner 3-pointer at 56-53 secured them the lead in the last stretch and eventually the win after the teams played a tight-scoring duel throughout the match.
Tallo registered 14 points while team score leader Teng scored 16.
“Good thing that they [the rookies and second stringers] stepped up. They just showed us what they could do, we’re really happy,” Head Coach Gee Abanilla explained of his line-up.
He praised his rookies especially, Tallo and Teng, as they were able to grow from their high school basketball environment to collegiate level basketball, even despite the lack of the team’s key players due to injuries.
“May mga talent naman talaga yang mga bata. It’s just how they respond to situations and against Letran and against FEU. They showed that they could perform at a higher level than high school level,” Coach Abanilla added.
The Taft-based squad opened with an 8-0 run with 7:38 down the clock, but the team from Morayta finished the first ten minutes with only a 2 point deficit at 14-12.
The Green-and-White squad entered the 4th quarter ice cold, however, a well needed timeout and another Tallo’s open 3-point jumper placed them back at the game.
Teng nailed a tough lay-up marking a two-possession lead after the Tamaraws shortened the gap to two, with a free throw shot behind Carl Bryan Cruz.
With 1:30 down the clock and the team down by a point at 49-50, Teng slashed from the right corner sinking a left-handed lay-up to regain the lead.
The 4th quarter ended at 51-51, signaling overtime after the Archers conceded a crucial free throw from Tamaraw Chris Tolomia.
Come the start of overtime, though, it was Teng who broke the impasse as he went past his mark and sank a lay-up.
After the brief play reached a 53-53 deadlock, Tallo was left wide open at the left arc sinking a shot from downtown, bringing the victory to the Archers.
Quarter scores: 14-12, 31-29, 43-41, 51-51, 58-54
