Fil-Oil: La Salle fends off feisty Lyceum

Physical play and a bevy of fouls dominated the De La Salle University Green Archers’ 70-64 win over the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates.

The Green Archers coasted to easy wins in their last two games against Southwestern University and San Sebastian but the LPU Pirates would not back down. The Green Archers could only stretch their advantage to as much as 10 points, but they never squandered the lead as Jeron Teng paced La Salle with 19 points, highlighted by 13 made free throws out of 15 attempts.

During the highly physical contest, five LPU players fouled out during the course of the game. Lyceum played tough defense forcing 19 turnovers for the Green Archers, although this put the team in the penalty in every quarter of the game.

“In every game you want to be prepared and compete but unfortunately we weren’t prepared and it’s a good thing this happened because we can learn from this,” said head coach Gee Abanilla.

In the beginning of the 4th quarter, the Green Archers hit the ground running as they fired a 9-2 run over the first 1:27 of the canto. La Salle took control of the game as they dissected Lyceum’s pressure defense and dominated the rebounds behind the efforts of Norbert Torres and Jason Perkins.

La Salle took their biggest lead in the fourth at 62-53 with a pair of charities from Jeron Teng with 5:28 remaining in the game. A raucous then erupted with 3:40 remaining in the game as Gabby Reyes was fouled hard by Jerimiah Taladua while going for a fast break layup. This sparked a bench clearing incident that resulted in three players from each team being ejected from the game for leaving the sidelines and shoving players from the other team. Arnold Van Opstal, Robert Bolick, and Matt Salem were all ejected from the game for the La Salle side.

After the court was cleared, the Green Archers continued to play with intensity and composure as they kept their lead and forced the Pirates into taking well contested shots. In the final moments of the game, the Green Archers ran down the clock and kept their unblemished record and remained on top of their bracket with a 4-0 slate.
“We have to reiterate to our players that we have to be prepared physically as well as mentally and I think we have enough time to correct our mistakes” added Abanilla.

Earlier, Reyes and Torres combined for seven straight points to give the Green Archers a 7-0 lead at the beginning of the game. La Salle looked like it was heading towards another blowout but they failed to build on their momentum as they ended the quarter with just a six point lead, 13-7.

Despite missing nine free throws in the first half, coach Gee Abanilla’s squad emerged from the first two quarters with a 31-26 advantage. Teng hit a running jump shot as time expired to give the Green Archers their five point advantage over the Pirates.

In an unusual event, LPU’s Daniel Garcia fouled out of the game, the first of five Pirates, with seven and a half minutes remaining in the third quarter, depleting the Pirate’s frontline. With 2:40 remaining in the period, Salem’s two free throws put La Salle ahead by 10, 46-36. The pressure defense of the Pirates vaulted them back into the game though as they finished the quarter with an 11-2 run to close with just a one point deficit.

Abanilla concluded saying, “We need focus. We weren’t prepared mentally and the free throws showed it.”

Next up for the Green and White are the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, whom they will face on May 17, Friday, at 2:30 P.M. in the same venue.

The Scores

DLSU 70 – Teng 19, N. Torres 10, Perkins 9, T. Torres 8, G. Reyes 7, Van Opstal 5, Tampus 4, Montalbo 2, Bolick 2, Paredes 2, Salem 2, Dela Paz 0, Andrada, 0

LPU 64 – Zamora 18, Lesmoras 15, Azores 7, Taladua 6, Edora 6, Alanes 6, Soliman 4, Francisco 2, Evangelista 0, Garcia 0, Lacastesantos 0, Ambohot 0

Quarter Scores: 13-7; 31-26; 48-47; 70-64.