Green Archers and Red Lions settle for draw in champions’ clash

Despite playing against the backdrop of a charity game, the DLSU Green Archers and the SBC Red Lions gave the crowd at the SMART–Araneta Coliseum a preview of the potential PCCL finals with a gritty ballgame that ended in a tie with a score of 74 – 74.

Jeron Teng and Norbert Torres came up with the big baskets in the fourth quarter, with the latter coming up with a big putback to give DLSU the lead at 74-72 with less than a minute left in the game. Baser Amer and Ola Adeogun led the charge for the Red Lions, who clawed back from a 10-point halftime deficit to end the game with a draw.

“[It was] just like any other ball game,” said DLSU head coach Juno Sauler. “So whether we have a one day layoff or a six week layoff, the thing is we try to play the same way as we normally would.”

Thomas Torres opened the scoring for DLSU and early on, the game had the potential to turn into a high scoring affair as both teams traded baskets, with the first quarter ending with a tie at 20-all. In the second period, the Green Archers began to pull away as fast break layups from Almond Vosotros pushed DLSU’s lead to 10, 44-34, at the half.

San Beda began to chip into the lead in the third, trimming the deficit to six, 59-53, at the end of the third. Amer, who was held to just five points at the half, hit big baskets in the final period, even giving the Red Lions the lead at 70-69 with 1:49 left in the game. The Green Archers responded by answering the Red Lions’ baskets, capped off by Torres’ put back to give the Green Archers a slim 74-72 lead.

Adeogun responded with a put back of his own and got fouled but failed to convert on the bonus free throw. Torres and Teng failed to convert their attempts at the buzzer, settling the score at 74 apiece. Traditionally, if a charity game ends in a tie, there will be no more overtime, meaning both teams will have to settle the score in the upcoming PCCL Final Four.

Vosotros led the Green Archers in scoring with 21 points, 16 of which were from the first half. Norbert Torres came up with nine points, while Teng and Gabby Reyes had seven each. Adeogun led the Red Lions with 14 points, while Amer was the only other Red Lion in double figures with 11.

At halftime, a 3-on-3 three point shootout ensued between both teams as alumni, players, and members of the coaching staff took turns in shooting three pointers for charity. DLSU came out on top, 10-6, with four threes coming from the Triggerman, current assistant coach Allan Caidic, who brought back memories of the 80’s as he kept drilling threes from his favorite spot at the wing.  The other participants were Vosotros, Amer, Ren-Ren Ritualo, Borgie Hermida, and San Beda head coach Boyet Fernandez.

The event was a success as over a million pesos in donations came in from both teams and from the companies that sponsored the event dedicated to the people affected by Typhoon Yolanda. Each point scored and every three pointer made from both teams accounted for generous donations to be given to the relief fund from corporate sponsors.

Up next for the Green Archers is a game against the Southern Islands Champion Southwestern University, which features former DLSU guard Mac Tallo. It will be held at the Blue Eagle Gym in Ateneo at 2:00 pm on Monday, December 9.

The Scores:

La Salle (74) – Vosotros 21, N. Torres 9, Teng 7, Reyes 7, Perkins 6, Revilla 6, Montalbo 4, T. Torres 4, Tampus 4, Bolick 3, Salem 3, Dela Paz 0.

San Beda (74) – Adeogun 14, Amer 11, Sara 9, Dela Rosa 8, A. Semerad 7, Abarcar 6, Pascual 6, Koga 5, Dela Cruz 2, Ludovice 2, Mendoza 2, D. Semerad 2, Abatayo 0, Bonsubre 0, Villaruz 0

Quarterscores: 20-20; 34-44; 53-59; 74-74.