PCCL: DLSU bows to SWU in Final Four opener

Fresh off a tie with the SBC Red Lions in the “Champions For A Cause” charity game, the DLSU Green Archers were surprised by the Southern Islands Champion, the SWU Cobras, in overtime, 68-58. The Cobras upset the reigning UAAP champions in the first game of the four team round-robin, wherein the Green Archers sorely missed center Arnold van Opstal, who was out with a hip injury.

The Cebu-based Cobras were down for most of the game until they completed a furious rally in the fourth quarter with torrid three-point shooting to take the lead late. The Green-and-White then fought back and forced overtime after Jeron Teng split his free throws to tie the game at 52.  However, former Green Archer Mac Tallo took over in the extra period to upset the reigning UAAP champions.

At the beginning of the contest, it was Tallo who opened the game’s scoring with a layup but the Green Archers responded by coming up with big baskets to give DLSU a 16-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter saw SWU’s Landry Sanjo make the most out of van Opstal’s absence as he and SWU team captain Monbert Arong brought SWU within three points, 26-23, with two minutes left in the first half. A basket from Thomas Torres and free throws from Robert Bolick then gave DLSU a 30-23 cushion heading into halftime.

The Green Archers struggled out of the break as SWU cut the lead to one, 34-33, but SWU’s dry spell towards the end of the third helped DLSU stretch their lead to 37-33 entering the final period. In the fourth, the Cobras rallied to seize a 52-49 lead late in the game. Triples from Adams Mohammed and Melvin Hoper plus a Sanjo basket gave SWU the lead, but a basket from Jason Perkins and a free throw from Teng tied the game at 52. The Green Archers had several chances to seal the game but missed the crucial shots as time expired.

Tallo took over in the extra period, scoring four points and dishing out three crucial assists while Hoper was perfect from the three point line as SWU made the most out of their chances in overtime. DLSU was two for eight from the field in overtime, as baskets from Teng, Perkins, and a pair of free throws from Torres weren’t enough to push DLSU over the hump.

The Green Archers were led by Thomas Torres who scored 12 points, grabbed three rebounds and dished out two assists. Perkins had a double-double performance of 10 points and 13 boards while Teng added seven points on just one of ten made field goal attempts.

Arong led the Cobras with 17 points and five rebounds while Tallo had an all-around game of 13 points, six rebounds, and six asists. Sanjo controlled the paint for SWU with 11 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks.

There is still hope for DLSU as the team needs to win its next two assignments to make it to the PCCL Finals. Up next is a familiar foe, the FEU Tamaraws, whom the team will battle it out with tomorrow at 4 pm in the Fil-Oil Arena. After that game, the Archers face San Beda on Thursday in the same venue at 4 pm.

The Scores:

SWU (68) – Arong 17, Tallo 13, Mohammed 12, Sanjo 11, Holper 9, Goloran 4, Siewe 2, Pardo 0, Bautista 0, Panerio 0, Bregondo 0

DLSU (58) – T. Torres 12, Perkins 10, Teng 7, Salem 7, Vosotros 6, N. Torres 4, Tampus 4, Montalbo 2, Dela Paz 2, Reyes 2, Bollick 2

Quarter scores: 9-16; 23-30; 33-37; 52-52; 68-58