UAAP: Green Archers slip past NU, barge into win column

After two heartbreaking defeats, the DLSU Green Archers finally notched a win against the NU Bulldogs to earn their first win this season. Jason Perkins finished strong as he came up with 14 points, seven rebounds, and the key basket down the stretch to put the game away for good.

“We can’t celebrate, it’s too early. We still have to find ways to execute things, especially with the injury of Thomas Torres,” said DLSU head coach Juno Sauler, who downplayed the win as any other win they had in the past.

Both teams had trouble scoring a basket in the first quarter until Almond Vosotros opened the scoring on a short jumper two minutes into the game. After trading baskets midway through the first, the Bulldogs unleashed a 12-0 run as Alfred Aroga and Glenn Khobuntin combined for nine points to finish the quarter with a 16-12 lead.

The Green Archers caught fire in the second period, out scoring NU 23-13 to swing the lead in their favor. Norbert Torres scored six points in that second quarter onslaught as the graduating center found his way inside for lay ups and shots at the line.

In the third, a Jeron Teng basket extended the lead to eight until baskets from Gelo Alolino, Aroga, and Khobuntin cut the DLSU lead to four, 39-35, at the 5:11 mark. Vosotros and Arnold van Opstal extended the lead to eight until NU cut the lead to on a Khobuntin basket to end the quarter.

The fourth quarter saw the lead swing to NU’s favor after a Troy Rosario basket with seven minutes left in the game. Torres kept pounding the ball in and scored five of his 13 points in the fourth, capped off by the go-ahead basket with 2:08 left in the game to put the Green Archers ahead for good. Aroga and Rosario kept the Bulldogs within reach but three consecutive baskets from Perkins, culminating with the tough lay in to beat the shotclock with 6.7 seconds sealed the game for the Green Archers.

Perkins led the Green Archers with 14 points and seven rebounds but it was Torres who was key as he had 13 points and eight rebounds, three of which came from the offensive end.

Teng had a well-balanced game as he ended up with nine points, six rebounds, and five assists. Vosotros and van Opstal also added 7 points apiece.

Aroga paced NU with 12 points and nine rebounds while Rosario added 10 points and eight rebounds. Alolino, who had a breakout game against UP, was limited to nine points, making only three of his ten field goal attempts. Khobuntin also had nine, but added eight rebounds in a losing effort.

Up next for the Green Archers is a game against the undefeated UE Red Warriors on Sunday, July 27 at 4pm in the MOA Arena.

The Scores:
DLSU 57 – Perkins 14, N. Torres 13, Teng 9, Vosotros 7, van Opstal 7, Andrada 3, Montalbo 2, Rivero 2, Bolick 0
NU 55– Aroga 12, Rosario 10, Khobuntin 9, Alolino 9, Javelona 5, Diputado 4, Alejandro 3, Neypes 2, Perez 1, Betayene 0, Atangan 0, Salim 0, Celda 0
Quarter scores: 12-16, 35-29, 45-43, 57-55