UAAP: Tamaraws edge Green Archers, take twice-to-beat advantage

The DLSU Green Archers failed to take the number two spot and the twice-to-beat advantage as they were defeated by the FEU Tamaraws, 65-60, earlier today at the Mall of Asia Arena. With the victory, the Tamaraws extended their winning streak against the defending champions this season to three games in as many contests, and they are one win away from taking their campaign to the UAAP Finals.

Mike Tolomia led the charge for the Tamaraws with 19 points and eight rebounds while Mac Belo added 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Jason Perkins and Almond Vosotros took the lead for the Green Archers with 15 and 13 points respectively.

DLSU immediately scored their first field goal in the first minute of the first quarter, but FEU easily answered back with an inside shot from Belo. Both squads traded baskets in the entire quarter until FEU pulled away to take a five point lead. Norbert Torres scored a buzzer beating layup under the basket to trim FEU’s lead to three at the end of the first quarter, 15-12.

In the second quarter, the Tamaraws continued to play defensively that forced La Salle to commit several turnovers. The Green Archers trailed by as much as 13 points but with La Salle’s 6-2 run, they ended the first half down by just eight, 32-24.

The game heated up in the second half as Almond Vosotros finally got his rhythm in the three point line. He scored four three point baskets in the third quarter that tied the game at 50-all. However, Tolomia scored a three pointer at the last second to put FEU on top, 53-50.

In the last 10 minutes of the game, La Salle tried to keep a close distance with FEU behind the free throws of Jeron Teng and Torres. Arnold van Opstal scored an inside shot to give La Salle the lead for the first time since the first quarter, 60-58, with less than three minutes left to play.

FEU’s Carl Cruz scored a two point basket to lift FEU, 63-60, with 7.7 seconds left. Teng was forced to foul Tolomia, but he received an unsportsmanlike foul for his fifth foul of the game. Tolomia and Cruz split their free throws to give the Tamaraws a five point advantage, good enough to give them the victory, 65-60.

The semi-finals match against FEU is set on Saturday, September 27, at 4 pm in the Mall of Asia Arena. In order to book a seat to the finals, the Green Archers must force a rubber match by defeating FEU on Saturday, and notch another victory in the succeeding rubber match. Meanwhile, a win by FEU on Saturday will automatically clinch a finals berth for the Tamaraws.

The Scores:

FEU 65- Tolomia 19, Belo 15, Cruz 7, Pogoy 7, Jose 6, Inigo 4, Hargrove 4, Dennison 3, Tamsi 0, Lee Yu 0, Escoto 0

DLSU 60- Perkins 15, Vosotros 13, Teng 8, Torres N. 8, van Opstal 7, Montalbo 6, Sargent 3, Torres T. 0, Rivero 0, Salem 0

Quarter scores: 15-12, 17-12, 21-26, 12-10