The De La Salle Green Archers ended its title search in the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) senior’s basketball hoopla at the expense of the Tamaraws of Far Eastern University (FEU), 74-69.
Both teams led by one point for six minutes midway until La Salle tentatively took a backseat for the rest of the first half, due to errors and offensive fouls. For this reason, the Tamaraws, courtesy of power forward Victor Pablo, bubbled to a five-point spread, 31-36. Substitutions had to be made quickly as top guard Teddy Monasterio and skipper Joey Santamaria had to be replaced by Gee Abanilla and Arnel Guste respectively, after both starters garnered two consecutive fouls earlier in the ballgame.
Pablo and Dodong Postanes were forced to take their shots from the outside as Limpot and Santamaria opted to stay down post to close the paint. FEU’s Alejandro de Guzman was effectively checked by the alternating Monasterio and Cardel along the wings, forcing turnovers for the Morayta-based dribblers. The main factor why La Salle was able to come back in the second half was the early penalty situation of the Tams after seven minutes. But as Cardel completed a Monasterio assist, 54-53, the archers never looked back from thereon. Eddie Viaplana’s unguarded three point shot capped the championship series, 74-69, with only 16 seconds to go.
After four seasons since 1986, La Salle is finally the CHAMPION!
