Teng lifts Archers past Blue Eagles

Jeron Teng.

IT TOOK a fierce rival—and a star struggling all game long—to halt the team with the hottest streak.

Jeron Teng buried the game-winner with 1.9 seconds left as La Salle slipped past Ateneo with a pulsating 66-64 decision in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the jampacked Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Held to his lowest output of the season, Teng still delivered in the game’s biggest play in a huge answer to Ateneo star Kiefer Ravena’s game-tying basket, 64-64, with 14.5 seconds left.

“All throughout the game I couldn’t get my rhythm,” said Teng, who finished with eight points. “But I’m thankful to coach that he trusted me on the last play.”

The  huge victory halted the Eagles’ five-game winning streak, the longest since Far Eastern University’s 7-0 sweep of the first round.

But more importantly, the Archers grabbed solo third with a 7-4 record and stayed in the running for the top two slots, which come with a twice-to-beat semifinal advantage.

The victory also marked the first time since 2001 that the Archers completed an elimination sweep of the Eagles. In 2005, the Archers also forged a sweep but their games were forfeited that season due to eligibility issues.

“The first six teams are in a close race so every game is important,” said La Salle coach Juno Sauler as the Archers stretched their winning run to four in front of a boisterous crowd of over 16,000.

The Blue Eagles, the defending champions who only found their groove midway in the season, fell into a share of fourth place with University of Santo Tomas at 6-5.

Before the game-winner,  Teng  had only nailed one of four attempts from the field.

“We just had to get the ball to Jeron and I told him to make a good decision,” said Sauler. “If he gets doubled, he knows where the other guys will be. He made a good read there.”

Almond Vosotros also starred by knocking in a game-high 19 points, including a seven-point cluster that helped give the Archers the lead, 57-53, after trailing at 48-53 midway in the fourth.

Jason Perkins posted a double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds, while LA Revilla added 11 points for the Archers, who played minus suspended guard Thomas Torres.

The scores:
Second Game
LA SALLE 66—Vosotros 19, Perkins 13, Revilla 11, Teng 8, Torres 6, Van Opstal 4, Montalbo 3, Salem 2, Tampus 0, Reyes 0, Dela Paz 0, Bolick 0.
ATENEO 64—Tiongson 14, Elorde 13, Ravena 12, Buenafe 9, Newsome 8, Pessumal 4, Golla 2, Erram 2, Tolentino 0, Enriquez 0, Capacio 0.
Quarters: 13-16, 31-33, 46-49, 66-64