UAAP: La Salle outworks UE in overtime

MANILA, Philippines — La Salle outworked University of the East in overtime, 75-65, on Wednesday and earned a piece of second place in the UAAP season 76 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Green Archers were perfect from the field, 6-of-6, in overtime and didn’t leave a bit of space for the hungry Warriors, who are in a frantic chase to make the final four, to snatch the game away.

La Salle is now tied with Far Eastern University at 8-4.

Jason Perkins notched a career-high 22 points, including a catch-and-shoot trey which gave La Salle a 64-59 lead with 3:05 to play, then Jeron Teng scored seven of the next 11 to finish with 18 points.

It was the fifth straight victory of the Green Archers, who managed to adjust even with the return from suspension of UE’s Charles Mammie just an hour before the game.

The UAAP board, after an emergency meeting earlier, reduced Mammie’s suspension from two games  to one, after an appeal by UE,  allowing the African center to suit up.

“The board gave merit to [UE’s appeal that] the landing spot violation was not called by the referee. That’s what the board looked at,” said Malou Isip, UAAP secretary-treasurer.

Mammie came out with 11 points, but just one in the entire second half and OT, along with 20 huge boards.

La Salle head coach Juno Sauler admitted that it was “very difficult” not only for him, but for the players as well.

“We practiced for two days. The game plan we had was based on the personnel we were expecting to be playing. Our defensive plan was focused on something else. An hour before we had to change our mindset,” said Sauler.

The Warriors, meanwhile, dropped to 5-6 after Roi Sumang missed the chance to salvage the win at the end of regulation by splitting crucial freethrows with 4.7 seconds left.

Sumang had a subpar game, going 5-of-18 from the field for 17 points, along with six turnovers. Forward John Noble also had 17 for UE.