La Salle takes UAAP semis seat; UST, Ateneo dispute last semis berth

MANILA, Philippines — La Salle joined  Far Eastern University and National University in the final four after defeating University of Santo Tomas, 69-64, Saturday in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Green Archers, after a perfect second round showing, even got a crack at the twice-to-beat bonus in the semifinals as they square off with the Tamaraws in a virtual best-of-three series.

“I think it will be exciting for everyone. They’re a tough team to beat. We’ll just keep improving and hopefully be ready for the series,” said head coach Juno Sauler of the match up.

NU, FEU and La Salle are all knotted at 10-4, but the Bulldogs, who last Wednesday defeated Ateneo to welcome the post season, snared the top spot with a superior quotient.

Jeron Teng starred anew for the Green Archers with 19 points and missed just one of seven attempts from the stripe while adding 11 boards.

Teng came up big in the payoff period, where the Tigers managed to trim the Archers’ lead to just a one-possession game, and scored the last four points for La Salle in the final minute.

“I just keep on practicing my freethrows every practice. I really spend time to improve my freethrow shooting,” again said Teng, who improved from the stripe.

The Tigers, meanwhile, will face reigning titlist Ateneo, now both tied at 7-6, in a do-or-die tiff on Wednesday for the last final four berth in season 76.

Karim Abdul and Aljon Marion, who each got a five- minute respite in this game, finished with 18 and 16 markers, respectively.

Originally posted at 6:37 p.m.