Game 2 of the UAAP men’s senior basketball championship between La Salle and UST was won by the Archers, 77-70, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. As a result, La Salle and UST will play a sudden death match for the crown on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Video by INQUIRER.net’s Noy Morcoso lll
MANILA, Philippines – Not today. De La Salle University spoiled University of Santo Tomas’ championship plans with a 77-70 win in Game 2 to force a rubber match for the UAAP Season 76 men’s basketball finals Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Sophomore star Jeron Teng scored 19 points and big men Norbert Torres and Arnold Van Opstal wreaked havoc inside as La Salle dominated the rebounding department, 57-39, with 27 offensive rebounds resulting to 18 second chance points that caused problems for UST.
“Everyone played well especially the bigs,” commended DLSU Juno Sauler.
In stark contrast to their Game 1 performance, the Green Archers this time got off to a rousing start – leading by as much as 17 points in the second quarter – before holding off the Growling Tigers’ comeback attempt.
UST, which drew 28 points from a seemingly exhausted Jeric Teng in the end game, found its way back in the game after it got to within a point, 43-44, after a pair of triples from Teng and Bautista with 7:21 left in the third quarter.
The Archers restored order as they stretched their lead back to 13, 71-58, on a drive by Teng with 6:53 remaining and never looked back.
Game 3 is set next Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City with UST setting its sights in becoming the only fourth seed to win the title while La Salle is looking to win its first championship since 2007.
Kevin Ferrer, the hero in UST’s 73-72 win in the finals opener last Wednesday, never got into any rhythm with just six points after starring with 20 points.
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