Archers force KO duel

JERON Teng (right) and La Salle halt plans of Jeric Teng and UST to sweep the UAAP championship series. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

LA SALLE made it known early that the series is far from done.

Jeron Teng propped up La Salle from the get-go and Norbert Torres atoned for a dismal Game 1 outing as the Green Archers spoiled University of Santo Tomas’ title sweep bid with a 77-70 win yesterday to forge a do-or-die finale in the UAAP men’s basketball championship.

Teng unloaded 12 of his 19 points in the first half where the Green Archers forged ahead by as many as 17 points, 36-19, before Torres helped keep the Tigers at bay in the second half.

“We had to be aggressive,” said Teng. “There’s no tomorrow, so we really gave our all.”

Torres, who had a measly two-point output in the series opener, came back huge with 16 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks to help the Archers virtually control Game 2 in front of an overflow crowd of 23,037 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The winner-take-all Game 3 is set at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

La Salle scored a double victory yesterday as the Lady Archers also shocked the top-ranked National University, 69-61, in their rubber match earlier to bag the women’s basketball championship.

The Archers clamped down on Game 1 hero Kevin Ferrer, who struggled with six points on a 1-of-6 shooting after sizzling with 20 points, 15 coming from three-point range, in the Tigers’ 73-72 escape last Wednesday.

“The reason they had a good start the last game was because Ferrer made three three-pointers in the first quarter,” said La Salle coach Juno Sauler. “We addressed that and we made sure they won’t get going because of their three-pointers.”

Despite fielding only seven players, the Archers drew the best out of everyone as they dominated the paint, 42-26, and limited the Tigers’ advantage at the perimeter, 23-20.

“We were out of focus,” said UST coach Pido Jarencio, admitting that distractions and excitement got the better of his Tigers in their quest to become the first No. 4 team to bag the crown.

“We couldn’t stop their bigs,” added Jarencio. “We had a bad start and they played very well. We have to step up on Saturday.”

Arnold Van Opstal also posted a double-double of 13 points and 14 boards for the Archers, who quickly responded with a 13-2 outburst for a 57-45 spread after the Tigers had threatened within a point, 44-43, in the third period.

Unlike in Game 1, it’s the Tigers who trailed by double-digits early as the Archers closed out the first quarter with 11 unanswered points for a 21-12 advantage.

Jeric Teng exploded for 28 points for the Tigers, but drew little support as center Karim Abdul got into early foul trouble and Ferrer and Aljon Mariano couldn’t find their range.

In women’s action, Ara Abaca, Trisha Piatos and Inna Corcuera fueled the Lady Archers’ huge second-half where they pulled away by as many as 17 points, 62-45, after a slim 30-29 halftime lead.

“More than anything, I’m happy for my players, I know the work and sacrifice they put in,” said coach Tyrone Bautista after his No. 2 Lady Archers copped the crown for the first time in 11 years.

“We just focused on the task at hand.”

Abaca finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Lady Archers, who also spoiled the Lady Bulldogs’ bid for a first championship.

The scores:

First Game (Women)

LA SALLE 69—Abaca 16, Piatos 15, Corcuera 10, Ong 8, Santos 5, Claro 5, Melendres 4, Ramos 2, Ong 2, Garcia 2.

NU 61—Paig 21, Bernardino 16, Abriam 7, Tongco 6, Gupilan 6, Bonleon 4,Escoto 1, Sison 0, Seno 0, Antiquiera 0.

Quarters: 15-13, 30-29, 53-40, 69-61

Second Game (Srs)

LA SALLE 77—Teng 19, N. Torres 16, Van Opstal 13, Vosotros 11, Revilla 9, Perkins 7, T. Torres 2.

UST 70—Teng 28, Abdul 13, Mariano 9, Sheriff 6, Ferrer 6, Bautista 6, Lo 2, Pe 0, Daquioag 0.

Quarters: 21-12, 41-33, 64-53, 77-70