Do or die: Archers, Tigers vie for title

LA SALLE and University of Santo Tomas put it all out on the floor today as they fight for the UAAP men’s basketball crown one final time.

After the past week’s grueling preparations, La Salle coach Juno Sauler and UST mentor Pido Jarencio just hope their game plans will translate on court in the winner-take-all Game 3 at 3:30 p.m. at Mall of Asia Arena.

“It will just come down to whoever performs better and comes out mentally tougher in the game,” said Sauler. “Our main focus is to do our best every game. Wherever that brings us, we’ll take it.”

Due to Typhoon Santi, however, league officials will announce this morning if the blockbuster finale will push through. Metro Manila was already placed under storm signal No. 2 yesterday.

If postponed, Game 3 will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 16, also at MOA Arena.

The Green Archers leveled the series last Saturday by coming out in full control in Game 2 for a 77-70 victory.

“Next game we’re going to play even harder,” said La Salle’s sophomore star Jeron Teng.

But Jarencio expects his Tigers, who took Game 1 in a 73-72 thriller, to be more fired up in their second try at becoming the first No. 4 team to win the championship.

“We’ve worked on the little things, everything will be better,” said Jarencio. “We weren’t too focused in Game 2, but of course we can’t take away that La Salle really played well.”

“Game 3, I’m going to be on kill mode,” added UST’s Cameroonian center Karim Abdul, who was named in this year’s Mythical Team. “I’m not going to relax in the first and second quarters.”

Another colorful sidelight has been the Teng sibling showdown, which has lived up to the hype as both Jeric and Jeron have been at the forefront of the best-of-three title duel.

Jeric has averaged a series-best 22.5 points and five rebounds for the Tigers, while younger brother Jeron has normed 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals to lead the Archers.

“The brothers are really competitive,” said Jarencio. “They’re both carrying their teams. For sure they’ll do it again next game.”

Aside from Jeron’s key contributions, the Archers have also been making the most out of their advantage at the frontline led by Arnold Van Opstal and Norbert Torres.

Sauler said, though, that his team still aims for balance.