Jeron Teng of De La Salle Green Archers. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Jeron Teng thrived in clutch and towed La Salle to a 64-60 win over San Beda Thursday, assuring the UAAP defending champions a slot in the finals of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL).
Teng unleashed seven points in the final four minutes for the Green Archers and sank a nifty go-ahead bucket off the glass and a freebie with 1:37 to play for a 60-58 edge over the Red Lions.
Almond Vostros buried a jumper with 34.2 seconds left then turned his miss into a timely assist to Jason Perkins for the game-icing undergoal stab with 6.6 ticks on the clock.
“They came up with big plays, we grabbed the offensive rebounds. We played big in the final minutes,” said head coach Juno Sauler after the game.
Teng muscled his way to a sterling 23-point, eight-rebound performance for La Salle. Perkins had 15 points and Vostoros 12.
“You can see how bad Jeron wants it especially in the endgame. Even if [he’s in foul trouble], he’ll play hard defensively. He motivates his teammates,” said Sauler.
“Sometimes he’s going to take bad shots but that’s what I have to live with. I like his mentality in the end game.”
Down the stretch, Teng and La Salle’s aggressiveness, especially in the offensive glass, made all the difference against Ola Adeogun and the NCAA champions.
San Beda last took the on a three-point play by Art Dela Cruz, 58-53, with 3:34 left but didn’t score again until the 32.8 seconds left with La Salle already in the lead by four.
“Just by playing the NCAA champs, the players get to learn a lot, I got to learn a lot. Just the experience more than the result, that is what I’m thankful for,” said Sauler.
The Green Archers also kept the streak of UAAP teams making it to the finals of the national championship since 2002 alive. They face Southwestern University in the finals next week.
“SWU is a very strong team. Their style of play is very hard, tough. We just have to review what we did wrong [in our loss to them],” Sauler said.