PHOTO by CELEST FLORES-COLINA/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — A blazing fourth quarter rally lifted UAAP champion La Salle past NCAA titlist San Beda, 71-66, Sunday for another major title, the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup crown.
The Green Archers, who were trailing for most of the match, got stormed back into the game with a 10-0 run that gave them the lead for the first time, 58-56, with 7:41 to play.
La Salle engaged San Beda in a shootout in the ensuing minutes, but defensive stops allowed the Green Archers to grab the final advantage down the stretch.
After a bucket from Baser Amer put San Beda ahead 66-65 with 2:46, the Red Lions failed to score again while Green Archers, courtesy of Jason Perkins and Almond Vosotros, sealed the win.
“They made it difficult, especially in the first three quarters. We were lucky in the end that they missed shots and we scored,” offered head coach Juno Sauler.
Vosotros finished with 18 points but misfired on all six attempts from downtown. Jeron Teng, who was named the finals Most Valuable Player, added 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocks.
Perkins, who helped La Salle catch up in the payoff period, also had 14 points and seven rebounds for La Salle, which just clinched its third straight title from the UAAP to the Philippine Collegiate Champions League.
The Green Archers are out to defend their title in UAAP season 77, which kicks off in July.
The Red Lions, who will start their campaign in the NCAA later this month, wasted their double-digit advantage as they were held to just 10 in the fourth.
Amer, who had 23 points, scored eight of those 10 points as Arthur Dela Cruz, who finished with 14 points and 15 boards, was held scoreless late in the game.
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