Jeron Teng Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Jeron Teng stepped on the clutch pedal to lift De La Salle University over University of Santo Tomas, 84-82, in its final group stage match of the Filoil Flying V Hanes Preseason Premier Cup on Saturday at Arena in San Juan City.
Teng found the opening on a drive and softly laid the ball in with 0.8 seconds remaining to put the Green Archers in the quarterfinals.
UST had a chance to put the game away after Ed Daquioag nailed a three-pointer from the left corner to tie the game at 82-82 with 10.2 seconds remaining and Green Archer Thomas Torres followed it up with a turnover with 6.5 remaining.
Jon Sheriff only had to inbound the ball for the Growling Tigers to get a shot but the point guard threw his inbounds pass to the baseline as it went out of bounds.
Green Archers head coach Juno Sauler said he had to adjust not only his plays but the players themselves as they played without injured center Arnold Van Opstal.
“Really difficult for us, coming to the game we had injured players,” Sauler said as they finished the group stages with a 6-2 record.
“It was a very tough game.”
UST staged a 9-0 run with around two minutes remaining in the game with Mario Bonleon and Sheriff starring in the rally to put the Growling Tigers to 74-76 with 1:50 remaining.
Torres led La Salle with 26 points and nine rebounds while Jason Perkins had 14 points and 18 boards.
Daquioag led the 4-4 UST with 20 points and eight rebounds. RC