La Salle on thin ice after loss to Ateneo

By: Bong Lozada - 9 years ago

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

For most of the season, De La Salle University has been occupying a Final Four spot.

But not until the Green Archers lost a crucial game against the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sunday.

La Salle needed a victory over Ateneo to stay in fourth place after defending champion National University knocked University of the Philippines off semifinals contention earlier.

But a 73-62 loss to the Eagles — their third defeat in a row — had the Archers sliding into fifth place with a 5-7 record which is a game behind the Bulldogs (6-7).

“We have to take care of our business in our last two games,” said DLSU head coach Juno Sauler.

Several weeks ago, La Salle had a tight hold of the fourth spot. But after Sunday’s games, the Archers’ Final Four chances are out of their hands.

For La Salle to earn a semis slot, the team has to sweep its remaining two games against UP and top seed Far Eastern U and hope NU stumbles in its final game against FEU on Saturday.