La Salle-Ateneo, NU-Arellano duels set

La Salle vs Ateneo. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

LA SALLE will put its perfect run on the line against a fierce collegiate rival in Friday’s Final Four after the Green Archers cruised to the quarterfinals in the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Archers dismantled Far Eastern University, 91-71, to streak to an eighth straight victory and arrange a semifinal showdown with Ateneo.

Ben Mbala posted a huge double-double of 32 points and 11 rebounds to power the Archers against a Tamaraws squad that lost to graduation the core that keyed their UAAP title romp last season.

Earlier, National University ended an underdog’s spirited run, while Arellano shocked a collegiate powerhouse as the two teams forged their own semifinal duel.

The Final Four gets going this Friday with NU and Arellano battling at 2 p.m., followed by the Ateneo-La Salle clash at 4 p.m., also in San Juan.

Ateneo advanced after repulsing Perpetual Help, 68-59, in the knockout quarterfinals.

The Bulldogs downed a tough-fighting Adamson, 65-57, with Med Salim and Rev Diputado burying the big shots in the fourth period.

“That’s a completely different Adamson team,” NU coach Eric Altamirano said of the Falcons, who last held the lead at 45-43 before the Bulldogs surged ahead with an 11-2 tear to wrest the advantage, 54-47.

Arellano pulled off an even bigger rally as the Chiefs dropped an 18-0 bomb in the final quarter to stun last year’s champion San Beda in an 86-79 decision.

Jiovanni Jalalon flashed another all-around game of 21 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists and five steals to fuel the big rally, where the Chiefs turned a 59-69 deficit into a 77-69 advantage.

The scores:
First Game
ATENEO 68—Wong 13, Ikeh 12, Asistio 12, Black 8, Tolentino 4, Babilonia 4, Go 4, Mendoza 3, Ravena 2, Nieto 2, Porter 2, Allmond 2, Banzon 0.
PERPETUAL 59—Akhuetie 15, Sadiwa 9, Eze 9, Coronel 7, Dagangon 6, Yuhico 5, Singontiko 4, Ylagan 3, Pido 1, Dizon 0, Mangalino 0, Lucente 0.
Quarters: 11-13, 26-31, 48-46, 68-59
Second Game
NU 65—Salim 12, Aroga 10, Diputado 9, Salem 8, Abatayo 6, Mosqueda 4, Yu 4, Morido 3, Labing-isa 3, Aquino 2, Gallego 2, Cauilan 2, Go 0.
ADAMSON 57—Sarr 11, Tungcab 10, Ahanmisi 7, Paranada 6, Ng 5, Manganti 4, Espeleta 4, Pasturan 3, Camacho 2, Bernardo 2, Cadua 2, Manalang 1, Ochea 0.
Quarters: 13-17, 27-26, 43-43, 65-57
Third Game
ARELLANO 86—Jalalon 21, Holts 16, Nicholls 16, Flores 10, Salado 8, Canete 7, Meca 4, Cadavis 4, Aguilar 0, Viloria 0, Gumaru 0, Enriquez 0, Abanes 0, Gupilan 0, Ongolo 0
SAN BEDA 79—Tankoua 20, Sara 16, Mocon 15, Bolick 15, Tongco 5, Presbitero 4, Noah 2, Soberano 1, Oftana 1, Potts 0, Bonsubre 0, Carlos 0.
Quarters: 20-17, 36-37, 59-58, 86-79