La Salle’s Jeron Teng (21) goes for a reverse layup against National University. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
La Salle passed its toughest test yet, rallying past National University, 75-66, and remained the lone unbeaten team in the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Green Archers notched its fourth win in as many games, separating themselves from the field this early in the tournament.
Jeron Teng paced La Salle with 23 points, firing eight in the payoff period to trigger the finishing kick his team needed to stave off the tough NU crew.
Ben Mbala scattered 16 markers and 15 rebounds, while fellow big man Abu Tratter had six points and eight boards.
The Bulldogs threw everything at the Green Archers, even leading by as high as nine, 52-43 in the third quarter.
“We’re expecting this kind of game,” said DLSU head coach Aldin Ayo. “This was our first win against them this season. We lost twice to them sa tuneup games and we knew this is will go down the wire.”
The fancied La Salle squad, though, came through in the end, unleashing a telling 13-2 tear to blast NU and take a 75-63 lead within the final minute.
“It’s our defense. We just executed our defense. We were physically and mentally ready for the grind of the game. Survival of the fittest, kung sino na lang ang maganda ang conditioning, mentally and physically tough. With our system, kung sino mas matigas, yun ang aangat.”
Matt Salem led NU (2-1) with 15 points on a 3-of-9 shooting from threes, on top of nine rebounds, while J-Jay Alejandro got 14 markers and three boards.
Alfred Aroga was limited to just two points and three rebounds in the loss. Matt Aquino made his debut for Bulldogs after missing the team’s first two games.
Aquino wound up with three points and three rebounds in his first game since transferring from Adamson.
The scores:
LA SALLE 75 – Teng 23, Mbala 16, Tratter 6, R. Rivero 6, Montalbo 5, Torres 4, Melecio 4, Caracut 3, Go 3, Baltazar 3, P. Rivero 2, Sargent 0.
NU 66 – Salem 15, Alejandro 14, R. Diputado 10, Morido 7, Sinclair 6, Abatayo 4, Aquino 3, Aroga 2, Salim 2, C. Diputado 2, Mosqueda 1, Rangel 0, Yu 0, Gallego 0.
Quarters: 17-16, 37-37, 52-54, 75-66.