Archers right on target; E-Painters fight for survival

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

THE ARROWS are landing close to home this time.

After turning back defending champion Far Eastern University, La Salle lived up to pretournament hype as UAAP men’s basketball title favorite when the Green Archers next overwhelmed the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 100-62.

Working behind a full-court press, the Archers pulled off this season’s most lopsided victory while dealing on the usually tough Tigers, last year’s runners-up, their worst loss since a 114-49 rout from the Ateneo Eagles in the first round of the 2006 season.

The Tigers managed to hang on in the first half, trailing the Archers by nine at 44-35 before La Salle broke the game wide open with a 29-14 explosion in the third period for a 73-49 lead.

The final result would have been uglier had La Salle coach Aldin Ayo not decided on allowing his second stringers to finish off the outclassed Tigers.

All told, the Archers forced the Tigers to commit 40 turnovers that resulted in 34 points, dominated the boards, 59-41, made 12 steals and issued 17 assists.

“This is what happens if we play as a team,” said Ayo, who has turned the Archers into the mold of the Letran Knights he had guided to the NCAA title last year using the same unrelenting press and go-for-broke style.

The Archers, who missed the Final Four last year, drew another big game from their prized recruit Ben Mbala, who produced 16 points and 16 rebounds.

Even more scary for the opposition was the fact that La Salle ace Jeron Teng hardly played a role in the one-sided contest. Ayo decided to bench Teng in the first half and sent him to action for limited minutes only in the second half, where he still managed 13 points.

National U, with a 2-1 card behind the 4-0 of La Salle which beat the Bulldogs Sunday, has yet to prove its worth as title challenger.

* * *

No one expected trouble for Rain or Shine in the ongoining season-ending Governors’ Cup after its impressive triumph over Alaska in the Commissioner’s Cup title playoffs last April.

But import woes have kept the Elasto Painters down in the standings this time and in danger of missing their first playoff stint in 12 tournaments so far.

With Joshua Dollard as their fourth import—after Dior Lowhorn, Greg Smith and Jason Forte—the Painters hung on to dear life by downing the out-of-it Star Hotshots in their last game of the eliminations, 108-97, last Friday to forge a playoff for the eighth and last quarterfinal slot with Phoenix.

ROS actually finished tied with a win-loss record of 5-6 with Phoenix and NLEX but the Road Warriors clinched the No. 7 spot due to a better quotient.

With an earlier victory over Phoenix, Rain or Shine should be able to get past the Fuel Masters again in their one-game playoff this Wednesday. Then the road gets even tougher from there.

As No. 8, the Painters need to hurdle in the quarterfinals either the TNT KaTropa or the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, who will be enjoying a twice-to-beat bonus as the top two teams in the Final 8. The Painters have yet to beat their two prospective quarterfinal foes.

There’s actually another playoff but this one is a virtual best-of-three between Meralco and Mahindra, which will collide in the quarterfinals as the fourth and fifth qualifiers. The two first clash for the No. 4 quarterfinal slot, also Wednesday, with the winner needing another win to clinch a semifinal ticket. Wednesday’s loser, on the other hand, must win twice to advance.

Although Alaska tied Meralco and Mahindra at 6-5, the Aces were ranked No. 6 due to an inferior quotient and fell into a quarterfinal duel with defending champion San Miguel Beer, which will also enjoy a twice-to-beat privilege as No. 3 along with the survivor of the Bolts-Enforcers playoff for No. 4.