Teng returns, helps La Salle hold off UP

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Jeron Teng scored a game-high 21 points in his return and De La Salle held off much-improved University of the Philippines, 78-72 to remain undefeated in the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Teng, the graduating forward, added five rebounds and two steals while Cameroonian center Ben Mbala had 17 points and 20 rebounds for the Green Archers, who improved to 9-0.

“A win is a win,” said Teng, who missed two games to recover from bone spurs in his left foot. “I never felt better this season.”

The Green Archers appeared on their way to an early blowout after taking a 25-9 lead, but the Fighting Maroons found their way back with Paul Desiderio keeping them in the thick of things.

Desiderio fired 10 of his team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter, where UP pulled within six with 1:20 remaining.

Teng slammed the door on the Maroons with a leaner that widened the Archers’ gap back to 10, 75-65, with 46.4 ticks left.

UP came into the game on a high after back-to-back victories over Final Four contenders Ateneo and Adamson. But the Maroons just couldn’t make it three in a row with the Archers standing in their way.

UP, which slipped to 3-6, made it interesting. The Maroons were only down by five, 55-50, early in the fourth quarter before rookie Aljun Melecio made timely triples that got the Archers back in control, 64-52, with 6:15 remaining.

The Fighting Maroons lost despite shooting 50% from the field as compared to the Green Archers’ 34% shooting.

Mbala had more offensive rebounds (11) than the entire UP team which only had nine while Montalbo had as much steals as the Maroons with six.