Archers bounce back big time, tame Tams
MANILA, Philippines—What a way for De La Salle to rebound from a terrible beating.
The Green Archers clamped down on defense late in the game to shock the top-ranked Far Eastern U Tamaraws, 80-66, and strengthen their own Final Four bid in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Six days after absorbing a 74-57 pummeling from fierce rival Ateneo, the Archers held FEU to just two field goals in the final quarter and became only the second team to conquer the Tamaraws this season.
Simon Atkins pumped in a game-high 19 points while teaming up with rookies Jarelan Tampus and Luigi dela Paz in the last period as the Archers solidified their hold of the fourth spot with a 7-4 record.
“We showed character after the nightmare,” said La Salle coach Dindo Pumaren. “We showed our A-game and we outrebounded FEU (45-32), I think that’s the killer.”
The Archers’ win dimmed the Final Four hopes of other lower-ranked teams including University of Santo Tomas, which tripped University of the Philippines, 68-66, in the first game.
Jeric Teng topscored with 17 points as the Tigers snapped a five-game losing skid to tie idle University of the East at sixth with a 4-7 record.
The Tigers trailed for most of the game, before Aljon Mariano and Chris Camus stepped up in a decisive 12-0 run that put them on top, 66-58, heading into the final three minutes.
Atkins dropped his third and last triple to cap the Archers’ 9-1 start in the fourth quarter for a 63-58 advantage.
Then Maui Villanueva and Yutien Andrada, who had three of La Salle’s four blocks, helped put the game away.
“After the game against Ateneo, I knew we would bounce back,” said Pumaren. “Everybody was embarrassed with what happened.” The Tamaraws, the first team to secure a Final Four berth, remained on top with a 9-2 record. Defending champion Ateneo and Adamson, sharing second at 8-3, dispute the second semifinal berth in their 4 p.m. battle today also at the Big Dome. National U and University of the East tangle at 2 p.m. Ill-advised shots and two straight unsportsmanlike fouls slapped on UP’s Magi Sison and Mark Juruena, which awarded UST with possessions and free throws in the final stretch, doomed the winless Maroons. Although back-to-back triples by Mike Silungan and Alvin Padilla trimmed the deficit in the dwindling seconds, the rally came too late to prevent the Maroons from skidding to their 12th straight loss. “I reminded the team that we lost our previous games in the final four minutes, so we can’t give up this time,” said UST coach Pido Jarencio. “We really have a young team. Now we still have a chance to make it to the Final Four, but it’s still up to us.” Mariano and Camus finished with 11 points each and Jeric Fortuna added 10 markers and four assists. In junior action, Ateneo moved within a win of a championship berth after drubbing FEU, 78-54, at the FilOil-Flying V Arena. Kiefer Ravena had 20 points and seven assists and Von Pessumal added 15 markers as the Blue Eaglets streaked to their 13th straight victory. Another victory against National U on Tuesday will propel the Eaglets to the title series, the incentive given to a team that sweeps all 14 elimination games. Photo by Mark Giongco The varsity scores:
First Game
UST 68—Teng 17, Mariano 11, Camus 11, Fortuna 10, Bautista 6, Afuang 6, Pe 5, Mamaril 2, Marata 0, Lo 0, Daquioag 0, Aytona 0.
UP 66—Reyes Ma. 12, Padilla 12, Gomez 12, Sison 8, Juruena 8, Reyes Mi. 6, Silungan 5, Hipolito 3, Saret 0, Pascual 0, Maniego 0.
Quarters: 14-14, 26-31, 45-51, 68-66
Second Game
LA SALLE 80—Atkins 19, Dela Paz 12, Tampus 10, Andrada 9, Villanueva 8, Vosotros 5, Mendoza 5, Tolentino 4, Paredes 2, Webb 2, Marata 2, Ferdinand 2.
FEU 66—Garcia 18, Ramos 14, Romeo 11, Cawaling 8, Cervantes 7, Cruz 2, Sanga 2, Knuttel 2, Bringas 1, Exciminiano 1, Menodza 0, Noundou 0.
Quarters: 17-21, 34-38, 54-57, 80-66
“After the game against Ateneo, I knew we would bounce back,” said Pumaren. “Everybody was embarrassed with what happened.” The Tamaraws, the first team to secure a Final Four berth, remained on top with a 9-2 record. Defending champion Ateneo and Adamson, sharing second at 8-3, dispute the second semifinal berth in their 4 p.m. battle today also at the Big Dome. National U and University of the East tangle at 2 p.m. Ill-advised shots and two straight unsportsmanlike fouls slapped on UP’s Magi Sison and Mark Juruena, which awarded UST with possessions and free throws in the final stretch, doomed the winless Maroons. Although back-to-back triples by Mike Silungan and Alvin Padilla trimmed the deficit in the dwindling seconds, the rally came too late to prevent the Maroons from skidding to their 12th straight loss. “I reminded the team that we lost our previous games in the final four minutes, so we can’t give up this time,” said UST coach Pido Jarencio. “We really have a young team. Now we still have a chance to make it to the Final Four, but it’s still up to us.” Mariano and Camus finished with 11 points each and Jeric Fortuna added 10 markers and four assists. In junior action, Ateneo moved within a win of a championship berth after drubbing FEU, 78-54, at the FilOil-Flying V Arena. Kiefer Ravena had 20 points and seven assists and Von Pessumal added 15 markers as the Blue Eaglets streaked to their 13th straight victory. Another victory against National U on Tuesday will propel the Eaglets to the title series, the incentive given to a team that sweeps all 14 elimination games. Photo by Mark Giongco The varsity scores:
First Game
UST 68—Teng 17, Mariano 11, Camus 11, Fortuna 10, Bautista 6, Afuang 6, Pe 5, Mamaril 2, Marata 0, Lo 0, Daquioag 0, Aytona 0.
UP 66—Reyes Ma. 12, Padilla 12, Gomez 12, Sison 8, Juruena 8, Reyes Mi. 6, Silungan 5, Hipolito 3, Saret 0, Pascual 0, Maniego 0.
Quarters: 14-14, 26-31, 45-51, 68-66
Second Game
LA SALLE 80—Atkins 19, Dela Paz 12, Tampus 10, Andrada 9, Villanueva 8, Vosotros 5, Mendoza 5, Tolentino 4, Paredes 2, Webb 2, Marata 2, Ferdinand 2.
FEU 66—Garcia 18, Ramos 14, Romeo 11, Cawaling 8, Cervantes 7, Cruz 2, Sanga 2, Knuttel 2, Bringas 1, Exciminiano 1, Menodza 0, Noundou 0.
Quarters: 17-21, 34-38, 54-57, 80-66
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