Teng scores 18 as La Salle defeats defending champions NU

The DLSU Green Archers saw their nine-point lead melt to just one before holding on to defeat defending champions National University, 67-63, on Sunday at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

Jeron Teng scored 18 points, including a banker with 23 seconds left to give La Salle a five-point lead and put the game out of reach.

The Archers led 60-51 with 3:12 remaining afer Teng found a curling Thomas Torres for a split from the line. The NU guards responded by pressuring off the inbound, stringing seven straight points to cut the lead to just two heading into the final two minutes of the game.

The Bulldogs had the chance to take the lead, after Gelo Alolino secured a split before getting an offensive board. The NU pointguard lost the ball to the sidelines, though, giving the ball back to the Archers. La Salle then went to Jason Perkins, who got Alfred Aroga's fifth and final foul. Perkins made both freethrows with 1:04 remining, while JJ Alejandro settled for a tough stepback three at the other end.

DLSU went to Teng in crunchtime, and the veteran worked his magic, hitting a tough banker with 23 seconds left for a five-point spread. Alejandro secured a quick two at the other end, but NU's ploy to stop the clock was not successful, as their chosen freethrow shooter Julian Sargent secured two more points from the line with 15 seconds left to put the game away.

Rookie Andrei Caracut was effective as a starter, tallying 13 points with three triples. Jason Perkins also chalked up 13 markers with 12 boards. Prince Rivero rounded up the Archers in double figures with 11.

Gelo Alolino led NU with 16 points, while JJ Alejandro came off the bench for 15. Alfred Aroga was limited to nine points with his 10 boards, playing just 25 minutes due to foul trouble. - GMA News