Junior Archers nail 1st spot to UAAP cage finals

De La Salle-Zobel advanced to the finals after downing Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Educational Foundation (FEU-FERN), 86-69, Saturday in the semifinal round of the 72nd UAAP juniors’ basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan. Gwyne Capacio fired 32 points on a 12-of-15 shooting from the field and eight-of-10 from the line, and grabbed 17 rebounds as the top-seeded Junior Archers disposed of the fourth-ranked Baby Tams. He was supported by Nicolas Elorde who shot 18 points, Luis De La Paz who had 15 markers and Arnold Van Opstal who produced a double-double output of 10 points and 10 rebounds.

De La Salle-Zobel thwarted the 37-point output of FEU-FERN's high-scoring rookie Terrence Romeo as the Junior Archers booked a return trip to the finals after winning the crown in 2007. The Junior Archers, though, will still wait for their opponent after defending champion Ateneo forced a deciding rubber-match for the last championship spot with University of Sto. Tomas. The No. 3 Blue Eaglets defeated the No. 2 Tiger Cubs, 72-66, to keep their title-retention hopes alive. The Blue Eaglets and the Tiger Cubs will dispute the second finals berth in a do-or-die match on Tuesday, 2 p.m. also at The Arena in San Juan. UST actually had a 49-42 lead but the Blue Eaglets outscored the Tiger Cubs, 22-10, in the third canto en route to a 64-59 advantage. Kiefer Ravena had 27 points and 10 boards while Raphael Banal added 14 points to lift the Blue Eaglets to the win. Kevin Ferrer had 19 points and 11 rebounds as Kyle Neypes added 17 points and nine boards for the Tiger Cubs. - GMANews.TV