UAAP: Archers down Falcons to keep Final Four hopes alive

The De La Salle Green Archers kept their final four hopes alive after grinding out a win over the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 72-59, in the second round eliminations of the UAAP Men's Basketball competition at the Mall of Asia Arena Thursday.

 

The win gives DLSU a 9-5 record, and at least a chance to fight for the fourth playoff seed in a playoff. Adamson on the other hand, bows out of the season with a 3-11 record.

 

If FEU defeats NU on Sunday, the Archers automatically gain the fourth seed. Otherwise, they face the NU Bulldogs in a knockout game to face Ateneo.

 

Jeron Teng led all scorers with 19 points and nine assists. Norbert Torres added 12 points and 14 rebounds, while Thomas Torres tallied 11 points and five rebounds on 3 of 4 shooting from downtown. "Our destiny is in our own hands," said DLSU Head Coach Gee Abanilla. "Nagawa na namin ang kailangan naming gawin, nasa kamay na yan ni God, and let's see where that takes us."

 

"Beggars can't be choosers," he later added.

 

In the first quarter, The Archers only allowed a single basket in the paint, a layup by EJ Camson, as they played good defense against Adamson. Meanwhile, Jeron Teng and Norbert Torres carried the team offensively, scoring all of La Salle's points, 11-6, with under three minutes to play.

 

Bad shots haunted Adamson, allowing La Salle's bench to cap the quarter with a 6-2 run to end the first period ahead by nine, 17-8.

 

Adamson started the second on a lucky three-pointer by Rodney Brondial, while Arnold Van Opstal carried the Archers by scoring five straight, punctuated by a two-handed slam, to keep the Falcons at bay. Allen Etrone knocked down ADU's second triple on the next possession, but Thomas Torres matched him on the other end, followed later by charities by Teng, to maintain a 27-16 advantage.

 

The Archers went scoreless in the last three and a half minutes, but the Falcons could not take advantage of the opportunity. Jansen Rios rifled in a triple with under two minutes to play, then nailed two charities on their last possession, to trail 27-21 at halftime.

 

Prior to Rios' basket, Adamson's last field goal was at the 5:10 mark of the second quarter.

 

After the break, the Falcons got a pair of easy layups courtesy of Rios and Ryan Monteclaro. Unable to score from the field, the Archers forced their way into an early penalty situation, where Yutien Andrada and Teng combined for 3 of 6. The Archers snagged their first field goal of the period at 5:59 with a Teng layup off a stolen inbounds pass, 32-25.

 

Almond Vosotros drained back-to-back three-pointers for La Salle, and Norbert Torres added five in a 12-6 run for the Archers. Roider Cabrera drained two triples in the stretch for the Falcons to end a four-minute drought from the field.

 

The Falcons tried to rally back, as frenetic defense allowed Cabrera to add another three-ball for his 10th point in the quarter and a 6-1 run, but Thomas Torres repelled them with a buzzer-beating trey, 49-37, after three periods.

 

Save for an early trey by Etrone, the Falcons continued to struggle from the field. Meanwhile, La Salle extended the lead to 15, tying their largest of the game, on an and-one by Teng, 57-42.

 

Adamson forced their way to the line but could not capitalize, going 2 for 6, as Jericho Cruz scored on a fastbreak layup to end another four-minute dry spell. The Falcons continued to fight for baskets but could not close the gap, as they gave up fouls for every shot they made, preventing them from making a late comeback. In turn, La Salle obliged at the free throw line, where Teng split to seal the game, 64-54, with three and a half minutes to play.

 

"I want to commend our boys for doing a good job," said Abanilla. "We had some problems initially with help defense, but the boys really sacrificed a lot for this game."

 

"Despite all the injuries and other distractions, our 9-5 record is a really good feat for us," said Abanilla. "We have to build on this and improve, and hopefully the boys buy into the system in the coming years."

 

The Archers were more composed at the line, making 21 of 30, or 70 percent, against Adamson's 11 of 25, or 44 percent. La Salle also found better ways to share the ball, tallying more assists than the Falcons, 18-14.

 

DLSU shot better from the field with a 23 for 55 clip for 41.8 percent. On the other hand. Adamson made just 20 of their 71 attempts for 28.2 percent.

 

Roider Cabrera led Adamson with 17 points. Allen Etrone added 15 in his final UAAP game. The Falcons attempted 27 shots from beyond the arc, and pair scored six of the team's eight three-pointers.

 

La Salle prevailed over Adamson in their first round match, 56-52. - RAF, GMA News

 

 

The scores: 

 

DLSU 72: Teng 19, N Torres 12, T Torres 11, Vosotros 8, Van Opstal 5, Andrada 5, Webb 4, Mendoza 4, Revilla 4, Manguera 0

 

ADU 59: Cabrera 17, Etrone 15, Rios 7, Cruz 6, Brondial 6, Camson 4, Trollano 0, Petilos 0, Olalia 0, Deans 0, Cabigas 0, Agustin 0

 

 

Quarter scores: 17-8, 27-21, 49-37, 72-59