The Green Archers avoided another 4th quarter collapse to get back at first round tormentor NU, 59-56 at the Araneta Coliseum today. Rookie Almond Vosotros coolly sank a pair of free throws with 7.3 seconds to go to ensure the win after NU pg Terso brought NU to within a point when he scored on a drive over our interior defense.
Vosotros poured in 16 points, including 4 clutch points in the last 1:30 of the game, while Team Captain Atkins poured in 13 points on 3 out of 4 shooting from the rainbow territory to help keep the Bulldogs at bay. Papot Paredes shone on defense, blocking or altering at least 4 shots on lane incursions by the NU players, who attacked the interior whenever they could.
With the Archers leading by 1 with 13.3 seconds left and NU with only 2 fouls, the Bulldogs went on a fouling spree to try to force La Salle to the free throw line. Vosotros recovered an loose ball which was tipped away from Andrada, was fouled, and coolly sank the foul shots with 7 seconds left. NU tried to run the ball upcourt, but failed to score and the Archers pulled off the win. Interestingly, 3 of the 5 Archers at the end of the game were rookies: Vosotros, dela Paz, and Paredes, showing Coach Dindo’s faith in these 3 top rookies. Nico Elorde also got some playing time, scored on a nice drive, and played tough defense on the NU guards.
The Archer defense forced NU into more than 23 turnovers to limit NU to under 60 points for the 2nd time this season. The aggressive interior defense of Paredes, Andrada, Villanueva, and Ferdinand succeeded in neutralizing NU center Mbe in the second half after he compiled 9 points and 11 rebounds in the first half.
The game featured an up-and-down Archer game, doing well in the first and third quarters, while misfiring and playing tentatively in the 2nd and 4th quarters. The Archers took the first quarter, 16-12, but could not shoot straight in the second where they tallied only 7 points to maintain the lead at the half, 23-22. In the 3rd, the Archers’ defense limited NU to 12 points while they scored 20 to lead 43-34 after 3 quarters. They stretched the lead to the largest at 46-34 on an Atkins trey, but NU battled back to come closest on that Terso drive before Vosotros ensured the win.
Box Scores
DLSU 59 – Vosotros 16, Atkins 13, Paredes 6, Elorde 4, Villanueva 3, Tolentino 3, Banal 3, Dela Paz 2, Webb 2, Mendoza 2, Marata 2, Andrada 2, Tampus 1, Ferdinand 0
NU 56 – Mbe 15, Terso 15, Baloran 10, Magat 6, Mhobuntin 4, Ponferrada 3, Hermosisima 3, Javillonar 0, Eriobu 0, Tungcul 0 , Singh 0, Malanday 0
Quarter Scores: 16-12; 23-22; 43-34 59-56