The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers blasted the visiting Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras, 90-80, to coast to their fourth straight victory in the 2015 FilOil-Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
DLSU started strong in the first quarter, turning the 7-4 deficit against SWU to a nine-point lead, 16-7, after a 12-0 run behind Jeron Teng, Jason Perkins, and Jollo Go with exactly six minutes into the game. SWU, with Jasper Parker and Daryl Gorongan providing baskets, inched within seven, 22-15, with 2:04 left. DLSU posted a 12-point lead, 27-15 behind baskets from Teng and Andrei Caracut, to end the quarter in their favor.
The Green Archers continued their fluid offense in the next frame, posting their biggest lead of the half, 35-18, after a pair of charities from Josh Torralba with less than seven minutes on the clock. The Cobras, behind the offense from Mark Tallo, Boko Mupungo, and Goloran, gradually trimmed DLSU’s lead to thirteen, 44-31, with 45 ticks remaining. Larry Muyang sank both of his free throws to close the first half with DLSU ahead, 46-31.
SWU displayed their own brand of basketball through fastbreaks and three-pointers, being able to cut down DLSU’s huge advantage to just four, 55-51, with the same triumvirate of Tallo, Gorongan, and Mupungo chipping in baskets after baskets come the 3:29 mark. Despite DLSU regaining another double-digit, 66-55 lead, SWU ran away with a 5-1 spree to end the quarter closer, 67-60.
La Salle opened up the game’s final chapter ahead by nine, 69-60, after Jahal Tratter made both if his freebies. DLSU scored in almost all of their possessions to keep the double-digit lead, but SWU kept coming back, to close within six, 76-70, after a Parker layup, 6:24 left. But that proved to be their last chance to close within decent distance, for DLSU, registered another fifteen-point lead, 85-70, with less than four minutes left. SWU scored ten more points down the stretch, but time was not on their side anymore, giving DLSU the win.
Four Green Archers scored in double figures in the victory. Caracut scored 18 points, Torralba had 17 while hitting 3/3 triples, while Teng and Torres had 14 and 10, respectively. Former DLSU guard Mark Tallo paced SWU with 17 markers.
DLSU will face the Mapua Institute of Technology Cardinals on their next game on Wednesday, May 27, at 5 PM. SWU, on the other hand, will also have their next game on Wednesday, 1:30 PM, against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.
*Photo by Richard Esguerra
The Scores:
DLSU 90 – Caracut 18, Torralba 17, Teng 14, Torres 10, Perkins 9, Muyang 8, Tratter 5, Go 3, Navarro 2, Van Opstal 2, Gob 2, Pascual 0
SWU 80 – Tallo 17, Mupungo 14, Parker 13, Goloran 13, Holper 8, Auditor 8, Luz 5, Habagat 2, Bregondo 0, Acuno 0
| TEAMS | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH |
| DLSU (B, 4-1) | 27 | 46 | 67 | 90 |
| SWU (B, 0-2) | 15 | 31 | 60 | 80 |
