The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers fired on all cylinders to end Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws’ title hopes, 84-71, to barge into the Finals of the 2015 FilOil-Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
The Green Archers sprinted to a quick 16-6 lead to raise the game’s curtains in the opening frame. The Tamaraws made it a nine-point deficit, 17-8, after a Roger Pogoy runner at the 2:55 mark, but DLSU made another 9-4 run with Jeron Teng and Andrei Caracut as the catalysts to take a commanding 26-12 lead heading into the second quarter.
DLSU posted a 21-point, 33-12 lead to open the second frame after baskets from Jollo Go and Thomas Torres with less than eight minutes to go. FEU, meanwhile, made a 17-9 run of their own behind Pogoy, Raymar Jose, and Mike Tolomia to trim DLSU’s lead, 42-29, to end the first half with the said score.
The Tamaraws, in the third frame, surged behind to trim the huge deficit. However, they still could not close within single digits, with the 51-40 score serving as the closest they can get within DLSU in the quarter. La Salle, with Teng, Jason Perkins, and Larry Muyang chipping in baskets, preserved the gap to end the frame ahead, 62-49.
FEU finally managed to come close in the final canto, inching within seven, 64-57, behind baskets from Tolomia and Jose. DLSU went back and kept FEU at bay, 75-59, after a Teng layup with 4:20 left. From then on, The Green Archers never looked back, scoring nine more points down the stretch to post the 84-71 victory.
Despite the pre-season acheivement, DLSU Head Coach Juno Sauler downplayed the team’s victory, saying that they still have a lot of things to work on to be fully prepared for the real battle, the UAAP. “Yes, it’s still three months before UAAP, and we still have a lot of work to do.”
Teng led DLSU with 19 points, but Torres shone the brightest for the Green Archers, scoring 18 points and hauling down 10 rebounds. Jahal Tratter and Perkins added 12 and 11, respectively. FEU, on the other hand, were led by Pogoy with 22 markers.
The victory sent DLSU to the tournament Finals and will wait for the winner of the San Beda College-Jose Rizal University game to determine their opponent.
The Scores:
DLSU 84 – Teng 19, Torres 18, Tratter 12, Perkins 11, Caracut 9, Muyang 7, Torralba 4, Go 2, Sargent 2, Gob 0
FEU 71 – Pogoy 22, Jose 12, Tolomia 11, Escoto 5, Bienes 5, Trinidad 4, Orizu 3, Tamsi 2, Liwag 2, Arong 2, Comboy 2, Iñigo 0, Dennison 0
| TEAMS | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
| DLSU | 33 | 42 | 62 | 84 |
| FEU | 12 | 29 | 49 | 71 |
