The De La Salle Green Archers became the first team to book a seat in the UAAP Season 76 finals after surviving a tight contest with FEU, 71-68, to win their final four matchup Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
La Salle, which advanced to the title series for the first time since 2008, is playing its best basketball at just the right time and will be entering the finals on a nine-game unbeaten streak.
They swept the second round of the elimination round and defeated FEU in back-to-back playoff games to enter the finals.
“That’s what we talked about even at the start of the season, improve every game, daily at every practice,” said La Salle coach Juno Sauler of his team’s recent streak.
“Wherever it takes us, we’ll take it.”
Three different Green Archers – veteran guard LA Revilla, Jeron Teng and Norbert Torres – scored 15 points each to lead La Salle in this one.
Unlike in their romp against FEU in their playoff for the twice-to-beat edge, La Salle had a tougher time in this one, falling behind by 11 points, 46-35, midway through the third period.
But the streaking Green Archers slowly chipped away at the lead until they caught a break late in the quarter with graduating Tamaraw Gryann Mendoza fouling out with 12 seconds remaining in the third
Mendoza, who scored eight points in the third period alone, was called for his fourth foul and a successive technical foul that awarded La Salle four free throws plus possession of the ball.
Teng hit three of his four attempts to bring his team to within four, 56-52, to start the final 10 minutes.
Former MVP RR Garcia, who played in his final UAAP game, opened the fourth with a fastbreak layup and a split from the line that gave FEU a seven-point advantage, 59-52.
But La Salle responded with seven straight points capped by a hook shot from center Arnold Van Opstal over FEU counterpart Christian Sentcheu.
With the Green Archers down by a single points with about three minutes remaining, Teng put his team over the top with four straight points. He hit a free throw, then grabbed an offensive rebound after missing his second attempt before banking in a floater.
Teng then earned another trip to the line when he was fouled by Mike Tolomia on a rebound play. He split his charities but it was enough to give La Salle a three-point lead.
They then played their trademark tough defense down the stretch, only giving up a basket with five ticks left in the clock and up by four after a Revilla free throw.
The game was tense, though, until the final seconds when Jason Perkins missed one of his two free throws to leave it as a one-possession game but FEU star Terrence Romeo missed a trey at the buzzer.
The Green Archers now await the winner of the knockout game between top seed NU and fourth-ranked UST in the other side of the UAAP final four bracket.
“Both teams are tough. It’ll be an exciting game in their knockout. We’ll just prepare for whoever wins,” Sauler said.
WATCH: La Salle chokes FEU in last 2 mins
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