Archers seal playoff for No. 2

La Salle pounced on University of the East’s half-hearted effort as it fashioned out a relatively easy 81-61 victory yesterday to clinch a playoff for a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four of the 67th UAAP basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena.

Mark Cardona fired 20 points as he powered the Archers to their 10th victory in 14 outings to force a tie for the No. 2 spot with the loser of the duel between the Far Eastern University Tams and the Ateneo Eagles tomorrow at the Araneta Coliseum.

The winner of the FEU-Ateneo match clinches the No. 1 spot and will play the Warriors, who finished with an 8-6 (win-loss) record, in the Final Four.

The Archers also hardly missed Joseph Yeo, who served out a one-game suspension after committing a second flagrant foul in the season in their game against State University last Thursday.

Joseph Casio, Ty Tang and Ryan Arana tossed in 14, 12 and 10 points, respectively, as the Archers avenged their 79-82 first round loss to the Warriors.

UE virtually went through the motion since a victory would only give the Warriors a tie for No. 3. It was also reeling from the absence of big man RJ Masbang, a so-so game from Niño Cañaleta and an injury to Paolo Hubalde.

Masbang was down with sore eyes. Canaleta, who had a career-high 25 points in his team’s win over La Salle, attempted only six times and made three for seven points. Hubalde fared better with 14 points but he left the game early in the third period reportedly due to a contusion on his left leg.

The Warriors were just not ready with Masbang, Canaleta and Hubalde out of it as the floundered with the team’s season record 32 turnovers which the Archers translated to 27 points.

Earlier, State U downed National U, 64-55, to post its best elimination round record since the Paolo Mendoza-led Maroons went 7-7 six seasons ago.

It was the Bulldogs’ 13th setback against a win.