Old Archers never die, shoot balding Eagles

After more than two decades, the old "Animo La Salle spirit" came into full force.

The La Salle Green Archers, behind the inspired play of Tonichi Yturri and Franz Pumaren, outplayed and outhustled the Ateneo Legends team, 79-70, before a wildly-cheering crowd in the Fil-Oil Flying V Ultimate Showdown at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ytturi, a role player during his prime, sizzled with 16 points and snared seven rebounds, anchoring La Salle’s blazing fourth quarter rampage, capped by Pumaren’s three-pointer in the final minute of the contest.

"I have never played against Ateneo in my whole collegiate career, so when this opportunity to play against the Blue Eagles came, I was excited to dish off my A-game," said the 6-foot-6 Yturri, head coach of Harbour Centre in the PBL.

"We practiced for three weeks and it was really exciting to touch base with old faces. I guess we have relived the rivalry, though more than that, it’s the fellowship that makes this reunion game great," said Yturri, a member of the last batch of La Salle team that played in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The Green Archers bolted the NCAA after engaging the Letran Knights in a fight during the 1980 season. La Salle eventually joined the University Athletic Association of the Philippines in the mid-1980s.

La Salle Hall of Famer Lim Eng Beng, who established scoring records in the NCAA during his heydays with the Green Archers, said "giving everything they’ve got" is automatic, especially when they are up against their bitter rival Ateneo.

"I haven’t played for La Salle for 31 years, iba talaga ang feeling," said Lim, who set a scoring record 55 points in a game, averaged 32 points per outing, and powered La Salle to the 1974 NCAA championship. He also went on to bag the MVP for that season.

La Salle led for most of the way as it drew the much-needed offense from Boy Manguerra and Jong Uichico during the first half, before Yturri and Pumaren, the current La Salle mentor, took over in the second half.