Archers nip Bulldogs, meet Tams in playoff for No. 2 semis slot

MANILA, Philippines – La Salle stepped on the gas in the second half to run away with a 68-56 triumph over National U and forge a playoff for No. 2 seed in the Final Four against Far Eastern U in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tourney Saturday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Archers dropped an 11-2 bomb in the third to take command then poured it even more in the payoff period to cap its elims slate with 10-4, tying FEU at second after the two-round elims.

Almond Vosotros (15), Arnold Van Opstal (14) and Norbert Torres (13), led DLSU in scoring, easing the load on  top guns Jeron Teng and Jason Perkins, who shot nine and eight, respectively.

“I think we’re more scary if we involved the others,” said DLSU coach Juno Sauler. “Everyone was trying to help each other out. We didn’t want just one or two guys involved in offense but getting the ball to different people and making sure everyone gets a touch.”

La Salle seized a 49-39 upperhand in the third and though NU managed to go to within five early in the fourth, the Archers countered with a 15-3 assault to pull away for good, 64-47, 3:39 left.

La Salle played a balanced inside-outside game, scoring 28 in the shaded lane and 33 in the perimeter versus NU’s 20 and 24, respectively.

“It was either dumping the ball to the bigs or running plays for the guards in the perimeter,” said Sauler. Getting the ball inside to Arnold or Norbert also created open shots for Almond and the other guys.”

The Archers outscored the Bulldogs, 37-25, in the last 20 minutes of play to set the tone for the 12-point win.

DLSU thus set a virtual best-of-three semis showdown with the Tams beginning next week.

“We just have to match the intensity of FEU; they’re a very fast-paced team and I think in the two games (in the elims) we got beaten off in transition, so that’s something we have to take care of and also make sure we defend their scorers (Mac) Belo and (Mike) Tolomia,” said Sauler.

Interestingly, it will be a rematch of last year’s semis duel, wherein the Archers emerged victorious in both the playoff for No. 2 and the first match of their F4 duel.

“Same style of play; just different players but they play the same way,” Sauler said of their post-season rivals FEU. “No RR (Garcia), no (Terrence) Romeo (this time), but they still got Tolomia and Belo, and almost all the guys coach Nash (Racela) uses, they contribute.”

Injured guard Thomas Torres (foot) came in uniform but Sauler decided to sit him out still.

“He’s been practicing but still (on) day to day (status). We’ll see this week (if he can already play in the playoff),” said Sauler.

The Bulldogs wound up with 9-5 and may figure in a rubbermatch for the fourth and last F4 seat if fifth-running University of the East (8-5) hurdles University of Santo Tomas in its last match on Tuesday.