Archers cap banner year with PCCL title

MANILA, Philippines – La Salle fended off everything Southwestern U had to offer and hacked out a 70-61 victory to claim the 12th Philippine Collegiate Champions League title at The Arena in San Juan City Tuesday, capping what had been a spectacular season for the reigning UAAP champion.

Jeron Teng, Almond Vosotros and Jason Perkins took turns in making plays that mattered, helping the Archers – who took Game One, the day before, 64-54 – sweeping the Cobras in two games.

There were no balloons and confetti but La Salle players as well as the coaching staff frantically celebrated on center court while shaking hands with their fallen foes from the Queen City of the South.

After all, it was La Salle's second championship of the year that served as a crowning glory to the Taft-based school.

"It has been a great, magical year for La Salle," said La Salle coach Juno Sauler. "We've learned and at the same time won this year and we hope this will carry us through the next year when we try to win championships again."

Teng presided over the onslaught that saw La Salle build double-digits lead before Perkins and Vosotros took over by coming through with crucial shots after crucial shots that douse cold water on SWU's late fightback.

SWU, the first team outside Metro Manila to have advanced to the finals since Greg Slaughter and the University of Visayas Lancers made it that far in 2007 and eventually losing to Ateneo, may have lost but not without a fight.

Already given up for dead, the Cobras snaked their way back into the game with Cameroonian Landry Sanjo, reigning CESAFI MVP Mark Tallo and Daryl Goloran conspiring in slicing the Archers' lead to five, 51-56, with over seven minutes to go.

But a series of calls, including a fifth and final foul by Goloran, and a bench technical foul for continuous complaining allowed La Salle to score five points in a hurry that it followed with a 7-0 blitz sparked by Vosotros gave it a 17-point cushion.

SWU mounted a run and prayed for a miracle after it was just never the same.

SWU coach Yayoy Alcoseba, however, didn't want to make excuses.

"It was breaks of the game. Those calls hurt us, but I will not use it as an excuse because La Salle really played well and played like a champion," said Alcoseba.

For their heroics, Teng, Vosotros and Perkins were named into the elite Mythical First Team alongside SWU's Sanjo and Tallo in simple ceremonies presided over by PCCL chair Rey Gamboa and San Juan Vice Mayor Francis Zamora.

Teng was also named Finals MVP.

Some anxious moments halted play for a bit after Thomas Torres hit and sent Monbert Arong sprawling on the floor and was tossed out midway in the third period. He left scoring just three points.

Led by the prolific Teng, the Archers jumped the gun on the cobras to lead after the first quarter, 19-13, and at the end of the half, 34-22.

La Salle used its height and heft in taking control as it pounded its way inside where it made half of the 26 shots it attempted there.

Teng was the biggest beneficiary as scored 11 of his points in the first two quarters by making five of the seven shots he took while playing facilitator in several occasions.

The Taft-based school also lorded it over the boards, 26-15, that helped it dictate the phase of the game, while stifling the offense of SWU, which was limited to coming up with second chance points.

The scores:

La Salle 70 – Teng 16, Vosotros 15, Perkins 14, Reyes 7, Bollick 5, Van Opstal 4, N. Torres 4, T. Torres 3, Tampus 2, Montalbo 0, Salem 0

SWU 61 – Sanjo 16, Tallo 15, Goloran 12, Arong 10, Mohammed 3, Holper 3, Siewe 2, Bautista 0, Panerio 0, Ortega 0, Bregondo 0

Quarterscores: 19-13; 34-22; 53-42; 70-61