La Salle survives late FEU rally
Games Wednesday (Smart-Araneta Coliseum) 2 p.m. – UE vs FEU 4 p.m. – UP vs Ateneo
No punches nor any punt kicks were delivered last night, but defending champion La Salle still gave archrival Far Eastern University a sound beating.
The Green Archers, saved for their late meltdown, proved too much for the Tamaraws as they hammered out a solid 95-90 victory to open their title defense in the UAAP basketball tourney on a high note before a packed Mall of Asia Arena crowd.
Diminutive guard Aljun Melecio ignited their early onslaught while veterans Kib Montalbo, Ricci Rivero, Andrei Caracut and rookie big man Santi Santillan provided the stability on both ends to help La Salle overcome the absence of reigning MVP Ben Mbala.
More importantly, the Green Archers barged into the winners’ column and earned some sort of a payback against the Tamaraws following their highly-publicized free-for-all encounter in the Kadayawan Festival invitationals in Davao City.
Melecio, the smallest man on the floor at 5-foot-7, stood tall as he sizzled with a career-high 29 points, 20 of them coming in the first half where the Green Archers led by as many as 23 and left the Tamaraws in complete disarray with their suffocating “Mayhem” defense.
But FEU, mainly behind defensive ace Ron Dennison, Wendell Comboy and rookie Jasper Parker, flashed its deadly form in the final canto and pulled the closest at five with still two minutes to play.
La Salle, however, won’t be denied as it came through with some crucial stops, none bigger than Montalbo’s steal on FEU center Prince Orizu’s outlet pass before Melecio sealed the deal by knocking down two of three freebies with 16.4 seconds remaining.
“We will learn a lot in terms of maintaining our composure going into the endgame,” admitted La Salle coach Aldin Ayo, far from pleased with his wards’ anemic finish.
Earlier, Paul Desiderio knocked in a triple from the top of the key with 1.1 seconds left as University of the Philippines outlasted University of Santo Tomas in a frantic finish 74-73.
Desiderio 17, Vito 9, Webb 7, Gomez de Liano Ju 7, Manzo 6, Gomez de Liano Ja 6, Ouattara 4, Lim 4, Prado 4, Dario 4, Lao 4, Romero 2, Harris 0.
Lee 20, Akomo 15, Sta. Ana 11, Soriano 8, Huang 6, Garcia 5, Faundo 4, Arana 2, De Guzman 2, Basibas 0, Caunan 0, Kwawukumey 0, Macasaet 0, Romero 0.
Quarters: 18-19; 42-33; 57-57; 74-73. Melecio 29, Caracut 16, Montalbo 12, Tratter 11, Santillan 9, Rivero P 7, Baltazar 4, Go 3, Rivero R 2, Paraiso 2, Capacio 0. Dennison 21, Comboy 13, Orizu 12, Tuffin 10, Cani 7, Tolentino 7, Parker 7, Inigo 5, Escoto 5, Trinidad 3, Nunag 0, Ebona 0, Bienes 0. Quarters: 29-11; 47-32; 73-54; 95-90.