La Salle survives gritty Southwestern U squad

CEBU CITY — La Salle weathered the uprising of hometown champion Southwestern University to eke out a 59-54 victory at the start of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League Elite Eight Thursday at the Cebu City Coliseum here.

Jeron Teng scored 11 points for the defending national champion Green Archers, who led by nine points early in the third quarter but had to survive the persistence of the CESAFI titleholder Cobras throughout the contest.

Consecutive baskets by Teng gave La Salle a 46-37 lead early in the third but the historic stadium came alive numerous times when local star Mark Tallo led the charge in SWU’s bid to erase the deficit.

Tallo, who played for La Salle in 2012 before returning here to suit up for SWU, scored 11 of his game-high 17 points in the second half with his daredevil drives that wowed the audience.

He had a chance to tie the game with 1:03 left in the contest when Robert Bolick committed a foul with the Archers, who were leading 55-53, already in penalty.

Tallo made just one free throw, putting SWU within 55-54. La Salle capital- ized on the miss when Prince Rivero scored plus a foul with 35 seconds remaining for a 57-54 lead.

Rivero bungled the bonus try, giving SWU another chance to tie the game with a triple. But the Cobras wasted the opportunity when La Salle’s Ben Mbala intercepted a pass by John Lloyd Luz to virtually settle matters.

“It was difficult facing SWU because they are a very strong team. It won’t be easy playing them, especially here,” said La Salle coach Juno Sauler.

Rivero had nine points, Kib Montalbo added eight markers while Mbala also scored eight in first game in this bustling city since transferring from SWU two years ago.