Teng powers La Salle past FEU
Games Saturday (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 2 p.m. – UE vs UST 4 p.m. – UP vs La Salle
The La Salle Green Archers lived up to their billing as the team to beat in a game filled with high expectations. Despite squandering a 16-point third quarter lead, the Green Archers displayed great courage that was hardly seen from them last season as they recovered from that hiccup to turn back the defending champion Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 83-78, last night in the UAAP basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
There were no fireworks seen in their first encounter since a heated and unfinished preseason encounter last month, only a competitive duel that saw La Salle taking control of the first half behind debuting Cameroonian Ben Mbala before leaning on Jeron Teng late to hold off FEU’s rally from a 62-46 third quarter deficit.
Teng scored 28 points, hitting the team’s last eight, while Mbala shrugged off a roller-coaster showing on his way to 13 points, 23 rebounds and four blocks for the Green Archers, who made new coach Aldin Ayo a winner in his first game at the sidelines.
Ayo, back in the same venue where he helped steer alma mater Letran to a Cinderella finish in the NCAA last season, was quick to downplay the result as a preview of what to expect this season.
“Kalawang pa,” said Ayo, who admitted that La Salle’s last match was in the FEU duel that saw tempers reaching the boiling point.
Rookie Aljun Melecio was also impressive in his first taste of collegiate hoops, scoring 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting.
Ron Dennison scored 13 points, Jojo Trinidad had 12 points, Monbert Arong made 11 and Nigerian center Prince Orizu produced 10 points and 10 rebounds, but the Tamaraws failed to complete their comeback and suffered a defeat in their first game minus Mac Belo, Mike Tolomia, Roger Pogoy, Russell Escoto, Achie Inigo and Alfrancis Tamsi - the core of last season’s titlewinning squad.
A basket by Trinidad enabled FEU to tie the score at 74-all with 3:53 remaining. But Mbala split his free throws on the next play before Teng took charge to enable La Salle to pull off the escape act.
Earlier, Alfred Aroga scored 19 points despite hurting his right ankle in the fourth quarter and National University downed University of the East, 72-66.