FEU Tamaraws (4 - 0) def. DLSU Green Archers (2 - 2) 83 - 79 in OT
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| Terrence Romeo had to go all Super Saiyan in order for FEU to get this win. Get it? (credits to ph.sports.yahoo.com) |
Even though I'm an Atenean, I was looking forward to this game. It was a showdown between of the top teams in the league. One came from a come back victory against their arch rivals, and they had some revelations during that game as well. The other team was riding on a 3 - 0 winning streak, and slowly cemented their place as contenders despite a poor preseason.
It was a clash of opposites. One team relied heavily on their guards when it came to scoring. They had a poor interior game because of their lack of quality big men, but the hot shooting of their guards more than made up for this loss of their. One team relied on the inside game, as they had an imposing front line and a swing man who's virtually unstoppable when you play him one on one.
People expected a close game. A blowout would have been considered a disappointing game for the fans. It nearly ended that way. La Salle seemed like it was on its way to win # 3. They were 1:59 minutes away from that... and they were also 6:59 minutes away short.
I won't narrate the whole game anymore as I would usually do. Instead, I'll break down the 4th quarter, since that quarter pretty much summed the whole game up.
The 4th quarter started with La Salle leading 58 - 54. They had to rally in order to get that lead after being down by as much as 7 points during the previous quarter. Momentum was on their side, and we all know what happened the game before for them; a game La Salle won after making a huge rally during the 3rd quarter. For 8 minutes and 01 second of the quarter, it seemed as if La Salle would repeat what they did against Ateneo. After all, they were up by 12, and all of their shots were practically hitting. Luigi De La Paz was on fire, and Arnold Van Opstal was practically unstoppable in the post. Jeron Teng was having a mighty fine game. It looked like a won game for them.
Well, Terrence Romeo and gang wouldn't have any of that.
FEU would do the following in 1 MINUTE and 45 SECONDS:
It was a clash of opposites. One team relied heavily on their guards when it came to scoring. They had a poor interior game because of their lack of quality big men, but the hot shooting of their guards more than made up for this loss of their. One team relied on the inside game, as they had an imposing front line and a swing man who's virtually unstoppable when you play him one on one.
People expected a close game. A blowout would have been considered a disappointing game for the fans. It nearly ended that way. La Salle seemed like it was on its way to win # 3. They were 1:59 minutes away from that... and they were also 6:59 minutes away short.
I won't narrate the whole game anymore as I would usually do. Instead, I'll break down the 4th quarter, since that quarter pretty much summed the whole game up.
The 4th quarter started with La Salle leading 58 - 54. They had to rally in order to get that lead after being down by as much as 7 points during the previous quarter. Momentum was on their side, and we all know what happened the game before for them; a game La Salle won after making a huge rally during the 3rd quarter. For 8 minutes and 01 second of the quarter, it seemed as if La Salle would repeat what they did against Ateneo. After all, they were up by 12, and all of their shots were practically hitting. Luigi De La Paz was on fire, and Arnold Van Opstal was practically unstoppable in the post. Jeron Teng was having a mighty fine game. It looked like a won game for them.
Well, Terrence Romeo and gang wouldn't have any of that.
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| FEU looks primed a read for a championship. (credits to inboundpass.com) |
FEU would do the following in 1 MINUTE and 45 SECONDS:
- Terrence Romeo three pointer (1:48 mark)
- Mac Belo 3 point play (1:20 mark)
- 2 free throws from Carl Bryan Cruz. (0:48 mark)
- RR Garcia Lay Up (0:24 mark)
- Force a Jeron Teng turn over after successfully executing a full court press
- Mac Belo under goal stab for the tie (0:14 mark)
Before the under goal stab of Mac Belo, Almond Vosotros was fouled, and FEU was in the penalty, meaning Vosotros would be awarded two free throws. Almond is a 50% free throw shooter, was his shooting was on target during that game. It looked like a winning situation for La Salle. Almond would shoot his first free throw.
Clunk.
He missed. Hey, the first free throw is always the toughest, he's surely to make the 2nd right?
Nope. He missed it, and well, the rest is history.
We would have over time, Jeron Teng's free throws pretty much lose the game for La Salle, and FEU finishes La Salle off. FEU would wound up winning 83 - 79.
It was definitely a heart breaker for La Salle. It was definitely a game that got away. After everything went so well for them, 6 minutes and 59 seconds later, everything would go to waste. It was a wasted opportunity at being at a four way tie for the top spot. Now, they have to settle for a tie for the fourth spot.
For FEU, well, it was a sigh of relief perhaps. They can thank Jeron Teng for giving this game to them, as his missed free throws proved crucial for La Salle's meltdown. They can also thank Mac Belo for making those crucial plays in the end which gave them over time, and eventually the win.
Before I end this article, I would to end with the following points;
- FEU aren't championship contenders YET. I'm honestly not sold yet with the team. Yes, they are on fire at the point with Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia finally co - existing. You guys have to remember though; last year, FEU started 5 - 1, yet they didn't make the Final Four after a series of scandals. The same could happen this year, unless Coach Nash proves to the people that he really has this team under his control.
- AVO better be developed even further for the sake of the national team. When talking about future big men for the Philippines, people always talk about Greg Slaughter, Junemar Fajardo, Ian Sanggalang and even Kobe Paras (although Kobe is more of a guard, which is also good for the country's cause.. NBA perhaps?). AVO was hyped when he entered La Salle, but after the emergence of the Russell Escotos and the Norbert Torres', he has suddenly gone lost in the fray. After the past few games though, he has shown potential to be a good big man. He was a respectable shooting touch, and his post moves are developing. He's also athletic, and he's a reliable shot blocker. He has the tools to become a good big man, he just needs some more training in order to play for the national level.
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| AVO to Gilas? It's possible. (credits to ph.sports.yahoo.com) |
- Jeron Teng isn't an elite scorer yet. "But he scored 25 points against FEU!" .... mostly on drives. Barreling drives. Look, he's had three good games against three teams with horrible/depleted front lines in Ateneo, UP and FEU. He's averaged 21 points in those three games, but his free throw shooting has been beyond poor. He'll definitely have trouble scoring against teams like Adamson and UE with Sewa and Mammie in their front lines respectively since both of them are shot blockers and well.. their HUGE. Once Teng develops a CONSISTENT jumper and better post moves, then I can call him an elite scorer.
Player of The Game: Mac Belo (FEU Tamaraws)
10 points, 13 rebounds and the game tying basket
Notable Performances:
Terrence Romeo (FEU Tamaraws): 25 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists
Arnold Van Opstal (DLSU Green Archers): 20 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks
Jeron Teng (DLSU Green Archers): 25 points, 15 rebounds
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