2008 UAAP Result: FEU, De La Salle Wins

FEU blasts UP

Far Eastern University cruises to an easy win over host University of the Philippines in the first game of a doubleheader in the Philsport Arena in the ongoing 2008 UAAP Season 71 Men's Basketball.

The Tamaraws controlled the game early and never looked back as they get their second win of the season at the expense of the Fighting Maroons. The Maroons face a twenty point deficit in the first half. At the start of the third quarter, UP tightened its defense, and was able to trim down the lead to nine points.

They were still very much in the game, 69 - 59 with 6:28 to go when the Tamarraws unleashed a 12-0 run highlighted by guard Knuttel. He had two baskets and a pair of taps leading to a steal in that game-ending surge.

Veteran guard Benedict Fernandez lead the Tamaraws with 16 points. The final score was 88 - 62.

DLSU prevails over UST

In the main game featuring champs of the past two seasons, the De La Salle Green Archers prevailed over the resilient University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 85 - 84.

The Defending Champion Archers proved to be tougher in the endgame as they picked up their second consecutive win and dealing the 2006 Champs Tigers their second defeat.

The game demonstrated offensive efficiency between two teams as they battle toe to toe from start to finish. There were at least 13 lead changes and seven deadlocks. The Archers attack were lead by Casio, Mangahas and Malabes. UST has a much balanced attack comprised of Cruz, Ababou, Allera and Canlas.

From a 58 - 63 count after three quarters, the two teams displayed excellent offensive exchanges. Rookie guard Fortuna tied the count with an and-one completion, 66-66 with 8:23 left in the game. DlLSU regained the lead with baskets coming from Mangahas and Revilla. UST battled back to a 75 - 72 lead highlighted by alley-oop play of Ababou with four minutes and a half to go.

A Walsham putback and Maierhoffer's own three-point play completion gave the lead back to DLSU 77-75 time with 3:23 to go. Jervy Cruz tied the game for the final time with two free throws, 77-77.

Malabes's fourth trey of game broke the tie, 80 - 77. UST tasted the lead again on Ababou's put back basket 81-80, but a hang-time move from Mangahas gave the lead for good to the Archers.

The Archers defense on the Tigers' main men lead to two-three point misses from Fortuna that practically snapped the game out of the Tigers' clutches.

Ababou made a buzzer-beater three to round up the final score to 84-85 in favor of the DLSU.