2008 UAAP Results: Archers Survived Tigers, Again

It took a hell of a quarter from JV Casio and buzzer-beating game-winning tip from rookie Maui Villanueva for the De La Salle Univeristy Green Archers to beat the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers again in the second round of UAAP Season 71 Men's Basketball 81 - 79 yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.

These two teams who has a history of close games did not disappoint college hoops fan as they added another epic and memorable game to their rivalry.

JV Casio displayed a spectacular offensive assault in the fourth quarter to almost single-handedly bring the Archers to victory despite playing without head coach Franz Pumaren who is currently out of the country helping the RP Youth Team overseas.

Last season's MVP Jervy Cruz tried to match the efforts of Casio but an exciting turn of events that included two tip-ins in the waning seconds proved to be the decider with La Salle prevailing to strengthen their position for the twice to beat advantage and at the same time dealing a serious blow to UST's final four aspirations.

A slow start from both teams saw DLSU taking the first quarter 15 - 13 highlighted by an alley-oop jam of Maierhoffer. UST opened with a 13 - 4 run to take a seven-point lead four minutes into the second period. DLSU countered with 9 - 0 to retake the lead. The half ended with UST taking a two-point lead 36 - 34.

La Salle took a 51 - 43 lead behind Casio and Barua. It would have been bigger if not for many missed free throws mostly by Maierhoffer. The score was 54 - 47 after the third.

When the final period came, Casio caught fire for La Salle while Cruz carried UST inside. Casio scored 10 straight points while Cruz answered with 13 as La Salle has a slim 66 - 65 lead halfway to the quarter.

Mirza's basket tied the game at 67 - 67 before Casio scored 8 out of the next 10 La Salle points as they erected a 18 - 71 lead with only a minute left.

Left for dead, the Tigers almost pulled off a comeback in what may be the most hear-stopping turn of events of the elimination round as seldom-used Vargas scored 5 crucial points to tie the game, 79 all with just 5 seconds left.

But the Tigers' defense allowed Revilla to dribble the length of the court and attempt a good shot that paved the way for Maui Villanueva's game-winning tip-in.

The loss dropped the Tigers to 5 - 7 in the standings and imperiled their chances of advancing to the final four. They now need to sweep their next two games and hope that UE lose its remaining games to have at least a play-off for the last final four slot.

DLSU's win meanwhile kept them abreast with FEU at 9 - 3 and contend for the twice-to-beat incentive.