The De La Salle Green Archers finally got out of the rabbit hole, thumping Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 94-81, in their final game of the eliminations in the FilOil-Flying V Preseason Manny V. Pangilinan Cup at the FilOil-Flying V Arena.
Playing with intensity never wintessed the past three weeks, the Archers sustained a 10-1 start in the fourth period to break away for good. Joel Tolentino passed off to a sprinting Arvie Bringas to finish a fastbreak, 79-65, with 6:58 to go.
James Mangahas provided the game’s widest margin after receiving a looseball tapped by Simon Atkins into the frontcourt for an easy layup, 92-77, with half a minute to go before the game ended.
This breaks the green and white squad’s losing spell, finishing the elims of this tournament with four wins and three defeats.
Maui Villanueva made the paint his personal dominion, finishing with a team high 16 points. Bader Malabes scored 12, while Mangahas came up with 11 markers.
The Knights were led by the RP Smart Gilas duo of RJ Jazul and Rey Guevarra, combining for nearly half of their team’s total output. Jaypee Belencion reached 12 markers as Kevin Alas scored ten.
The two sides were keeping in step of each other before Letran had the first significant run of the game as they led by 10, 36-26, midway of the second period. The Taft-based squad quickly recovered to go ahead at the turn then led by nine, 61-52, with three minutes to go in the third as LA Revilla stole the ball off a fullcourt press for a layup.
The blue and red camp then went to within two from two Jun Alas freethrows, :11.6 before the fourth. However, Joshua Webb had the final say, uncorking a three-pointer in front of the DLSU bench with three seconds to go after receiving the assist from Tolentino.
Bringas then went to work in the fourth, scoring the last two field goals in the key run. From there, it was easy pickings as Letran went outside of the arc attempting desperate threes trying to catch up.
A sidelight of the match occured early when John Foronda emerged from a looseball scramble profusely bleeding from the top of his head. There were instances when he played with his bloodstained jersey, but got to wear a new uniform in the second half.
Boxscores
De La Salle 94 – Villanueva 16, Malabes 12, Mangahas 11, Co 8, Webb 8, Bringas 8, Revilla 7, Bagatsing 6, Atkins 5, Barua 4, Marata 3, Banal 2, Andrada 2, Tolentino 2, Reyes 0.
Letran 81 – Jazul 26, Guevarra 14, Belencion 12, Alas, K. 10, del Rosario 6, Cortes 5, Alas, J. 4, Malabago 3, Taplah 2, Gutilban 1, Foronda 0.
Quarters: 21-23, 42-41, 69-64, 94-81.