One might call it a case of overconfidence but the fact is, the Green Archers are having trouble beating teams they are supposed to beat.
Struggling past Perpetual Help last Friday, La Salle was not lucky this time around as they lose to a feisty Mapua team 61-67. The Cardinals, no longer in contention in this preseason tournament played spoiler to what could have been the Archers’ outright entry in the quarterfinals.
It was a nip and tuck affair the entire game as neither team was able to pull away from the other. La Salle managed to take control of the match in the early stages of the fourth period and led 58-56 entering the last two minutes. But a spate of bad breaks coupled by a pair of 3-pointers by Mapua bigman Mike Parala ultimately sealed their fate in the closing seconds.
Norbert Torres scored 10 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, and Jeron Teng added 9 points for the Green Archers.
The team came out flat on the defensive end, allowing them to be outrebounded by the smaller Cardinals 53-32. Mapua won all the hustle points as they collared 20 more offensive rebounds and outscored La Salle 10-0 in second chance points.
The game had some rough moments in the second half as Mac Tallo and Mapua guard Andretti Stevens got into a scuffle which led to both players being ejected. Midway way in the fourth, Jovet Mendoza was hit during a rebound play but no foul was called.
With the loss, the Green Archers falls to 4-3, tied with UST and Letran for the last two quarterfinal slots in Group A. San Beda leads the group at 7-0 followed by Ateneo at 6-1.
La Salle will be going up against the Blue Eagles this Saturday but they may have to play without Tallo, who will likely be suspended. The Archers will advance to the next round with a win.
Box Scores:
Mapua 67- Nimes 15, Parala 13, Igahalo 12, Saitanan 11, Banal 6, Estrella 4, Brana 4, Abad 2, Chien 0, Stevens 0, Layug 0
DLSU 61 – Torres N 10, Teng 9, Webb 8, Vosotros 7, Revilla 5, Andrada 4, Dela Paz 4, Mendoza 3, Paredes 3, Tampus 3, Tallo 2, Herrera 2, Reyes 1, Gotladera 0
Quarterscores: 14-12;32-31;49-48;67-61