La Salle pounces Belo-less FEU to enter PCCL Finals

Gab Victorino (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

The De La Salle Green Archers completed a 4-0 sweep of the PCCL Elite 8 round by beating the depleted FEU Tamaraws, 74-61, at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The win catapulted the Green Archers to the national finals and avenged their UAAP Final Four loss to the Tamaraws, who played without their hero in that series, Mac Belo.

Belo, along with Raymar Jose, Ron Dennison, Carl Cruz, and Achie Iñigo, suited up for the MJM Builders in a PBA D-League game against the BreadStory Pirates at the JCSGO Gym in Quezon City that was taking place simultaneously with the FEU-La Salle game, leaving only ten players available for the Tams in the UAAP semis rematch.

La Salle surged ahead from the tip-off, racing to an 18-11 cushion at the end of the first period.

But FEU outscored La Salle, 26-15, in the second period to take a 37-33 lead at the half.

The Green Archers then delivered the killer blow in the third period, blasting the Tamaraws, 27-9, in the quarter to go up, 60-46.

La Salle stretched the lead to as high as 19 in some points of the fourth frame and never looked back.

Ben Mbala led the Green Archers with 20 points, making seven of ten shots, along with 12 rebounds and a block.

Seldom-used Allen Trinidad got the start for the Tams and scored 12 markers, five boards, two assists, and two steals in 26 minutes of play.

Box Scores:

La Salle 74-Mbala 20, Teng 14, Rivero 12, Torres 7, Salem 6, Tratter 5, Montalbo 5, Bolick 5, Pascual 0, Mustre 0, Muyang 0

FEU 61-Trinidad 12, Tamsi 11, Orizu 10, Tolomia 7, Delfinado 6, Lee Yu 6, Escoto 5, Pogoy 4, Denila 0, Ebona 0

Quarterscores: 18-11, 33-37, 60-46, 74-61