[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’DLSU begins UAAP title defense, fends off FEU ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
Tuesday. September 12, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_image src=’http://www.panaynews.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/sports-dlsu-over-feu-for-web.jpg’ attachment=’117137′ attachment_size=’full’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]
[av_textblock size=’18’ font_color=” color=”]
MANILA – De La Salle University Green Archers survived a tough stand by Far Eastern University Tamaraws to escape 95-90 in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball.
Aljun Melecio led the way with career-high 29 points – 20 came in the first half – for the defending champion Sunday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Andrei Caracut added 16 while Bacolod City native Kirell Montalbo and Abu Tratter chipped in 12 and 11, respectively.
DLSU, which played without Cameroonian import Benoit Mbala, joined the roster of early leaders (1-0) National University Bulldogs, Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles and University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.
Green Archers waxed hot early on the offensive end to turn an early 3-6 deficit to a 29-11 advantage at the end of first 10 minutes behind conversions from Tratter, Caracut and Rashleigh Rivero.
Tamaraws showed some life early in the second quarter to come to within 10 points but 3-point conversions by Melecio allowed Green Archers to pull away to a 47-32 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Tamaraws threatened to come to within 9 points following hits by Wendelino Comboy but Green Archers quickly increased the lead to 19 points on three outside shots by Montalbo.
Green Archers were still up by double digits early in the fourth quarter when Tamaraws closed in 86-91 late in the match on a barrage of triples. But free throws by Melecio down the stretch sealed the win for DLSU.
“It was just an ordinary game. Both teams really wanted to win,” said Green Archers head coach Aldin Ayo. “We have crucial mistakes (in the fourth quarter) but I’m confident we’ll learn from them.”
Ron Dennison top-scored with 21 points while Comboy and Prince Orizu had 16 and 12, respectively, for FEU, which had a losing start along with University of the East Red Warriors, Adamson University Falcons and University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
