De La Salle University survived a day in the doghouse winning, 85-81, against National University at the Cuneta Astrodome on August 4. Rico Maierhofer put the Archers out of sticky situations in the endgame despite playing only for ten game minutes. He was wide open down under for a stab, 1:34 in the game, to have DLSU up, 82-77. Later, he fished Joseph Lingao-Lingao’s fifth foul for two freethrows, grabbing Cholo Villanueva’s short jumper that hit nothing but air.
“It is so hard to play NU with their unorthodox style,” said De La Salle coach Franz Pumaren. “They had open looks, (but) they missed their shots.”
Bader Malabes introduced himself with 18 points, 3/8 from beyond the arc. He was 0/17 from that area prior to the game.
“He is a better shooter than his percentage,” Pumaren rued. “That is why we encourage him to shoot.”
TY Tang had 12 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Villanueva had 11, seven, and six, while James Mangahas had a double-double afternoon with 11 and ten.
Jonathan Fernandez led everyone with 24 points while hauling seven rebounds. Edwin Asoro had an all-around performance of 13 markers, eight boards, five thefts, and two blocks. Both Lingao-Lingao and Jonathan Jahnke finished the first round with 11 points.
The Archers led 12-4 to start the game. However, Jahnke finished a 12-3 run with a three at the buzzer for the Bulldogs, 22-21.
Malabes then scorched seven points in a 14-7 rally to go up, 41-33, in the second period. Villanueva duplicated the spread in the third slice with a reverse layup, 64-56, 3:45. However, Fernandez drove to the middle to scissor down the lead to four, 64-68, less than a minute in the third.
The magic number seemed to be eight as Ferdinand blocked an NU attempt, Jvee Casio taking the leather, advanced upcourt, and fed Tang for a fastbreak layup, 6:37 in the fourth, the Green Archers on top, 74-68.
Michael Salvado tied things up with a nonchalant triple from the summit of the curve, 75-all, less than five minutes to go. Tang found Malabes at the top of the key for a three to create a five-point barricade.
From there, the Jhocson-based squad just scored at the line the rest of the way.
“Two crucial fouls were called against us,” Pumaren mentioned disappointedly. “You do not let the referees decide the outcome. It was away from the ball, there was no effect on the game.”
Maierfoher had an incomplete three-point play after Jahnke made his trip on the line. Maierhofer's trip to the charity were sandwiched by two Fernandez forays at the 15-footer getting both personals from Villanueva.
NU had a chance to send the battle into overtime but Jahnke's attempt from quarter court, hit rim, then went out of bounds. Malabes sealed the count with a split.
The Archers end the first half of the basketball season with a 5-2 win-loss standing. National, on the other hand, is teetering at the lower middle part of the seedings with 3-4.
“We were able to survive,” assessed Pumaren. “Coming into this tournament, I am looking at the top two or three at the least.”
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