Vyn Radovan | FCF

Thanks to clutch baskets from Jeron Teng and Almond Vosotros, De La Salle University overturned a 10 point deficit late in their ballgame against San Beda College to secure their spot in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League title series on Thursday at The Arena in San Juan City.

DLSU, who defeated the four-time defending NCAA champions by a count of 64-60, now aim to win their first PCCL title since 2008.

Earlier, Southwestern University became just the second Cebu squad to enter the title round in the Champions League’s history, scoring an 86-71 rout of Far Eastern University in the opening contest.

In a nip-and-tuck contest, both La Salle and San Beda tried to make their respective runs to pull away from each other, only to find that the other is behind their tail.

Leading by two at the half, the Red Lions fell behind by eight, thanks to an 8-0 run by DLSU and four consecutive fouls by center Kyle Pascual, 41-34. But as quick as a wink, they pulled back with an 19-7 surge until midway of the fourth to stagger the UAAP champions, 53-48.

With the Mendiola-based institution misfiring at the worst possible time, Teng and Vosotros pulled out the final blows, scoring 11 of the Archers’ last 16 points to deliver the knockout punch and send the Red Lions packing.

“The players just came up with big plays in the end, offensive rebound here and there, and we limited them to one shot in the basket,” said DLSU head coach Juno Sauler.

Teng, who amassed 23 points, with eight rebounds and four assists in three quarters of action, earned the praise of Sauler, but also gained a little criticism on his shot selection.

“You can see how bad Jeron wants it, especially in the end game. Even with four fouls, he’ll play hard defensively. He’s there to motivate his teammates. Sometimes, though, he’ll take bad shots, but that’s what I’ll have to live with. But I like his mentality in the end game, where he takes it hard to the basket,” he said.

Vosotros finished with 12 points. Jason Perkins tallied 15 points and crashed the boards with 14.

Ola Adeogun posted 14 points and 13 rebounds in a losing cause.

Vyn Radovan | FCF

The Cobras, who are making their second consecutive appearance in the final four, survived a scare from their Luzon-Metro Manila qualifier counterparts in the second half to follow the footsteps of University of Visayas as the only teams from the Southern Islands to enter the finals of the PCCL.

SWU exploded in the second period, outscoring the Tamaraws with a 29-11 spurt to gain a 43-27 lead at the half, mostly due to their torrid outside shooting – a torrid 4-for-9 clip from beyond the arc – compounded with FEU’s horrid 3-for-17 (18 percent) clip from the field.

Trailing by as much as 20 early in the second half, the Tamaraws quietly made a spirited fightback led by Mike Tolomia and Gryann Mendoza to cut the lead to its lowest at eight by the early part of the fourth period.

But the Southern Islands champion, who finished as runners-up to UV in the recent CESAFI wars, stopped the UAAP third-placers in the late stages to escape with the win.

“As I told the players, we have to hold on. We have to have the composure to finish the game, it would be a waste because we were leading by 19, 16, and 18, and in the last minutes we’ll give it to them. They delivered, finished the game, and won,” said SWU mentor Yayoy Alcoseba, who once streered the University of San Jose-Recoletos, led by the likes of Dondon Ampalayo, Zaldy Realubit, and Jojo Lastimosa, to the National Intercollegiate title over the Avelino “Samboy” Lim-led Letran Knights in 1985.

“It’s not yet over. We’re happy that we’re in the finals because we are the champion of Visayas and Mindanao series. Not only the people of Cebu are happy, but (also) the Cebuano-speaking basketball fans. This is not only for us, it’s also for (them),” he added.

Monbert Arong, who paced their surge in the second canto with 12 markers, finished with 23 points wtih seven rebounds and five assists. Landry Sanjo manned the paint with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and three swats.

Mendoza, who has played his final game in a Tamaraws uniform, posted 16 points, 7 rebounds, and six assists.