Vosotros puts up quiet scoring clinic in all-important victory

Needing a win to keep afloat in the race to the post-season, the Green Archers were right on target.

Behind the season-best performance of Almond Vosotros, De La Salle University  held off Far Eastern University, 63-56, to solidify their Final Four bid today  at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Vosotros, the former San Sebastian guard, tied his career-best output of 21 points with a 3-for-7 clip from beyond the arc to lead the De La Salle bench mob in the game.

Jeron Teng struggled to put together his 10 points throughout the match with a sub-par 2-for-12 shooting clip from the field, but the Taft Avenue five reserves amounted for 37 of the 63 points, a season-high output, to aid their cause in securing the all-important win.

“We’re very happy that we have pulled through this game and we have a chance right now,” said a relieved rookie head coach Gee Abanilla in the post-game presser. “It’s just a matter of re-focusing our efforts (in) our next game against Adamson.”

Abanilla also outlined the importance of the rising play of LA Revilla, who has been out of rhythm in the past games after recovering from a rash assortment of injuries that has limited his appearances this season. He finished with 8 points in 21 minutes, mostly during the crucial stretches of the match where the Tams attempted to fight back in the second half.

On the part of the Tamaraws, Terrence Romeo connected for a second-round best total of 26 points on a 9-for-20 shooting clip from the field but failed to gain much-needed support from the rest of the cast.

In the first game, National University held off a feisty challenge from the exiting University of the Philippines via a 65-60 count to keep in pace with De La Salle University for the fourth playoff spot.

Bobby Ray Parks struggled in the first half with two points, but found his stride in the second half to end the game with 17 markers. Emmanuel Mbe followed with 13 points and 14 rebounds, while Jeth Troy Rosario had 10.

The Maroons finish dead last for another year and stands to lose nine players from their current roster.

Among the notable graduates who will exit are game top scorers Alvin Padilla (14 points, 3-for-5 3-point FGs), Mike Silungan (11 points), and Alinko Mbah (8
points, 3 blocks).

BOX SCORES
First game
NATIONAL (65): Parks 17, Mbe 13, Rosario 10, Javillonar 8, Alolino 8, Rono 3, Singh 2, Labing-isa 2, De Guzman 2, Villamor 0, Neypes 0, Khobuntin 0, Betayene 0
STATE U (60): Padilla 14, Silungan 11, Mbah 8, Soyud 8, Ball 7, Manuel 3, Lopez 3, Montecastro 2, Gamboa 2, Asilum 2, Wierzba 0, Hipolito 0
Quarters: 12-11, 30-21, 51-41, 65-60

Second game
DE LA SALLE (63): Vosotros 21, Teng 10, Revilla 8, Andrada 7, Van Opstal 6, Torres 3, Mendoza 2, Webb 0, Manguera 0, Tampus 0
FAR EASTERN (56): Romeo 26, Garcia 10, Mendoza 8, Escoto 5, Cruz 3, Tolomia 2, Hargrove 2, Sentcheu 0, Pogoy 0, Bringas 0
Quarters: 11-12, 26-24, 42-33, 63-56