La Salle goes for the kill vs FEU

By Josiah Albelda Posted Sep 25th 2013

With an eight-game winning streak on hand, De La Salle University has looked unstoppable ever since mid-season.

Now, with only one game separating them from a return to the championship round, the Green Archers are going for the jugular to avoid any complications.

La Salle battles on-the-ropes Far Eastern University in the 76th UAAP men's basketball semifinals, with the Tamaraws fighting for dear life Wednesday, 4 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Archers led from start to finish in dealing FEU a 74-69 loss in their playoff for the second seed last Saturday behind the hot sniping of LA Revilla, who rifled in six three-pointers to finish with 20 points.

The Taft-based squad waxed hot in the opening quarter with a 9-0 run, but coach Juno Sauler wasn't satisfied with how La Salle almost gave away their cushion in the final period.

"We could have done better in the fourth," he said. "We just have to get a better way of closing games out."

Despite their UAAP-best winning streak, Sauler says it doesn't mean anything for the Archers.

"We don't care about the streak," the rookie coach added. "The Miami Heat has had 27. Kami, walo lang naman."

History is on the side of the Archers as they have advanced to the Finals in ten previous times they had the twice-to-beat advantage. 

Meanwhile, the Tamaraws would have to go all out to prevent what started out as a dream season from going into smokes at this juncture.

Season MVP Terrence Romeo struggled in the first half before wounding up with 20 points as the La Salle's defense refused to allow the high-scoring guard from taking good shots.

The game will air live on Studio 23, BALLS HD 167 and uaapsports.tv with a same day replay at 9 p.m. on BALLS SkyCable Channel 34 or Destiny Cable Channel 36.