Archers snap Lions' win streak, make PCCL semis

San Beda coach Frankie Lim was hoping to extend his team's perfect record for the year. Thirty-two days before the turn of the year, the long winning streak was snapped by a determined La Salle team in the 2010 Philippine Collegiate Champions League Monday night at The Arena in San Juan. The Archers pulled off a stunning 84-74 upset win over the Lions and officially knocked out the reigning NCAA champions in the race for the Final Four of this nationwide collegiate event. After posting a perfect season in the NCAA with an 18-game winning streak en route to clinching the basketball crown, the Lions were determined to keep the perfecto going in the PCCL. But the Archers had different ideas. A dizzying 16-1 run in a five-minute stretch allowed the Archers to shatter a 61-all standoff and establish their biggest lead of the game, 77-62, capped by Maui Villanueva’s free throws, with only 1:26 left. Rookie Jarelan Tampus led the Archers with 16 points, including 10 in the pivotal fourth. He also added seven rebounds. “Luckily, we won today against San Beda. We played good defense and executed well on offense, that’s why we were able to pull it off,’’ said La Salle head coach Dindo Pumaren. "I really motivated the boys before the game and I told them that we can beat San Beda.’’ Four other Archers finished in double figures — Simon Atkins, Almond Vosotros, Sam Marata and Villanueva. Atkins, the team’s court leader, contributed 14 points while Vosotros chipped in 13. Marata and Villanueva had 12 and 11, respectively, in a display of balanced firepower. More than his team’s balanced offense, Pumaren paid tribute to the Archers’ excellent team defense that took both Sudan Daniel and Garvo Lanete out of rhythm and off their usual game. "We did a good job stopping Sudan Daniel and Garvo Lanete. That was our primary game plan,’’ added Pumaren. Rome Dela Rosa had a game-high 20 points and five rebounds for San Beda, which only drew 12 points and six rebounds from Daniel. Lanete also struggled, making only 2-of-13 from the field in 28 minutes of play. - KY, RCJ, GMANews.TV