THE defending champions La Salle Green Archers and the San Beda Red Lions are set to face off once again in the finals of the 2015 Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup after they hurdled their respective opponents in the semifinals last Friday at the Arena in San Juan City.
The Archers gained a measure of revenge against the very same team that booted them out from the UAAP semifinals as they clobbered the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 84-71. San Beda, on the other hand, escaped with an 81-77 victory over the hard-fighting Jose Rizal University (JRU) Heavy Bombers.
Former UAAP Finals MVP Jeron Teng led the defending champions with 19 points and five rebounds while Thomas Torres had a fantastic all-around game with 18 markers, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
The Archers got off to a quick start and held a 21-12 lead after the first period before extending it to 13, 42-29, at halftime. The Tams crawled to within seven, 57-64, after made buckets by former Cebu Eastern College big man Raymar Jose and Mike Tolomia, but Teng sparked yet another breakaway that put the Archers ahead, 75-59, late in the final frame.
FEU was led by the 22 points of former University of Cebu standout Roger Pogoy while Jose and Tolomia ended up with 12 and 11, respectively.
In the other semis match, San Beda nearly lost a 21-point lead in the final frame as JRU came roaring back with a 28-8 run to pull within a single point, 74-75.
JRU actually had two chances to win the game but Teodoro muffed two triple attempts down the stretch.