The De La Salle Green Archers during their UAAP Season 88 men's basketball game against FEU, October 1, 2025 at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. UAAP Media
MANILA (UPDATED) -- De La Salle University nearly squandered a double-digit lead but managed to hold on for a 74-72 victory over Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament on Wednesday.
The Green Archers led by as much as 14 points at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion before Janrey Pasaol sparked a furious fightback from the Tamaraws.
But veteran guard Jorick Bautista flubbed what could have been the game-tying layup in the final seven seconds, allowing La Salle to hold on for the win.
It was a bounce-back victory for the Green Archers, who were coming off a defeat against Season 88 hosts University of Santo Tomas. They improved to 2-1 in the tournament.
"Of course coming off a loss you really want to win. We had a part in the game where we're playing really, really well but in the UAAP you cannot say that you're gonna have an easy win. FEU came back in the fourth and we just have to figure out our struggles in the fourth quarter," said Green Archers deputy coach Caloy Garcia.
The Green Archers, who also went through the wringer before beating the Adamson Soaring Falcons in their season opener, now brace for their rivalry showdown with the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sunday.
The Tamaraws, meanwhile, dropped to 0-3 after yet another slim loss.
FEU trailed 51-64 entering the fourth but clawed back to within one, 69-70, with 2:25 left through the efforts of Mo Konateh, Janrey Pasaol, Bautista, and Jedric Daa.
But Mason Amos and Doy Dungo delivered back-to-back baskets for La Salle to stretch the lead to 74-69 with 1:32 remaining. Bautista answered with a clutch triple at the 54.4-second mark to trim it to 72-74, only to miss what would have been the game-tying layup in the dying seconds.
"Nag step-up lang ako kasi kailangan mag step-up ng team kasi kulang kami sa mga players. Naging composed lang ako and naging ready lang," said Dungo, who stepped up in the absence of Kean Baclaan, sidelined with a sprained ankle.
Dungo, a former UST Tiger Cub, showed his comfort inside the Quadricentennial Pavilion by scoring 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting to lead La Salle.
Amos added 14 points, four assists, and three rebounds, while Jacob Cortez also tallied 14 points with four assists and three boards.
EJ Gollena chipped in 13 points and eight rebounds, half of them on the offensive glass.
Mike Phillips, despite being limited to six points on 1-of-7 shooting, anchored the Archers with 13 rebounds and nine assists.
Pasaol paced FEU with 25 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Konateh contributed a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Kirby Mongcopa posted 13 points and seven boards. Bautista finished with 10 points.
FEU will try to break into the win column when it faces Adamson University on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores:
DLSU (74) – Dungo 17, Amos 14, Cortez 14, Gollena 14, Phillips 6, Marasigan 5, Pablo 2, Abadam 2, Daep 0, Melecio 0.
FEU (72) – Pasaol 25, Konateh 14, Mongcopa 13, Bautista 10, Owens 6, Daa 2, Ona 2, Bagunu 0, Montemayor 0, Salangsang 0, Amos 0.
Quarterscores: 21-14, 37-30, 64-51, 74-72.