Archers 1 win from final

By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - September 12, 2008

JV Casio poured 10 of his 16 points in the second half to lead defending champion De La Salle University to a pulsating 62-59 win over Far Eastern University yesterday in the UAAP basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

Held to just five points on 2-of-16 shooting from the field by Ateneo last Saturday, Casio played the fireman's role for the Archers who survived a blistering FEU comeback.

The win enabled the Archers to seize the second twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four starting Sunday.

"His performance is a very good sign of a great player by bouncing back from a horrible shooting. At the end of the day we completely trust JV," La Salle coach Franz Pumaren said, referring to Casio.

Rico Maierhofer added 14 points and 10 rebounds, Peejay Barua made 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting while Bader Malabes scored all of his nine points in the third quarter as La Salle overcame an eight-point second quarter deficit.

The Archers held a commanding 15-point lead, 56-41, with 7:51 left and then held off the Tamaraws in the closing seconds with JR Cawaling missing a game-tying three-point attempt before the final buzzer.

After a slow second half, the Archers worked their way up behind Malabes, Casio, Maierhofer and Barua, who combined for 12 points to give the Archers the upperhand, 47-39, going into the final 10 minutes.

After the game, Pumaren dedicated the game to Sofronio Santiago, father of Green Archers assistant coach Jack Santiago, who passed away at 6:15 p.m. at the Manila Doctors Hospital, almost a few minutes after the game, due to complications from numerous illnesses.

According to Pumaren, this was the reason why he had to leave the RP Youth Team who was campaigning in Tehran, Iran last week. He claimed that the younger Santiago, who handled the Green Archers in his absence, had to spend more time with his ailing father.

Pumaren was recently questioned by critics after leaving Iran in the midst of the RP campaign in the FIBA Asia Youth Championships, leaving his brother Derrick to take over the coaching chores in the Nationals’ remaining games.

"I went home because I want him (Santiago) to spend more time with his father," a tearful Pumaren said. "I am close to his family, it’s just right to give him more time to see his dad in his last remaining days, and then I’m going to get that crap, I don’t think I deserve that."

"Well this is a victory that we can remember, we’re happy we won. It’s just unfortunate that it happened, maybe that’s why Cawaling’s shot missed because Jack’s dad interfered," he added.