FOUND themselves in a battle all game long in their University Athletic Association of the Philippines semifinals, the De La Salle Green Archers stood their ground and eventually staved off the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 69-64, yesterday to claim the first finals seat in Season 79 men’s basketball.

Holding a twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four, the Taft-based Archers saw no need to use of as they dispatched the Falcons at the first instance, with import Ben Mbala and Jeron Teng showing the way, but not after being made to sweat by their opponents.

La Salle started the game strong with a 7-0 run, five coming from Teng.

But the Falcons would stop the bleeding as they found their glide from the outside to first tie the score at 12-12 and then keep it close for the rest of the first quarter.

La Salle ended the opening period ahead, 22-20.

Adamson streaked to an 8-5 run to start the second quarter and briefly took a 28-25 lead.

The Archers, in turn, would go on a 10-0 blast to retake the lead until they sputtered to end the period that allowed the Falcons to narrow the gap, 37-33.

La Salle would once again go on a spurt to start the third period, outscoring its opponent 6-3 to extend its lead at 43-36.

The Falcons though would rally back and take a slim 51-50 lead at the end of the third canto.

Both teams entered the fourth period surging but La Salle, with Teng and Mbala firing and getting some breaks from penalties by Adamson, would build some distance.

Rob Manalang and Sean Manganti tried to rally their team back but Adamson could only come close by one, 65-64, as the Archers held on for the win.

Teng topscored for the Archers with 25 points while Mbala had 21 points and 16 rebounds.

Manganti paced Adamson with 13 markers.

“We wanted this game badly and we did not want to prolong it anymore. I’m happy we are going back to the finals,” Teng said after their semis win.

La Salle now awaits the winner of the other semifinal bracket between the Ateneo Blue Eagles and defending champions Far Eastern University Tamaraws. Their series begins on Saturday with Ateneo having a twice-to-beat edge.

Despite being eliminated, Adamson still made a good account of itself in Season 79 after missing the Final Four in the previous years.