Neutralized: AdMU vs. SSC-R (2011 PCCL Finals)

Ateneo 56, San Sebastian 51
Blue Eagles force do-or-die Championship Match


Ateneo 67, San Sebastian 73
Golden Stags win PCCL Championsip


-All throughout, it has been a battle of wills. On one hand, the Ateneo Blue Eagles and their followers sought for validation to something that has been already proven valid from the start. They have been crowned as champions in the Fil-Oil Pre-season tournament, the UAAP, and the Unigames, and one more big trophy in the shelves would not only be a proof as the most dominant team in the major leagues right now, but also, and to put an emphasis to it, inarguably such. On the other hand, the Golden Stags sought redemption. Despite boasting the best big three in the Metro in the likes of Calvin Abueva, Ian Sangalang, and Ronald Pascual, they fell short of a championship when the Red Lions, short of a Sudan Danel, held their ground in the last quarter of Season 87. Now being presented with the chance to show how they can fare with a champion of another league, and proving that they can be dominant. And it appears that between the two, the Stags wanted it more as they did not let a defeat against the Blue Eagles blur their vision of getting a trophy this year.

-Ateneo entered the PCCL Finals losing twice against the Golden Stags, and another loss would mean that Coach Topex Robinson's team would win the plum. The Blue Eagles responded in the first game when they tried to break the zone defense that cost them a week earlier. Nico Salva took care of the Blue Eagles' offense when he found the hole in that zone. Finishing with 18 points, he led Ateneo to a decider, a chance for them to get their fourth straight PCCL championship. However, during the second game, Calvin "The Beast" Abueva was scorching hot, as he made his way into two, three, or four Blue Eagles to make baskets or free up his teammates, and he finished with an impressive 20-point, 20-rebound effort for the Golden Stags' victory.

-For these two teams, two things have been significant. One of them was the battle of the top dogs. Ateneo has its Slaughter-Ravena-Salva trio, while San Sebastian only has Calvin Abueva and Ian Sangalang, missing Ronald Pascual due to ACL, and their defense was mostly about trying to neutralize these players and at the same time put the pressure on the rest. In Ateneo's game one win, the trio scored a total of 35 points, while SSC-R's duo had 27 of their own. But in Game 2, the tables have turned. While Salva has become dominant in the first game, Ravena and Slaughter had great difficulty scoring, resulting in a dismal performance. The trio only scored only 22 points, a far cry from their 30-plus averages in the UAAP. Subtract two more from this total and one gets Abueva's score alone, and add that to Sangalang and you get a whopping 39 points. These figures simply showed who has been the most dominant in that final match.

-The other significant thing was defense. Ateneo entered the Finals being branded as the best defensive squad in the UAAP. However, the fortress that they have held was destroyed repeatedly by Calvin Abueva's tough and intelligent plays, muscling it in to force Ateneo's men in the paint to swarm on him and hence provide open shots for Sangalang, Semira, and the rest of t Stags. On the other end, the Stags 2-3 zone implemented against the Blue Eagles was near perfect, as they had the Blue Eagles struggling to score from the paint and forcing them to shoot threes that were rarely perfect. Plus, they had a lot of those timely steals which forced crucial turnovers down stretches, something that the Blue Eagles really never encountered while playing in the UAAP.

-As Coach Norman Black says, the Blue Eagles just can't win it all. However, Ateneo, in another way, could be considered a winner in this match, as they have seen this early the adjustments and improvements they have to deal with in order to make it big once again in Season 75. From the guys on the bench, it seems that JP Erram and Oping Sumalinog will play during longer stretches, proving themselves to be effective on defense (the latter, especially, got the job of guarding Abueva in the first match).  On the other hand, Juami Tiongson might give way for Nico Elorde for playmaking duties to focus on scoring where he is really good at. And finally, Von Pessumal and Gwynne Capacio might need more training on footwork. Hopefully, the Blue Eagles get their mighty revenge on the Stags after three or four months of slugging it out and becoming a better team.

The Scores:

Ateneo 56 – Salva 18, Ravena 10, Slaughter 7, Long 7, Gonzaga 5, Sumalinog 3, Golla 2, Chua 2, Tiongson 2, Austria 0, Erram 0, Monfort 0

San Sebastian 51 – Abueva 16, dela Cruz 11, Sangalang 9, Vitug 9, del Rio 2, Ferrer 2, Miranda 2, Maiquez 0, Balacunag 0

Quarter scoring: 11-9, 26-23, 46-39, 56-51

---

San Sebastian 73 – Abueva 20, Sangalang 19, del Rio 10, Vitug 9, Miranda 6, Maiquez 4, Semira 3, Jo. dela Cruz 2

Ateneo 67 – Long 11, Tiongson 11, Slaughter 10, Erram 9, Monfort 8, Ravena 7, Salva 5, Sumalinog 3, Gonzaga 3, Golla 0, Chua 0, Austria 0

Quarter scoring: 17-16, 36-29, 57-49, 73-67

Credits to the UAAP Official site for the pic and Inboundpass.com for the scores

6 Points: AdMU vs. SBC (2011 PCCL Final Four)

Ateneo 76, San Beda 63

-As far as the PCCL is concerned, the San Beda Red Lions did not come out full force, as they missed a lot of players, key players Jake Pascual, Garvo Lanete, and Sudan Daniel included, for various reasons. The Ateneo Blue Eagles, on the other hand, sans Emman Monfort due to PBADL duties, seems to be in an early rebuilding phase, giving some time for second string players to step up and show what they have got, to prepare for another probable rematch with the SSC-R Golden Stags, and perhaps for Season 75. But despite these losses, these two teams, especially the seemingly short-handed Red Lions, fought hard and brought out what was available at their arsenal to earn that one spot for the Finals. And knowing that they still have another championship to defend besides the UAAP, that slot was Ateneo's for the taking.

-In this match, we have seen the improvements of the team members who participated in the SEA Games. Kiefer Ravena flexibly shuffled between the one and two positions, shifting his style of play occasionally from being a pass-first point guard to a finishing shooting guard and back again. We have also seen Greg Slaughter's improved domination in the paint, as well as Salva's quicker decision-making especially when running breaks. Truly, the SEAGames experienced helped them in fulfilling their role as the foundations of this team come Season 75.

-This game also pointed out the things that the Ateneo crowd will miss. Kirk Long came to play, and as usual, contributed the small things that matter most in the end. And Bacon Austria? Did we not mention that he largely improved since the day he suited up for Freego Jeans in the PBADL?

-The second stringers have also shown what they have learned from the Unigames. Tonino Gonzaga seriously assumed the starting role and provided the hustle that the team needs during those crucial stretches. Most significant among his contributions were his offensive boards that gave Ateneo second chance opportunities. The way he played this game serves as a hint that it is possible for him to be inserted into the starting lineup come Season 75. JP Erram also showed that he learned some neat things in the Unigames, especially in terms of off-ball movement. On the other hand, former third stringers Von Pessumal and Gwynne Capacio seems to need more improvement in defense, something that they might want to focus on in the next few months or so. Also, Juami Tiongson needs to get a lesson in serious ballhandling, if he really wants to become the starting point guard for Season 75.

-The absence of most players in their roster did not hinder the Red Lions from playing well despite losing to the Blue Eagles in this match. Dave Marcelo somehow had his way in the paint despite being stopped by Justin Chua and Greg Slaughter, sometimes settling for perfect midrange jumpers. Rome dela Rosa, Melo Lim, and Mar Villahermosa stepped up as well, immediately sensing the urge to play the game of catching up with the rest of the Blue Eagles. For what was expected to be a walk in the park for the almost-complete Blue Eagles, these Red Lions exceeded expectations.

-The question now that remains will be, Can the Blue Eagles handle the Golden Stags twice? The Blue Eagles have suffered close losses against the Golden Stags twice, one in the Fil-Oil Preseason tournament and another just a few days ago in the PCCL Final Four. The way the Pinatubo Big Three of Calvin Abueva, Ronald Pascual, and Ian Sangalang have somehow neutralized the power of the Slaughter-Ravena-Salva trio. And being a team that specializes in defense, perhaps the best thing for the Blue Eagles to do here is to neutralize SSC-R's own trio, while keeping their offense steady in order to prevent meltdowns similar to last week's game. The Blue Eagles might have gotten away during the UAAP when Adamson was eliminated by FEU, but this is a point of no escape for them, inevitably facing a team that defeated them twice. But then, being down 1-0 (due to twice-to-beat advantage) is familiar ground to them, as they were in the same situation as they were in their last 2 PCCL championships. Expect this PCCL Finals, therefore, to be exciting and adrenaline-filled for both teams.

The Scores:

Ateneo 76 – Slaughter 20, Ravena 18, Salva 17, Chua 6, Gonzaga 5, Austria 4, Long 4, Tiongson 2, Golla 0, Pessumal 0, Capacio 0, Erram 0

San Beda 63 – Villahermosa 21, de la Rosa 14, Marcelo 7, Pascual 6, Amer 6, Lim 5, Caram 4, Sorela 0, Koga 0, Pontejos 0

Quarter scoring: 23-19, 37-28, 55-44, 76-63

Credits to Abante Tonite for the pic and Inboundpass for the box.

Update: Greg Slaughter Will Play For One More Year

It might be late news for everyone: Blue Eagle Tonino Gonzaga tweeted that Greg Slaughter decided to play for the Blue Eagles come Season 75, using up his final year of eligibility before going to the pros or, possibly, to a new Smart Gilas team to be rebuilt around this time of the year.

On the assumption that this is already official [UPDATE: It is already final, according to Interaktv]  This would be very good news for the Ateneo Blue Eagles, who would want to extend their championship streak to five next year. The Blue Eagles of Season 75 will not have Emman Monfort, Kirk Long, and Bacon Austria in the lineup due to graduation, but it will still keep most of its players intact. Ateneo will have Nico Salva, Justin Chua, Oping Sumalinog, and Gonzaga (who, like Slaughter, will also play for their final year), Juami Tiongson, JP Erram, Gwynne Capacio, Von Pessumal, BJ Cipriano, Frank Golla, Jeric Estrada, and Season 74 Rookie of the Year Kiefer Ravena. The remaining slots will belong to Ryan Buenafe, and probably for Team Glory Be players like Nico Elorde, Joma Adornado, Chris de Chavez, and the like.

Credits to Fabilioh for the image.

Blue Eagle Flashback # 3: The Phenom Slams It Home

Blue Eagle Flashback is a series of immediate trips down the memory lane of UAAP Season 74, to celebrate and relish the Ateneo Blue Eagles' fourth consecutive championship. Enjoy the moments!



The initial part of the Round 1 Blue Eagles-Red Warriors match was very close, with the latter not letting the former's lead to go beyond ten. However, the final canto allowed the Blue Eagles to slightly pull away.

It eventually became an opportunity for the Phenom to show that he's got the hops. With enough space and time, he eventually ran to the other end of the court after a turnover, and delivered a dunk that had Blue Eagles fans standing in amazement.

The Blue Eagles eventually won the match, 73-61.

Credits to rickystrong1 in YouTube for the video.

The Fifteenth Gold: SEA Games Men's Basketball Finals

Sinag Pilipinas 85, Thailand 57
Sinag Pilipinas grabs gold medal for Men's Basketball


-Both the Sinag Pilipinas team and its supporters would have wanted to fight with the home team just to make things a tad bit more challenging. However, the Thai team halted the Indonesians with a slim 65-62 victory over them, giving them another chance to face Sinag and hopefully snag a victory out of them. However, nothing much changed, as Sinag buried the Thais with a big 30-point win against them.

-Surprisingly, this last battle is not a high-scoring one, as the Sinag Pilipinas finished just with a double-digit score with a relatively lower 28 point victory. But then, the score is not a priority for a defense-oriented team that tightened its defense when needed. The best defensive combo in this game? It must be Greg Slaughter and Dave Marcelo manning the paint, denying any of the Thai players good shots from inside.

-Slaughter became the centerpiece of this magnificent gold-medal win, as he used his height advantage to score from the inside and, in turn, become a threat in the paint. Kiefer Ravena and Bobby Ray Parks served as his wingmen, ready to cut and find their spots once Slaughter is hounded by double and triple teams.

-Despite a few cold moments in the game, the offense still went well for Sinag Pilipinas. Parks, Ravena, Emman Monfort, RR Garcia and Chris Tiu dictated the pace of the game, as they continued to run and make big breaks for easy baskets. Likewise, the secondary breaks were well-executed, surprising the Thai defense with quick dribble drives and kick-outs to open jumpers.

-Much like the first Smart Gilas team, we see here the future of Philippine basketball in the next three or so years. Parks and Ravena, alongside other UAAP and NCAA players, might just earn a slot in what they dub as the Smart Gilas 2.0, and Coach Norman Black might move a notch up in terms of his coaching career (but the question is, How will he manage to still coach the Blue Eagles and at the same time be a part of the national team? This might be too much foresight, but this situation is possible).

The Scores:

Sinag Pilipinas 85 – Slaughter 16, Parks 15, Garcia 12, Ravena 10, Monfort 8, Tiu 6, Marcelo 6, Pascual 5, Hodge 5, Salva 2, Ellis 0.

Thailand 57 – Kaedum 17, Sangthong 11, Lertmalaiporn 11, kongkum 8, Apiromvilachai 6, Klahan 2, Ghogar 2, Jantuma 0, Kruatiwa 0.

Quarterscores: 21-17; 44-25; 61-42; 85-57

Credits to Interaktv for the box score, and the Sinag Pilipinas Facebook page for the image.

Game Notes: RP vs. Vietnam (2011 SEA Games)

Sinag Pilipinas 107, Vietnam 53


-After having scored just 5 points in the national team's bout against Cambodia, Greg Slaughter came out to score 20 and lead the team to another lopsided game. Coach Norman Black now utilized his size and strengthe to wreak havoc on both sides of the floor, as he muscled his way into the basket for easy scores, hit his free throws, and, on the other hand, disrupt any opponent who would dare score from the paint.

-Bobby Ray Parks came out as well as he gave his own big contribution to this win. This time, he played most of the game as a shooting guard, partnered with Kiefer Ravena who takes up the one position. Isn't it a splendid sight when we see two of them running together and leading breaks after a steal or a turnover from Vietnam?

-Still lacking team chemistry, it was a good thing that the national team's defense clicked and went for the kill, becoming the main ingredient for this win that goes together with Sinag Pilipinas' explosive and potent offense. The national team exploited the 1-on-1 offense of the opponent and made sure that the Vietnamese would work double to get their baskets. Case in point: the 32-4 first quarter dominance that gave Sinag Pilipinas an opportunity to breathe but at the same time maintain their pace during the whole game.

-Dave Marcelo's game was no less than fantastic. Besides providing his part in completing offensive plays in the post, he was able to hold off the Vietnamese big men especially in the boards, where he got 10 of his own.

-Another thing that came up in this bout against Vietnam is the execution of what Chris Soler of inboundpass.com calls as "secondary breaks," wherein when a fastbreak attempt would not be feasible, players would make quick passes to free up someone who can easily score the basket. This will perhaps be one of the most dangerous weapons Sinag Pilipinas has, and other teams have to be on the look when these secondary breaks are executed.

-Thank heavens, the TV coverage was better compared to the game against Cambodia.

The Scores:

Sinag Pilipinas 107 – Slaughter 20, Parks 19, Ellis 11, Lanete 11, Marcelo 9, Pascual 8, Ravena 8, Hodge 8, Salva 4, Tiu 4, Monfort 3.

Vietnam 53 – Nguyen Huy 11, Le 10, Trieu 8, Duong 7, Doan 7, Hoang 6, Ngo 2, Vu 2, Nguyen San 0, Le Tien 0, Du 0.

Quarterscores: 32-4; 59-23; 84-41; 107-53.

Credits to Interaksyon for the box scores.

Game Notes: RP vs. Cambodia (2011 SEA Games)

Philippines 127, Cambodia 68


-This 59-point wallop of Cambodia, a team that has almost always landed the bottom spot in the Southeast Asian Games, really does not say much of Sinag Pilipinas.However, this first game may well be a preview of how Coach Norman Black will run the team for the rest of the tournament. And for this first match, they relied on what was tried, tested, and used for their practices: effectively setting up plays for the team's most reliable scorers and scoring off turnovers and from transition baskets.

-However, defense and chemistry, if not problems, are concerns that need to be addressed in the next few games. Despite having found people who can reliably score, the team still has not melded as a unit. There are still things need to be polished in terms of setting plays from both ends of the court, and that includes off-ball movement, something essential in their plays. Hopefully, each member of the Sinag Pilipinas finds their niche and play effectively in the coming games.

-On the other hand, despite not blending the way they should be, Sinag Pilipinas shot 71% from the field and held the Cambodian national team to a 35% clip, en route to this big 59-point win, bigger than the last one against this same team (a 52 point margin 4 years ago).

-The national team relied on a lot of transition baskets, having the guards run for easy points after rebounds or steals. Did we not see that a few months ago when the Ateneo Blue Eagles defended their crown in the UAAP? It's obvious that Coach Norman Black still has the same strategies in mind, and it proved to be effective so far.

-Ravena showed why he is worthy of being selected as a Mythical Five member of last year's FIBA U-18. He led Sinag Pilipinas in scoring, dropping 17 huge points all through out the game, squeaking his way past larger and older opponents, plus a dunk off a transition basket. Furthermore, it's also important to note that the two MVPs of Metro Manila's major collegiate leagues have stepped up. Nico Salva and Dave Marcelo had a combined 26 point effort in this win.

-When was the last time Greg Slaughter had a single digit output? Perhaps the lockdown defense put on the Cambodian team against him, most probably because of his towering figure, had Coach Norman pull him out and had him replaced by Cliff Hodge, who is obviously faster than Slaughter and can more easily shake off their undersized big men. Perhaps one thing that Slaughter has to work on will be his quickness and footwork when it comes to those situations. We never know, but we might need him in tighter stretches.

-Selection of Emman Monfort questionable? Perhaps it's time for doubters to think again. Earlier in the game he forced two turnovers, snagged the ball once, and had a good defensive effort despite scoring 2 points. And he was able to lead the team, effectively implementing Coach Norman Black's system despite having a different set of guys in the lineup. And speaking of which, did anyone notice that the first five of the game is the Ateneo first five, with Parks replacing American guard Kirk Long?

-One note on the coverage, though. Can Indonesia have the production staff for the basketball games replaced? We viewers seem to have a hard time watching the game with their camera angles and all that.

The Scores:

Sinag Pilipinas 127 – Ravena 17, Garcia 16, Lanete 15, Salva 14, Marcelo 12, Ellis 12, Parks 10, Tiu 9, Hodge 9, Pascual 6, Slaughter 5, Monfort 2.

Cambodia 68 – Sophoeun 24, Pek 24, Boroth 15, Kim, V. 3, Kim 0, Sovann 0, Meas 0, Monh 0, Lov 0, Chom 0.

Quarterscores: 35-20; 61-39; 93-56; 127-68

Credits to Baseballdeworld.com for the pic, Interaksyon for the box.

The Semerads To Ateneo

According to chinoyhoopsfan, a source close to the San Beda Red Lions announced that the Semerad Twins, David and Anthony, withdrew from San Beda College and are set to enroll at Ateneo de Manila University this coming March. The source said that they plan to "play in a bigger stage," hence the decision to transfer.

The only question that remains now is the duration of their residency. It is possible that they will sit out only for a year and will start playing for the Blue Eagles for Season 76 (SY 2013-2014), it will still be determined because they already played in the PBA Development League. And, as chinoyhoopsfan says, they might be sitting out for an extra year.

Anthony Semerad is a 6-foot-4 small forward coming off the bench, and is known for his perimeter shooting. David, on the other hand, is a 6-foot-5 center whose name rose after the Red Lions' second Finals game against the San Sebastian Stags. Averaging only 3.1ppg, he scored 15 points in that championship-clinching game, including a split on the charity line after a Calvin Abueva technical and a driving layup that led to the win.

It will be interesting to see how they will be integrated into the Ateneo system in the few coming years.

Credits to chinoyhoopsfan for the info, and Yahoo! Meme for the pic.

Blue Eagle Flashback # 2: Ravena and the Green Archers

Blue Eagle Flashback is a series of immediate trips down the memory lane of UAAP Season 74, to celebrate and relish the Ateneo Blue Eagles' fourth consecutive championship. Enjoy the moments!

With Kiefer Ravena not doing anything great during the Blue Eagles' first game of Season 74, there were those who said that nothing too great can be expected of him in the big leagues.

But he proved them wrong when he led Ateneo to a big win against the DLSU Green Archers. It seems that DLSU hurled all of their guards against the Blue Eagles' prized rookie, and all of them failed to stop the Phenom.

Ravena led the team in scoring with 24 big points en route to an 81-72 win against Ateneo's rivals. And since then, everyone agreed that he's for real.

Credits to rickystrong1 in YouTube for the video.

Game Notes: SBC vs. SSC-R (NCAA S87 Finals)

San Beda 75, San Sebastian 63 
SBC leads 1-0

San Beda 57, San Sebastian 55
SBC clinches second straight championship
Finals MVP: Dave Marcelo

-The two best squads in the NCAA entered the Finals with a tied record. In the first round, the SSC-R Stags escaped with a win over the SBC Red Lions, 70-68, with Dave Marcelo and Garvo Lanete failed to hit shots that could have given them the lead. But in the second round, it was the Red Lions' turn to squeak past the Stags that gained them not only the win, but also the number one spot in the league. This series, as they say, was supposed to be the series tiebreaker, as the Stags had their win way back in Season 85, while the Red Lions avenged their loss last season.

-It turned out to be actually close in the first game, as the teams entered in a deadlock. What turned the tables and gave the Red Lions an advantage was Coach Topex Robinson's ejection 3 minutes before the end of Game 1. But then, what he complained over was nothing new for those who have watched the NCAA for the past three years: Calvin Abueva's cheap shots that were unfortunately spotted by the referees. Had he kept his composure, there could have been a chance for them to overcome the nine-point lead.

-Calvin Abueva and Ian Sangalang have won well-deserved awards, but the Pinatubo Trio as a combo looked iffy all through out the series. Abueva, unquestionably, was quite consistent, doing what he used to do during the twenty Stags games prior to the Finals. Sangalang and Ronald Pascual struggled all through out. The former struggled all through out the first game, clamped down to just a mere 10 points and 6 rebounds; the latter, however, had his own scoring bursts, but when it mattered most (i.e. taking the last shot that could have given the Stags the lead and could have forced a third game), he was too tired to finish

-Everyone was relying on shooter Garvo Lanete during the last stretch of the Red Lions' season. However, his injury brought him to the bench, playing limited minutes. Fortunately, there were his teammates ready to step up and take over. There was Dave Marcelo who manned the paint and garnered double digits in markers and boards. Mar Villahermosa also stepped up in terms of scoring. And of course, in Game 2, David Semerad tallied a game-high 15 points to keep the Red Lions in control for the rest of the game.

-With the way the Red Lions and the Stags played in this season, this will be one of the most memorable games of the NCAA. The series was simply epic. Unfortunately, there should only be one team who can secure the championship, and it was the Red Lions' for the taking. But will the Red Lions continue go for another championship come Season 88?

The scores:

Game 1
San Beda 75 – Villahermosa 15, Marcelo 14, J. Pascual 14, de la Rosa 11, Amer 9, Lanete 6, A. Semerad 4, Caram 2, D. Semerad 0, K. Pascual 0

San Sebastian 63 – Pascual 14, Abueva 12, Antipuesto 11, Sangalang 10, J. dela Cruz 7, del Rio 5, Miranda 2, Vitug 2, Maiquez 0, Balucanag 0

Quarter scoring: 20-20, 35-38, 52-52, 75-63

Game 2
San Beda 57 – D. Semerad 15, Caram 10, Villahermosa 8, Amer 7, de la Rosa 5, K. Pascual 4, Marcelo 2, Lanete 2, A. Semerad 2, J. Pascual 2.

San Sebastian 55 – Pascual 15, Sangalang 13, Abueva 12, Miranda 5, dela Cruz 4, Antipuesto 4, del Rio 2, Vitug 0, Maiquez 0

Credits to inboundpass.com for the image and the info.

Blue Eagle Flashback #1: They Have Arrived

Blue Eagle Flashback is a series of immediate trips down the memory lane of UAAP Season 74, to celebrate and relish the Ateneo Blue Eagles' fourth consecutive championship. Enjoy the moments!

The Ateneo Blue Eagles formally opened their campaign for a fourth straight title with their match against the NCAA Season 86 champions, the San Beda Red Lions in the Fil-Oil Preseason Cup. And as many expected it to become, it was one epic preseason game. Both teams exchanged baskets and leads with one another, ultimately trying to prove who really is the team to beat.

With the Blue Eagles ahead by 5 points with 32 seconds left in the game, new Blue Eagle Kiefer Ravena had the ball in his hands. Already delivering amazing performances early in the game, he brought the Ateneo supporters off their feet once again as he lobbed a pass to fellow rookie Greg Slaughter, who finished the play with a huge dunk, giving the Blue Eagles the win.

At this point, many were actually speculating that the crown will stay in Katipunan because of the presence of these two rookies.

And it did. They eventually became the preseason champions by defeating San Beda again, this time with a lopsided win over the Red Lions. And a few months after, the UAAP crown was for the Blue Eagles to take.

Credits to MrAirwolf23 for the video.

S74 Senior Salute: Emman Monfort

Small but terrible, and that is enough to describe the Pocket Rocket of the Blue Eagles who largely contributed in three of their four consecutive championship runs. Starting out as a third-string guard, Emman Monfort came in the court with energy, occasionally running plays but most of the time fulfills his role of finding open spots. But then, as a rookie, he was not given enough touches and opportunities to rise and shine in his rookie year.

Due to the overload of point guards during Season 71 (Jai Reyes, Chris Tiu, and not to mention team B coach Yuri Escueta), Monfort was relegated to Team Glory Be. However, this did not seem to become a moment of despair for him. Instead, he used this "free period" to get himself ready when the time comes for him to serve as the Coach's Hand when a win is needed.

Destiny put him back in the Blue Eagles' roster when big man Mike Baldos encountered academic problems which had him leaving the team. Coach Norman Black then summoned Monfort to fulfill his duties of playing the point when Jai Reyes rests in the bench. And that decision was something that the fans of the Blue Eagles are happy and thankful about. Monfort's reinstatement did a lot for the team, as he goes improving as the years passed by. From a spot up shooter, he elevated his game and eventually imbibed the team-oriented style of the Blue Eagles, becoming a pass first and shoot later guard.

When the ball is in his hands, he becomes a real threat to the opponent. He knows how to set up for his teammates and give them perfect passes to let them finish the play. And when the going gets tough, he knows how to find his spot from the outside or sneak past the big men of others team for easy lay ups. Seriously, who would forget his perimeter shooting and his three-point bombs, especially the last ones in the UAAP against FEU, the ones that really broke the hearts of the many Gold and Green supporters who hoped a big comeback? Who would forget those big rebounds despite his small five-something frame? And most of all, who would forget the clutch freebies he made against many teams in these past three years, delivering nothing but frowns from teams who got close to beating the Blue Eagles like the Adamson Falcons and the UE Red Warriors? Precisely the things that the Blue Eagles and their supporters will miss from Emman Monfort. Eventually, he lived up to his name, the Pocket Rocket, small and dangerous, and can explode when necessary.

Height would become a big challenge once he steps in the professional leagues, but time and again, small players have proven themselves in the PBA, and Monfort might get his chance to be among those who have done something big despite being small. But right now, he needs to focus on finding his niche in the amateur leagues as a member of the NLEx Road Warriors, playing alongside UAAP Season 73 MVP RR Garcia of the FEU Tamaraws.

Thank you, Emman Monfort. Continue to be big as you were in these last five years in the UAAP.

And here's Monfort calmly sinking his free throws against the Adamson University Falcons during their first round bird fight last Season 73.



Credits to Fabilioh.com for the pic, and ipeh in YouTube for the vide.

Sinag Pilipinas

According to Bleachersbrew, Coach Norman Black has chosen fifteen players who will soon become members of "Sinag Pilipinas," the national team who will suit up for the South East Asian Games in Indonesia. However, after a few weeks, the number will be trimmed down to 12 to conform to the rules set for the maximum number of players. The primarily chosen ones are:

ELLIS, Chris (PBADL: NLEx Road Warriors)
GARCIA, RR (UAAP: Far Eastern University Tamaraws)
HODGE, Cliff (PBADL: NLEx Road Warriors)
LANETE, Garvo (NCAA: San Beda Red Lions)
MONFORT, Emman (UAAP: Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles)
NEWSOME, Chris (UAAP: Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles B)
PASCUAL, Jake (NCAA: San Beda Red Lions)
PASCUAL, Ronald (NCAA: San Sebastian Golden Stags)
PARKS, Bobby Ray (UAAP: National University Bulldogs)
RAVENA, Kiefer (UAAP: Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles)
SALVA, Nico (UAAP: Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles)
SANGALANG, Ian (NCAA: San Sebastian Golden Stags)
SLAUGHTER, Greg (UAAP: Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles)
TENG, Jeric (UAAP: University of Sto. Tomas Growling Tigers)
TIU, Chris (Smart Gilas Pilipinas)

Furthermore, there are four additional players to join them in practice games, namely:

BUENSUCESO, JR (US NCAA: Brigham Young University-Hawaii Seasiders)
CHUA, Justin (UAAP: Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles)
FORTUNA, Jeric (UAAP: University of Sto. Tomas Growling Tigers)
JENSEN, Keith (US NCAA: New York University Violets)

Joining Coach Black would be assistant Coaches Glenn Capacio (who last coached the FEU Tamaraws in 2009 and 2010) and Gene Afable (part of the present Ateneo coaching staff).

It's really nice to see them set aside their school (and league) colors temporarily to work for a common cause, and as we can see, this team is clearly a threat, not only because it has stars but these stars also play dynamic team basketball when asked to (Oh, and surprising to see once again two prospects from US NCAA schools!).

And another piece of information from Mr. Olivares is that because of five players being considered for the SEAG national team, the Blue Eagles who will slug it out in the Unigames would be composed of the following (also consider the leave of Bacon Austria and Oping Sumalinog, who are playing under Freego Jeans in the PBADL right now):

CAPACIO, Gwynne
CIPRIANO, Bon Jovi
ERRAM, John Paul
ESTRADA, Jeric
GONZAGA, Tonino
GOLLA, Frank
PESSUMAL, Von
TIONGSON, Juami

Eight Team B players will join them (including Elorde and Adornado, perhaps?), with the team's coaching reins taken over by Coach Sandy Arespacochaga.

One Big Fight to Sinag Pilipinas and the Ateneo Blue Eagles!

All thanks to Bleachersbrew for the info.

All In A Day's Games (19 October 2011)

Not so ordinary to have four great games in a day without NBA, isn't it?

NCAA (Final Four)

San Sebastian Stags 63, Letran Knights 56
Stags advance to the Finals vs. San Beda Red Lions

Leading most of the game, the Stags entered the fourth quarter with a double-digit advantage. However, Letran hotshot Kevin Alas hit big three point shots to tie the game at 55 apiece. Good thing Ian Sangalang and Calvin Abueva, two-thirds of SSC-R's Pinatubo Squad, never lost their poise as they prevented a meltdown, regaining the lead and cruising all the way to victory.

San Sebastian 63 – Abueva 20, Sangalang 15, Pascual 11, J. dela Cruz 9, Antipuesto 3, del Rio 2, Vitug 2, Miranda 1, Maiquez 0
Letran 56 – K. Alas 26, Cruz 11, Cortes 8, J. Alas 4, Racal 3, Belorio 2, Dysam 2, Almazan 0, Espiritu 0, Gabriel 0

Quarter scores: 17-16, 34-28, 50-41, 63-56

PBA

Barako Bull 100, Talk 'N Text 86

The Tropang Texters have been dominant these past few conferences,but in this game, Barako Bull had the momentum. Willie Miller led the BB Energy with 27 big points, coupled by a combined 28 point effort from the "Espana Squad," rookies Dylan Ababou and Allein Maliksi. On the other hand, the Tropang Texters, who were down from the beginning, had Jayson Castro leading with 23 points.

Barako Bull 100 -Miller 27, Ababou 20, Pennisi 18, Allado 9, Maliksi 8, Najorda 6, Artadi 4, Arboleda 3, Pena 3, Salvacion 2, Salvador 0.

Talk N Text 86 - Castro 23, Reyes 16, Dillinger 10, Aban 10, Peek 8, Fonacier 6, Carey 6, Aguilar 4, Alapag 3, Raymundo 0, Alvarez 0, Lao 0.

Quarter scores: 25-11, 52-33, 71-62, 100-86

Rain Or Shine 89, Meralco Bolts 84

A 30-9 scoring advantage for the Elasto Painters was outright impressive, and it's a good thing they held a huge 25-point margin before the Bolts tried to storm back in the game. The Elasto Painters' big three at the backcourt--JeffChan, Paul Lee, and Gabe Norwood, had a combined 40 points (14 apiece from Chan and Norwood, with 12 from Lee), while Mark Macapagal and Gabby Espinas led the way for the Bolts, scoring 20 and 19 respectively.

Rain or Shine 89 - Norwood 14, Chan 14, Lee 12, Rodriguez 11, Buenafe 9, Matias 8, Belga 6, Quinahan 6, Ibanes 5, Arana 4, Cruz 0.

Meralco 84 - Macapagal 20, Espinas 19, Taulava 16, Lanete 14, Isip 6, Borboran 5, Ballesteros 2, Omolon 2, Timberlake 0, Yee 0.

Quarter scores: 22-21, 41-40, 71-49, 89-84

FIBA Asia U-16

RP U-16 93, Indonesia 30

Basically, the Indonesian team was creamed by Coach Olsen Racela's U-16 squad in the Group D bracket of the U-16 tournament, getting off an early 27-9 lead in the first quarter and stretching it all the way to 63 points by the end of the buzzer. Malayan High School standout Jay Alejandro led the way with 17 points, while Xavier Stallion Kyles Lao had 15 of his own. The RP team will have Vietnam as its next opponent this Thursday, 20 October 2011, and will advance to the semifinal round with the top three teams of Group C.

Philippines 93–Alejandro 17, Lao 15, Go 9, Rivero 9, Diputado 8, Heading 7, Cani 7, Ramos 6, Javelosa 4, Dalafu 4, Caracut 4, Asilum 3.

Indonesia 30–Abraham 9, Indraprasto 6, Kosasih 5, Yogia 4, Fahdani 4, Sidabutar 2, Airawan 0, Setiawan 0, Istiadi 9, Purwoko 0, Ramadhan 0, Wongso 0.

Quarter scores: 27-9, 56-13, 78-22, 93-30

Credits to Inboundpass, HoopNut, PBA.ph, Caloy's Sports Blog, and Inquirer Sports for the pics and box scores.

S74 Senior Salute: Kirk Long

For those who followed Kirk Long's playing career in the UAAP, it's not very surprising that he came out as a vital cog in the Blue Eagles' bids for championship these past four seasons. This blue chip from Faith Academy has already exceeded a lot of expectations during his rookie year in the Ateneo. As a new Blue Eagle during Season 70, he served as the energy off the bench, and his primary role is to shoot from the perimeter and lead the team during breaks, usually finishing with unbelievable lay ups that brings the Ateneo crowd to its feet with amazement.

Long was able to adapt easily to the system of the Blue Eagles, as he plays fundamentally sound basketball. One can see that, save for those amazing lay ups and stabs, he plays with basic moves, creative yet not fancy. Pump fake, dribble drive, and pass or shoot, that's just the Kirk Long way, and he really does it very well, especially with him being gifted both with the quickness of body and mind to finish plays set for him or his teammates.

But what made Kirk Long rise to fame in the UAAP, more than his changing hairstyle and his family that always gets together in the Upper A/B sections of the Smart Araneta Coliseum, were his two big shots against the UST Tigers. These two instances earned him the title "Tiger Killer," someone that even Coach Pido Jarencio of the UST Tigers feared.

The first one was during Season 70, in his rookie year, when he hit that game winning jumper over Jervy Cruz, allowing Ateneo to get over its losses against UST which date back to the Finals of Season 69. Since then, the Growling Tigers have never won a game against Ateneo, with the latter holding an eleven-win streak against the former.



He pulled off another trick again two years later, just in time when the Tigers tightened its defense and planned to snatch the game. Unfortunately for UST, Long hit a long trey to give the Blue Eagles the big win.



But in Long's later years, he became less of a scorer, and yet he became more dangerous. His figures have dropped, primarily because he set his sights on playing perfect defense, leaving much of the offense to his elite teammates. It is true that he scores a lot when it comes to running breaks along fellow guards (his most recent partner being Kiefer Ravena and fellow senior Emman Monfort), but what makes him more remarkable than ever was his one-on-one defense that heavily clamps and shuts down any formidable scorer. Just ask UST's Jeric Teng and NU's Bobby Ray Parks, and they would most likely say that they're glad that Kirk Long's career in the UAAP is now over.

Long could have a bright future in this country's basketball scene, but naturalization won't do the job for him if he wants to enter the PBA. However, if he did get a chance to enter the amateur leagues (possibly in the PBDL), he can get a good shot of becoming one of the best guards of this season. The talent, the skill, and the determination's there, and all he needs is a chance to once again prove himself.

Thank you, Kirk Long. Hopefully, the Blue Eagles find another cold-blooded killer like you, and it might be difficult to do so because your somewhere near irreplaceable.

Credits to Fabilioh.com for the picture, and colpitts and ManiacSports in YouTube for the videos.

Ready To Fly?

This was taken during the Team Glory Be's battle against the UE Red Warriors' Team B in the Fr. Martin Cup.

Good for you to have your bow and arrow replaced with wings.

Geared up to take the Pocket Rocket's place in the team next season?

Credits to Fr. Nemesio Que, SJ for the photo.

S74 Senior Salute: Raymond "Bacon" Austria

During his high school days, Bacon Austria was feared. Averaging double figures and points and rebounds in his last year as an Eaglet, he stepped up and became the Most Valuable Player of the UAAP Juniors' Division. With this feat, how could anyone be not excited with what he can bring once he is named as an Eagle?

Baconwas caught in the middle of two possibilities. On one hand, there was the legacy of Enrico Villanueva, who as an Eaglet, was already a dominant force to reckon with. But then, on the other hand, there was Ken Joseph Barracoso, who came out as, for a lack of a better term, a fluke once he became a Blue Eagle. Not that he was good, it's just that he was not able to adjust to life in the Loyola Schools.

It was a good thing that Bacon Austria was in the middle. Facing a different situation in the Seniors' division, he would surely need a huge adjustment. Unfortunately, what made him dominant as a Blue Eaglet would not stand against bigger and burlier centers.

Relegated as a point forward by Coach Norman Black, his primary duty is not anymore to score points and box out in the paint, but, seeing his court vision and basketball IQ, Coach Norman had Bacon play his role as a team leader, both in and out of the court. He was asked to set plays, bring in the ball when needed, and only score when there is an open opportunity.

Bacon Austria took on the role, and it had never been easy, especially for the Blue Eagles' Sixth Men. From scorer and finisher to playmaker, he rarely got those stabs and and-ones that wowed the Ateneo crowd in his high school days (in fact, the most recent feat he accomplished was to score an and-one in this Season's match against the UST Growling Tigers in the first round). He had his own share of fumbles and turnovers that only brought out groans from the crowd, to the point that most Ateneo fans, as the bloggers label it, had a love-hate relationship with him. And for those who had words that really hurt, he was one of those who cannot be relied on during crucial situations.

Thus, the question stays. Why does he remain as a Blue Eagle? Of course, Coach Norman Black saw something in him, and that is his ability to lead and make the plays. He brought a good share of intangibles, those that cannot be recorded by stats. He did his Blue Eagle duties well, which involve bringing the ball and playing team basketball, providing opportunities for his teammates to find open looks and get easy baskets. Despite judged as not having done well enough, Bacon has done his job and played his role in the team. He did what his Coach asked him to do, which does not involve scoring and trying hard to dominate but instead involves using his wits for the benefit of the team. He was there because he knows the system and the different situations that the team might face when push comes to shove.

But perhaps the best reason for Bacon Austira to be deemed as a real Blue Eagle, is that he knows what it means to win and how to do such, which includes even taking a step back to give way for his teammates to play their respective roles.

Bacon might not have a future as a dominant player in the amateur and professional leagues, but his many years of being a leader might get him a good coaching job, having learned a lot from his training from Coach Norman Black and following the footsteps of his father, Coach Leo Austria. And with that, may the Ateneo community provide all the support that he needs in order to show what he can really do.

Thank you, Bacon Austria. You belong to a winning team and a winning tradition, the only thing you ought to do is to make the most out of it.

And here's one video that shows how Bacon Austria can be tangibly great.

Credits to Fabilioh.com for the picture, MrAirWolf23 of Youtube.com for the video.

Drive and Desire: AdMU vs. FEU Finals Game 2 (UAAP S74 Final Four Special Recap)

Ateneo 82, FEU 69
Blue Eagles clinch fourth straight Championship
(Finals MVP: Nico Salva)

As the moment for Ateneo to claim its fourth straight championship draws near, people have been talking about the second game of the Finals through historical references. Some would like to go back to Season 73, expecting that FEU can deliver a better game and bring out another Ryan Buenafe who would seal the deal for the Blue Eagles. Others would go back to the 2009 championship against the UE Red Warriors, which practically broke the "October curse" (wherein Ateneo, in the past decade, loses to its Finals matches set in October). Even others, doubters specifically, would go back to 2003, telling the Blue Eagles that they should watch out, because the Tamaraws are hungrier with their backs against the wall.

But for this year's Blue Eagles, as part of Coach Norman Black's philosophy, the past has always been the past. The Game 1 domination over the FEU Tamaraws has given them both so much and so little. On one hand, they have the advantage and is one game closer to the fourpeat that they and the Ateneo community wanted so bad. On the other hand, the scores are back to 0-0 and they will have to start again, especially now that things might change because both teams have been given so much time to prepare and see what needs to be improved. However, one thing has remained the same for them, something that they have carried over since summer break: that the Blue Eagles are hungry for the win and they will go for the kill if presented with the opportunity, and they entered the possibly last game of the season with this mindset.

The first quarter became a tit-for-tat battle of some sorts. Both teams were able to find opportunities to score, with one team getting a small lead which the other would then take away in a matter of few seconds. However, the Blue Eagles were able to gain a safe five-point lead after ten minutes, thanks to a last minute basket by Justin Chua.

The Blue Eagles threatened to blow the game early when the second unit continued their superb play, when Juami Tiongson extended the lead of the Blue Eagles to ten, 28-18. However, the Tamaraws weren't ready to give up yet, as RR Garcia and Aldrech Ramos led a furious rally that had them up 37-36 after the first half.

At this point, many would think that this would be similar to Season 73's Game 2, saying that it would be a gut-wrenching fight to the finish, where at the last minute it could be anybody's ball game. However, later on, Coach Norman Black would say that he held back the team's offense in the second quarter after getting that large lead, letting the players find their own groove in the offense while at the same time playing excellent defense. It was a wager, but nevertheless, it worked, because after the halftime break, the Blue Eagles surprised the Tamaraws by executing perfect screen-and-roll plays that allowed Kiefer Ravena and the rest of the Ateneo backcourt to find their spots or attack the basket. After Gonzaga's relentless attack to the basket that resulted into an and-one, the Tamaraws were in the same hole that they were in during the first game, staring at an eleven-point lead, a margin that the Blue Eagles would not want to relinquish as they enter the final minutes of the g ame.

The Tamaraws had a few attempts to crawl back into the game, with RR Garcia desperately finding ways to score against a tight Ateneo defense. But then, all was too much for them. Kiefer Ravena responded to Garcia's basket that trimmed the lead to ten, extending it back to fourteen, and the Tamaraws have been silent since then.

The last two minutes have been garbage time, with the Blue Eagles and the four-finger-flashing Ateneo supporters, composed of more than 70% of the Smart Araneta Coliseum crowd, just waiting for the final buzzer to sound . And when it came, there was a thunderous roar of celebration, as the Blue Eagles, led by Coach Norman Black, became the first team to win at least four straight championships, joining the ranks of the UST Growling Tigers under Coach Aric del Rosario, the DLSU Green Archers under Coach Franz Pumaren, and the UE Red Warriors under the legendary Coach Baby Dalupan.

The Blue Eagles finished off the Tamaraws without anything essentially new, and they utilized their one and only weapon against them: dynamic team play. They could have centered both their offense and defense on Slaughter and Ravena, but perhaps what surprised the Tamaraws, Coach Bert Flores specifically, was the way it was decentered during this final game.

Yes, it is true that the two newcomers, Greg Slaughter and Kiefer Ravena, became vital cogs in this run, but it was not theirs alone. Of course, there was the "third banana," Nico Salva, who, after a perfect offensive performance in the first game, came back with a splendid Kobe-esque performance in Game 2 to bag the Finals MVP Award. Emman Monfort and Kirk Long also gave headaches for the Tamaraws, especially when the pick and roll surprise was executed in the second half.

Lastly, the bench delivered the punch that the Sixth Men demanded from them. Tiongson astounded everyone with running jumpers and a quick corner three, finishing with 11 big points. Tonino Gonzaga, the team's epitome of burning passion to win, had an and-one play and a huge triple that put the Tams away for good during the third canto. Justin Chua effectively kept the FEU big men at bay, conquering the paint in his own way.

The Blue Eagles, in the end, were once again too much for the FEU Tamaraws. In the two Finals games, Coach Bert Flores threw everything against the Blue and White, even plugging in those whom he would not normally put in, such as Roger Pogoy, Clarence Foronda, and the injured Christian Sentcheu. The three-guard combination alongside Aldrech Ramos did not make things work in terms of the offense, as they threw in miss after miss, lucky enough to grab offensive boards and take their chances once again. Garcia and Ramos, however, put up a fight in the first half, showing the determination to survive, hoping that the two of them could force a rubber match. Apparently, their teammates did not join them well in their endeavors.

The FEU defense was just horrible, as the Tams were unable to hold on to their slim one-point lead in the third quarter. Still, they could not contain Slaughter, Ravena, and Salva altogether, and they even allowed the Ateneo bench to find their spots on the court. Their lack of ability to adjust their offensive and defensive plays became their downfall. And as we have seen, it was the same thing that happened during the second half., even with Coach Bert Flores admitting to Ateneo's near-perfect game.

The Tamaraws, together with the six other UAAP teams, will start the work of rebuilding, hoping that they can grab the crown that comfortably rests in Loyola Heights, now on its fourth year. Of course, the Blue Eagles will do just that after two weeks, when they enter the Unigames and wait for their PCCL matches. But now, they only have to celebrate and relish the blessing.

The Scores:

Ateneo 82 – Ravena 18, Salva 15, Slaughter 11, Tiongson 11, Monfort 9, Gonzaga 6, Long 5, Chua 5, Erram 2, Pessumal 0, Sumalinog 0, Golla 0, Austria 0

FEU 69 – Ramos 20, Garcia 16, Tolomia 7, Romeo 7, Escoto 4, Bringas 4, Exciminiano 4, Foronda 3, Cruz 2, Noundou 2, Pogoy 0, Mendoza 0, Knuttel 0

Quarter scoring: 23-18, 35-36, 57-45, 82-69

Credits to Fabilioh for the picture and Inboundpass for the box scores.

Elevation: AdMU vs. FEU Finals Game 1 (UAAP S74 Final Four Special Recap)

Ateneo 82, Far Eastern U 64
Blue Eagles lead series 1-0

Maybe it's part of the Philippine society, as a third world country that has gone through a variety of ups and downs throughout history, to be hardwired to love underdog stories. Filipinos always have a growing fascination and following to those who started out as someone in the middle, struggling to get pieces together and solving tensions within, and then come out victorious after slaying a behemoth of an opponent.

Recently, a lot have already sided to those who, at face value, were not meant to be on the winning side, but beat all odds to come out on top, and this applies as well in basketball. The Dallas Mavericks, armed with aging stars who has to make this one last push, became easy favorites when against a Miami Heat composed of Lebron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade, all superstars in their own right. In the PBA, fans were on the Petron side of the Smart Araneta Coliseum, because many believed that it is nigh time for a star-laden Talk 'N Text team to end the streak and pass the trophy on to someone who wants it more than they do.

Last season, the Blue Eagles were in the same position, although because of their back-to-back championships, some UAAP fans wanted the FEU Tamaraws to win, just for a change. Having no definite superstar to save them from close games, bearing a 10-4 record, and having lost to the FEU Tamaraws twice in the eliminations, the Blue Eagles had their backs on the wall, with only the drive for a three-peat to give get past through possibly three Finals games. The Tamaraws, then, had all that they needed to dispatch the Blue Eagles and end their title run.

But the unexpected happened, the first game was a surprise, as Ateneo played superb defense and made use of all their fastbreak opportunities to put away the Tamaraws and gain the upper hand in the Finals series, with a 72-49 game 1 score card.

Of course, the Blue Eagles went on to win their third straight title through a game-saving three by Ryan Buenafe in a gut-wrenching 65-61 win during the second game. While this is fresh for the Blue Eagles and the fans, this is a finished chapter for the Tamaraws. Now that they are in an underdog position in the Finals, having beaten the Soaring Falcons, the only team that perhaps could give a scare to the Blue Eagles, they are out to exact revenge on the team that deprived them of what they think they deserve, considering that they were at their best last year. Many believed that with their superb play during the semis, they could topple the powerful Blue Eagles who dominated all through out the entire season, only to come out short in their last game and was saved by the buzzer during their semis match against the UST Tigers.

However, things seemed to be out of sync for the Tamaraws early in the first half of the Game 1. After an initial 6-0 Blue Eagle run, Coach Bert Flores called timeout to cool things down, and fortunately , it worked for them for they were in control for the rest of the first quarter, leading by five by the end of it.

The Tamaraws even ballooned the lead to ten during the second quarter. The Blue Eagles, on the other hand, did not want this crucial game to be like their second round encounter against the Tamaraws, so they stepped on the gas pedal right away. They staged a huge 15-5 run led by Kiefer Ravena, as they tied the game during halftime at 33 apiece. Perhaps what could have turned the tide in favor of the Blue Eagles was the insertion of JP Erram, who provided a boost on defense when Greg Slaughter and Justin Chua were sitting on the bench. The second year Forward-Center was able to contribute well on defense, and he even scored a few charity buckets to get things going for the Blue Eagles.

Fans from both sides were excited by the fact that this could be another gut-wrenching game where both teams have to play cat-and-mouse until the final minute. However, they forgot that it was at the second half were the Blue Eagles bring out their best and maul down their opponents, and as the buzzer signaled to start the third quarter, the Blue Eagles were more than determined to end this game as early as possible.

And what happened afterwards was a repeat of last season's Game 1. The Blue Eagles again found opportunities to score off turnovers and grab crucial defensive rebounds. After three-fourths of the game was finished, the Tamaraws found themselves trailing by 11 at the start of the third. The Blue Eagles did not let their guard down in the final canto, as they continued to slaughter (no pun intended) the Tamaraws, who have lost their composure and decided to chuck in low-percentage shots and just hand the ball (and the game) over to the Blue Eagles. With a few more buckets here and there, including dunks made by Greg Slaughter and "Mr. Perfect" Nico Salva, who had a perfect field goal and free throw shooting performance during that day, the Blue Eagles destroyed the Tamaraws' hope for an early advantage with an 18-point victory, 82-64.

After the game, there was nothing much to say at the side of the Green and Gold. Even Coach Bert Flores was highly amazed at the near-perfect (because the Blue eagles can do better than that) game that Ateneo had in the second half. But this would not faze the hopes of the Tamaraws. For the third time this season, they promised a better game, and hopefully that will happen for them.

The Scores:

Ateneo 82 – Salva 24, Ravena 17, Slaughter 12, Monfort 11, Long 8, Erram 4, Tiongson 4, Chua 2, Gonzaga 0, Golla 0, Austria 0

FEU 64 – Romeo 23, Escoto 12, Ramos 9, Garcia 6, Exciminiano 6, Tolomia 5, Pogoy 2, Cruz 1, Sentcheu 0, Bringas 0

Quarter scoring: 14-19, 33-33, 60-49, 82-64

Credits to Inboundpass for the box and Fabilioh for the pic.

Moving Mountains: AdU vs. FEU (UAAP S74 FInal Four Special Recap)

15 September 2011

FEU 59, Adamson U 49
FEU forces knockout game

18 September 2011

FEU 78, Adamson U 74
FEU clinches Finals berth

To cut all storylines and other explanations short, it is suffice to say that the Adamson story is a fairy tale story. The Soaring Falcons never had big success in the UAAP in the past, and they have always landed fifth or sixth place after the eliminations, despite having stars and go-to guys like Mark Abadia, Leo Canuday, PJ Cabahug, and Ken Bono. Prior to this season, the only lists in the Soaring Falcons in their resume would be their short Final Four stints in 2006 and 2010, both put to a halt by the team that they never won against in the past 14 years: the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

But then enter Coach Leo Austria, a no-nonsense strategist who envisioned the Soaring Falcons as a contender despite limited financial support compared to UAAP powerhouses. He headed the efforts to turn a rag-tag team of basketball players into one that could topple Ateneo and prevent them from getting their fourth straight championship. In fact, they proved that they could do it a few weeks ago, when they defeated the Ateneo Blue Eagles by 16 points, the average winning margin of the defending champions this season.

And that is why Soaring Falcons fans thought that now was their time, that this team can usher a new age for the UAAP, one wherein the trophy will move out from Katipunan Avenue to San Marcelino. Even Alex Nuyles' tears of joy after their final game of the elimination round clearly attests to this message of hope.

But there's something that might cause their downfall, which is their lack of experience in the Final Four. While it is true that they have a lineup that could be dangerous, it is only their third time to enter the Final Four in five years, and their first time to handle a twice-to-beat advantage. Mix it the fact that while this team might be strong, they were highly inconsistent and tend to lose their focus. Just a few games ago, Coach Leo Austria attributed their loss to the UST Growling Tigers to too much anticipation of facing Ateneo for their 14th game, which nearly cost them the number 2 spot. It was fortunate that they won against the Blue Eagles and secured their twice-to-beat advantage, however, with the Blue Eagles in the Finals and the FEU Tamaraws as a big obstacle, how can this not happen again?

This disadvantage of the Falcons entering the Final Four was something that the FEU Tamaraws would like to take advantage of. For the past years, the Tamaraws have had consistent Final Four appearances. In fact, after unsuccessful stints in the semifinals, they even became the favorites in Season 73, only to lose to the Blue Eagles in two Finals games. Now, despite being number three, now was the time to strike. The Soaring Falcons did them a big favor when they forced a Final Four, having the comfort of not facing UST and Adamson more than once in the playoffs, a more herculean task to do than beating the Soaring Falcons twice, since they faced defeat with both teams. In a position where they experience less pressure despite the one-game incentive of the Falcons, all it takes is one huge push to make it to the top.

And push they did. The Tamaraws took advantage of an Adamson basketball team whose ammo have run out after firing everything at the Blue Eagles. The thirteen-point margin by the end of the first half, in favor of FEU, is supposed to be a wake up call for the Falcons. As Coach Leo Austria says, once they blow this game, it will be all over for them. Sadly, things didn't go their way as they were in a hole that was 20 points deep by the end of the third quarter.

The Falcons made one last push that trimmed the lead to nine, thanks to Alex Nuyles, who even made a thunderous dunk that silenced the FEU crowd, perhaps reminding them that this Falcons team can "pull an Ateneo" (referring to the AdMU-FEU 2nd round meet) on them. However, that was the last of what the Falcons had, as the whole FEU team saved themselves from another meltdown, thanks to the combo of RR Garcia, Aldrech Ramos, and Terrence Romeo.

The final score was 59-49, in favor of the Tams who lived to fight for another day. On the other side, Adamson now had been put in a precarious situation, facing a do-or-die game that decides whether they will be seeing Ateneo in the Finals or they'll just sit back in the lower box section of the Smart Araneta Coliseum, watching two (or three) matches between Ateneo and FEU. Moreover, there is this one setback that they have to face, as Alex Nuyles was limping away after that loss, and later they would find out that he was suffering from an ankle sprain which could affect his game and therefore their chances. All in all, this was a bitter pill to swallow for the Falcons, but as they say, it ain't over 'til it's over.

Regrouping, reprogramming, returning. These were perhaps the themes running through the heads of the Adamson Falcons as they entered their knockout game. After all, the scoreboard will go back to 0-0 and they still have this one chance. Early in the knockout game, they showed that they still have what it takes to challenge Ateneo. Unfortunately, Cris (or Mike, if the media prefers) Tolomia, the former Baby Tam and U-18 guard pulled off a miracle, raining down jumpers and dribble drives that extended the lead to until 11 in the fourth quarter.

Near the end of the game, the Tamaraws thought they had it all, until there was Jerick Canada. Many believed that putting him alongside Lester Alvarez would not be as effective as combining either of them with Janus Lozada. But then, he hit two big three pointers to keep Adamson afloat and provide a start to a big comeback and an upset against FEU. Together with Jan Colina, Janus Lozada, and Lester Alvarez, Canada's season and his UAAP career is on the line, and he might as well bring it all just to get into the Finals. After those threes, FEU's lead dwindled down to 2, and another "pull an Ateneo" kind of fear swept through the crowd.

But all attempts were in vain, because by the time when the Tamaraws had the ball and missed a crucial shot, Russel Escoto, the surprise of the year for the Tams, was lucky to tap the ball outside for Terrence Romeo to grab the offensive board as time expires. The Falcons then had no choice but to foul and hope that the man who can either win or lose it all for the Tamaraws would miss the free throw.

However, he calmly sunk those two charities to seal FEU the win. By the sound of the final buzzer, the game was finished, and the Tamaraws were already celebrating in the court, happy that they would have the opportunity to face Ateneo for the second straight time in the UAAP Finals. Jens Knuttel was one of those who were so happy, he planked in the middle of the court at the delight of his teammates.

As for the Soaring Falcons, there was only silence and sadness. At the singing of the school song, Coach Leo Austria was left speechless. There were a few sobs here and there from the four graduating Falcons. And as for Alex Nuyles? He was there perhaps thinking what could have happened had he not sprained his ankle and missed crucial shots in the last part of the game. If only. Perhaps he just hopes that he and Eric Camson can still carry another magnificent run like this next year.

On a side note, too bad the Blue Eagles will not face the Soaring Falcons for the Finals. They just have to wait until the Philippine Collegiate Champions' League to avenge their loss.

The Scores:

Game 1:
FEU 59 – Romeo 19, Garcia 16, Exciminiano 8, Ramos 7, Bringas 6, Escoto 2, Tolomia 1, Pogoy 0, Cruz 0

Adamson 49 – Nuyles 20, Camson 6, Cañada 5, Alvarez 5, Brondial 4, Lozada 4, Colina 3, Manyara 2, Etrone 0, Cabrera 0

Quarter scoring: 11-9, 29-23, 52-32, 59-49

Game 2:
FEU 78 – Tolomia 19, Romeo 15, Garcia 11, Escoto 10, Ramos 10, Cruz 8, Exciminiano 5, Pogoy 0, Bringas 0, Knuttel 0

Adamson 74 – Cañada 14, Camson 13, Nuyles 12, Lozada 9, Alvarez 9, Colina 8, Manyara 4, Petilos 3, Brondial 2, Cabrera 0

Quarter scoring: 18-14, 33-35, 57-50, 78-74

Credits to inboundpass.com

By Mere Inches: Ateneo vs. UST (UAAP S74 Final Four Special Recap)

Ateneo 69, UST 66
Blue Eagles clinch Finals spot

Unlike last season, the Blue Eagles' down-the-wire games were really few. The first game against the Adamson Soaring Falcons was one (ending the game with a 55-51 card). After that, all the Blue Eagles' wins were blowouts, with most of them having the fourth quarter as mere formalities that will settle the final score and allow the opponent to at least catch up.

But then, there was the near-shocker against FEU during the start of the second round. Thanks to Kiefer Ravena, the Blue Eagles still held a perfect record after turning a 16-point deficit in the first half to a 6-point overtime win. The Red Warriors, one of the lowly teams of this season, put the Blue Eagles' standings at the line, but Emman Monfort silenced the reds with his free throws. Everyone wished that the battle against the Adamson Soaring Falcons would go the same, but time (and shooting and defense and everything else) ran out for the Blue Eagles, instead losing in double digits.

Nowhere in the previous paragraph did the UST Growling Tigers got mentioned, who were defeated by the Blue Eagles twice during the eliminations. Their first meeting was close up until the middle of the third quarter, when the Ateneo first five pushed the gas pedal and went all the way to a 13-point win. It was even better in the second round, when the Blue Eagles were excellent on both ends of the floor, and the bench even stopped the UST first five from even getting close in the final canto.

Having those wins against the Growling Tigers, this semi-final match should be a walk in the park, a mere formality to enter the Finals, right?

Wrong. After the defeat against the Blue Eagles in the second round, Coach Pido Jarencio made the necessary adjustments to win the next four games, only to lose to the National University Bulldogs in their final game (due to Karim Abdul's suspension and Carmelo Afuang's operation) which brought them to the fourth seed. In this semifinal game, the Growling Tigers have shown that the Blue Eagles would have to work hard, harder than their elimination round efforts, to punch their ticket to the Finals.

In the first half, crowds of the blue and the yellow show a shuffling between two teams. Leads were switching early on, and the Blue Eagles first five could not cool down the Tigers, especially Karim Abdul. Fortunately, the efforts of the Ateneo bench on both sides of the court, especially Tonino Gonzaga and Juami Tiongson, gave the Blue Eagles some breathing room, before the starters went back out and extended the lead to 8 by the half.

Cruise control was the theme of the third quarter, as an offensive surge led by Nico Salva extended the lead to fourteen. But then, a bad bench effort during the dying minutes and an offensive surge led by Chris Camus and Jeric Teng led to a critical situation for the Blue Eagles. Fortunately, time was on their side, as Nico Salva sunk his two free throws to keep the lead at thee after a Jeric Teng trey brought UST as close as one point from forcing a second do-or-die game. When the final buzzer sounded, there was no trace of premature celebration either from the team or from the crowd, for everyone knows that there is still a lot to work on, and the blue crowd could only thank the Growling Tigers for giving the Blue Eagles one hell of a game that shows that they are mortals, far from basketball gods who can make their way to a fourth straight crown and carve their destiny without looking at mistakes and keeping their focus in the game.

Perimeter offense and defense. Making the right passes and plays. Keeping the enemy at bay. These are some of the things that the Blue eagles will have to redraw and reprogram. Greg Slaughter and Kiefer Ravena have done so much, but the rest will have to exert the same effort and produce the same results as they do. To put it short, it's time for them to bring back the hundred and ten percent that brought them to a 13-1 record. Consider themselves having their backs on the wall even though they don't, because as we all know the Falcons and the Tamaraws are hungry for the crown, as hungry as the Blue Eagles were during these past four years.

And for the Blue Eagles' Sixth Men and Women? It's time for them to get serious. Of course, they would want a semifinal blowout like the past championship years, but they would rather have this win than have another semifinal game. After all, there is a time to feel that, and it's certainly not in the semifinals, but during the final two (or three) matches that really matter.

The scores:

Ateneo 69 – Slaughter 17, Ravena 13, Salva 12, Chua 9, Tiongson 5, Gonzaga 5, Monfort 4, Long 4, Golla 0, Austria 0

UST 66 – Abdul 16, Camus 13, Teng 11, Ferrer 10, Fortuna 8, Afuang 5, Tan 3, Sheriff 0, Pe 0, Lo 0, Ungria 0

Quarter scoring: 18-18, 38-30, 52-40, 60-66

Credits to inboundpass.com for the box and Fabilioh.com for the pic.

6 Points: AdMU vs. AdU (Round 2)

Ateneo 46, Adamson 62

-Before the game, the Blue Eagles were up above, not having experienced any defeat yet in the UAAP. They faced the Soaring Falcons bringing with them a huge 29-win streak against them. But after forty grueling minutes of basketball where everyone saw, for the first time, the Blue Eagles struggling to take the lead without any promise of a miracle, Season 74's postseason will be in the usual Final Four format, as the Falcons prevented win number thirty by dealing Ateneo its worst loss since Game 2 of the Finals match against the UE Red Warriors way back Season 72.

-The Falcons were in fact successful in shutting down the first three offensive options for the Blue Eagles. Greg Slaughter, Kiefer Ravena, and Nico Salva were generally tamed during the whole game. Slaughter was cleanly harrassed every time he has the ball, which leads to bad shots from the inside. Ravena, on the other hand, was able to at least make a run for the Blue Eagles during the early first half, but was denied good looks. And for Salva? He was not able to get into his groove and find his usual sweet spots. And worse, no one was really able to take the reins as everyone fired blanks.

-The Blue Eagles, for the whole game, were left out cold save for a few runs that could have saved the game. On the other hand, the Falcons, especially Alex Nuyles and Lester Alvarez, had hot hands the rest of the game. At a point when everyone was hoping that the law of averages catches up with them, what happened instead was a continuous bombing of treys and outside shots, with some stabs and putbacks to increase the lead from 3 to 19 in the third quarter, and keep them at a very safe distance in the final canto. Like what was said during the past games, there will be days like these.

-Worse, Ateneo's best weapon, their unstoppable defense, was nowhere to be found in this game. It seemed like everyone was trying to catch up with Adamson's ball movement and shooting, together with mix ups and bad match ups. If there is something that the Blue Eagles need to improve on if ever they meet The Falcons again in the Finals, they should learn how to defend and keep the Falcons' streaky shooters out of their comfort zones, secure the paint, crash the boards, and most especially, provide fastbreak opportunities.

-The crucial point of this game was the third canto, where the Blue Eagles were taken aback at a time when they were supposed to turn the tables and take the lead during the game. Usually, the third quarter is when the Blue Eagles dominate and initiate big runs that render the final quarter into a mere formality. But in this game, what happened was the other way around. Leading by 3 entering into the second half, the Soaring Falcons wasted no time and possession, and in ten minutes, the Blue Eagles found themselves trailing by 19. Unfortunately, no big blue miracle occurred in the fourth, as the Falcons handled the lead very well, keeping it out of reach until the final buzzer.

-With this shocking loss, it's time for the Blue Eagles to keep their feet in the ground and start coming up with new strategies to deal with the Falcons effectively. But as far as we can remember, the Blue Eagles get even more dangerous when perched on a tree top and waiting for another prey. Will they be able to rise once again and return to their explosive selves? But against who? Will it still be the Falcons, or the hungry Tigers and Tamaraws who also want to take another chance to steal this season away from the dominant Blue Eagles? The answers to these questions will emerge once the Final Four begins.

Scores:

Adamson 62 – Nuyles 21, Alvarez 14, Camson 6, Manyara 4, Brondial 4, Lozada 4, Colina 4, Etrone 3, Cañada 2, Cabrera 0

Ateneo 46 – Slaughter 10, Ravena 9, Long 9, Gonzaga 7, Salva 5, Monfort 4, Chua 2, Tiongson 0, Golla 0, Austria 0
Quarter scoring: 14-8, 27-24, 50-31, 62-46

6 Points: AdMU vs. NU (Round 2)

Ateneo 61, National U 39

-The thirteenth game of the Blue Eagles did have some elements of bad luck in it, part of which includes poor outside shooting. However, luck did not even play a big factor in this game. Instead it was their trademark defense that got them going in the second half against the Bulldogs, who were now done for the season and could pack their bags after their fourteenth game. By the way, this season's Blue Eagles made another entry into the record books by allowing the fewest recorded points since 2004.

-Nico Salva truly became a dominant force this season, and this game was not an exception. He tallied 14 big points, as one of the four Blue Eagles who scored in double digits, which includes one of the three dunks in the game (one was from Slaughter, while the other, albeit missed, was by Bobby Ray Parks who was seen limping after the failed feat). Evidently, Salva already got his game going, and if this continues, then the Blue Eagles will be more dangerous entering the last game of the season.

-The Blue Eagles made explicit the key to beat the Bulldogs: clamp down Parks and Mbe, and the game is yours. Kirk Long showed how he can play defense, as he used his speed and athleticism to neutralize Parks, a twenty-something scorer who only had 10 markers that day. Also, Greg Slaughter and Frank Golla (who recovered from a mild sprain that hindered him from playing against UP) took turns defending Emmanuel Mbe, who settled for throw-ups rather than clean jumpers and lay ups and ending up with 10 points as well.

-Surprisingly, coupled with bad luck, the Blue Eagles found themselves in a tight game during the first half, even having consecutive turnovers from each team as if they were passing the balls to their opponents. But come second half, the boys did what Coach Norman Black usually tells them: play their D, and let the offense take care of itself. And it turned out to be effective for the Blue Eagles, who unofficially ended the game by the end of the third quarter, after Kiefer Ravena's buzzer beating trey.

-Bad luck struck the Ateneo bench in terms of offense, with only Golla and Tonino Gonzaga scoring for them, tallying 10 points together. The rest, however, which includes Justin Chua (who has been scoring big prior to this game) were firing blanks. But then, the role of the bench right now is to keep the game going while the starters rest, so it may not be totally bad for the Blue Eagles.

-Perhaps this game is an indicator that the Blue Eagles are really in a good place right now to grab that sweep and hence an easy Finals ticket. With such defensive dominance and an offense that clicks at the right time, it would be certain that they will pounce on Adamson quickly and extend the streak to 29. Thus, the more important question: will it be the usual knockout Final 4 game, or a stepladder match?

The scores:

Ateneo 61 – Salva 14, Slaughter 13, Ravena 12, Long 10, Gonzaga 6, Golla 4, Monfort 2, Tiongson 0, Sumalinog 0, Chua 0, Austria 0

NU 39 – Parks 10, Mbe 10, Javillonar 9, Alolino 4, Ignacio 4, Neypes 2, Villamor 0, Roño 0, Celiz 0, Khobuntin 0, Terso 0

Quarter scoring: 12-11, 26-19, 48-27, 61-39

Credits to Fabilioh.com for the pic, and Inboundpass for the box scores.