The Race To The Final Four: 12 (Plus 4) Possible Scenarios

Last Sunday, the Blue Eagles defeated the Red Warriors, 77-72, to increase their chances entering the Final Four, all at the expense of eliminating the Red Warriors from the race to the men's basketball championship. With five teams up against each other's necks in vouching not just for the Final Four slot but also for the twice-to-beat advantage that the top two teams enjoy after eliminations, it's time to find out where the Blue Eagles will find themselves into. This might be something new for recent Blue Eagles fans (maybe since Season 73), because this is only one of the rare moments since Season 66 that the team has been hanging on to the top four spot and not sitting pretty on top of the standings, but this is something that's important to consider because it will show how far can the team go, not only in terms of this season, but in their whole championship run that started in Season 71.

But first a few preliminary considerations.

• The Blue Eagles have only two games left, namely against the NU Bulldogs on the 11th of September and against the UST Growling Tigers, and there are only 4 possibilities that are left insofar as the team is concerned, which will be the bulk of discussion below. But because the focus of this discussion is to see where the Blue Eagles will be in the Final Four, one possibility will have to be ruled out, which would be to suffer two straight losses that will immediately boot them out of contention. However, I will also include them in the final part.
• Two games left should also be considered, namely the one between the DLSU Green Archers and the UST Growling Tigers, and one between the FEU Tamaraws and the UP Fighting Maroons. While the first game's winner could just be anyone, given their chances of winning against each other, the second game will be of less concern, because we know how UP and FEU respectively have played this season (duh moment there, right?). But nevertheless, I will include them should the slim chance of the Fighting Maroons defeating the Tamaraws would happen.
• Finally, because rankings are of utmost concern here, we will also consider the quotient system, which I have put here as the cumulative margins of victory between two, three, or four teams. We will also consider the usual league rules that apply when two or more teams share the same ranking. These rules might seem outdated (or I can be mistaken altogether), but from experience, here is how they go: (a) in case of same ranking in the first to third spot of the Final Four, seeding will be determined by the quotients of teams with whom they share the same ranking (e.g. if Team A, B, and C have a record of 10-4, their quotients will be added up, and the highest quotient will determine the highest spot), (b) If there are more than two teams with the same margin of victory, and two teams share the same quotient, the one with the greatest quotient between the two alone will get the higher spot (e.g. if Team A, B, and C are tied, and teams B and C have the same quotient, the higher seeded team will be the one who has the higher quotient between B and C alone), if it's still tied, then it will be necessary to look at the team's overall quotient (against all teams) by the end of eliminations, (c) if the fourth and fifth seed will have the same ranking, they can either be decided by quotient or by a playoff game.

Having those laid down, then I guess it's time to lay down the three possibilities wherein the Blue Eagles will garner at least the fourth spot in the Final Four.

1.If the Blue Eagles win against NU and UST.
Seems to be something that's doable but highly improbable, considering the level of difficulty when facing against the Bulldogs. Nevertheless, let's see what could happen.

1.1 If DLSU wins and FEU wins
DLSU 10-4
FEU 10-4
NU 9-5*
AdMU 9-5*

DLSU and FEU get the twice-to-beat advantage, respectively. While NU and Ateneo will be at the the 3 and 4 spot.

*If the Blue Eagles win with a margin of 11 points or more, then they can take the 3 spot and face FEU (which I think will be easier than being in number four).

1.2 If UST wins and FEU wins
FEU 10-4
NU 10-4
DLSU 9-5
AdMU 9-5

Nothing much here, everything's somehow sealed quotient's clear so far regarding this.

1.3 If DLSU wins and UP wins
DLSU 10-4
NU 9-5*
AdMU 9-5*
FEU 9-5*

By quotient system between NU (+7), Ateneo (+5), and FEU (-20), the Bulldogs will get the twice-to-beat advantage, while FEU and Ateneo will settle for third and fourth place. However, if Ateneo wins by 2 points or more against NU, the it could raise Ateneo to 2 and NU to 3 (quotient will be as follows: Ateneo with +7, NU with +5, and FEU with -20).

1.4. If UST wins and UP wins
NU 9-5*
DLSU 9-5*
AdMU 9-5*
FEU 9-5*

These rankings are determined by quotient as of press time (NU with +12, DLSU with +11, AdMU with -6, and FEU with -7). This means that the margin of victory between NU and Ateneo has not been factored in yet given that they still have to face each other. Perhaps what could significantly change this is when the Blue Eagles will win against the Bulldogs with a margin of 2 points or more, which in that case would put DLSU on top while NU will slide at number two.

2.If the Blue Eagles lose against NU but win against UST
Highly probable, I should say.

2.1 If DLSU wins and FEU wins
DLSU 10-4*
NU 10-4*
FEU 10-4*
AdMU 8-6

This, I think, is most likely to happen. Quotient between La Salle, NU and FEU are +2, 0, and -2 respectively.

2.2 If UST wins and FEU wins
NU 10-4
FEU 10-4
DLSU 9-5
AdMU 8-6

By quotient against FEU, the Bulldogs will take the top spot.

2.3 If DLSU wins and UP wins
NU 10-4
DLSU 10-4
FEU 9-5
AdMU 8-6

Quotient determines FEU's win.

2.4 If UST wins and UP wins
NU 10-4
DLSU 9-5
FEU 9-5
AdMU 8-6*

By the quotient system, the fourth spot is for the Blue Eagles to take; however, it is possible that because it is a crucial spot, the UAAP might just decide a playoff even though the Blue Eagles have a positive quotient against UST.

3. If the Blue Eagles win against NU, but lose against UST
This can happen, and this is the most dangerous situation because there are still two instances wherein the Blue Eagles can get booted out of the Final Four.

3.1 If DLSU wins and FEU wins
DLSU 10-4
FEU 10-4
NU 9-5
AdMU 8-6

Nothing needed to explain here, except the fact that UST will end up with a 7-7 record and will be eliminated finally.

3.2 If UST wins and FEU wins
FEU 10-4
NU 9-5
DLSU 9-5
UST 9-5

Pray that this doesn't happen.

3.3 If DLSU wins and UP wins
DLSU 10-4
NU 9-5
FEU 9-5
AdMU 8-6*
(UST 8-6)*

As long as the Blue Eagles do not lose the game by 3 points or more, they are guaranteed the fourth spot, again UNLESS a playoff will be decided. Otherwise, when the quotient between these two teams get to 0 (the four-point Blue Eagles win in the first round is negated by the four-point Growling Tigers win in the second round), another alternative besides the playoff would be their total quotient, which, as it stands is +40 for the Blue Eagles and +36 for the Growling Tigers. At least at this point, the Blue Eagles have the upper hand, and it will depend on their remaining games if the figures will rise or drop.

3.4 If UST wins and UP wins
NU 9-5*
FEU 9-5*
DLSU 9-5*
UST 9-5*

Rankings determined by current quotient (not including the matches between AdMU v UST and DLSU v UST), which are at +20, +7, -5, and -22 respectively. Also, pray that this doesn't happen.

So here are the situations so far for the Blue Eagles if they want to enter into the Final Four. Anything between those 10 (except 3.2 and 3.4, and maybe 3.3 to be safe) would be good enough for the Blue Eagles, and then things can begin again from there.

But you ask, what happens when we lose both games? Good thing you asked.

4. If the Blue Eagles lose against NU and UST.

4.1 If DLSU wins and FEU wins
DLSU 10-4*
NU 10-4*
FEU 10-4*
UST 8-6

Ranking is determined by quotient.

4.2 If UST wins and FEU wins
NU 10-4*
FEU 10-4*
DLSU 9-5**
UST 9-5**

Both sets' rankings are determined by quotient.

4.3 If DLSU wins and UP wins
NU 10-4*
DLSU 10-4*
FEU 9-5**
UST 9-5**

Same as 4.2

4.4 If UST wins and UP wins
NU 10-4
FEU 9-5*
DLSU 9-5*
UST 9-5*

Quotient between the three determines rankings (+4, 0, and -4 respectively)

The possibilities are there, but which of these situations will be actualized? We get to see this as the games will be played in the next few days.

6 Points: AdMU vs. FEU (Round 2)

Ateneo 92, Far Eastern U 73

Where Art Thou, Romeo's Team? What happened with FEU last Wednesday at the MoA Arena? All praises have been given to Terrence Romeo and Mike Tolomia after a gutsy overtime win against the UE Red Warriors three days prior to their bout with the Blue Eagles, in the absence of veteran guard R.R. Garcia. With their renewed confidence, everyone thought that they could topple down the streaking Blue Ealges... until this happened. Compared to the previous game, there are aspects of the game that changed and remained the same. Yes, Romeo again led the Tamaraws and he sticks to his chucking ways; however, it seems that the match against UE took them out of this game due to fatigue (or at least according to Coach Nash Racela). From a winning 94.3 offensive rating against UE (who merely had 90.5) in 58 minutes of action, the mighty Tamaraws fell to a mere 83.3 rating, as opposed to the Blue Eagles' 93.6, and it could've been worse if a college basketball game lasted only for 30 minutes, when the third quarter ended with Ateneo holding a 28-point lead, which stretched further to 32. Obviously, this has been the Tamaraws' worst game in Season 76, and unfortunate for them, it was Ateneo's best.

Keeping The Firepower. Lots of records have been posted today by the Blue Eagles insofar as the season is concerned. This is their highest scoring output so far, with a whopping 51 points already in the first half, yet another season high, bearing the largest scoring margin ever after the half-time buzzer (at 23). And looking back at the past three games of the Blue Eagles, it seems that the FIBA Asia break did a lot of miracles to them. By the end of the first round, the Blue Eagles only scored an average of 67.7ppg while allowing 68.1ppg, with an average winning margin of -0.43 points. However, in the past three games, all of these numbers have improved as they already have 79.3ppg scored and 66.0ppg allowed, resulting in a huge improvement at the winning margin with +13.3. How they did it, though, was fairly simple: bring back the defense that the Blue Eagles are known for while capitalizing on running the break.

Tiongson Fire. Talk about Juami Tiongson being extra-efficient today brings us back to his Blue Eaglet days, when he used to be a spot-up guard who magically finds space to take and make shots. "Magic" contributed 20 points on this game, hitting 7 of 10 shots, 3 out of those from the arc. Those who watch the Blue Eagles for the fast few seasons could perhaps have seen Tiongson develop his game, from being a mere three point specialist slated to replace former Blue Eagle point guard Jai Reyes, to a playmaker replacing Emman Monfort, and now to a reliable scorer once again who knows all too well about off-ball movement. Playing his best offensive game, what comes out as his most useful weapon so far (which we have not seen this season) is his ability to box out for second chance opportunities and his way of sneaking in and finding that teardrop or floater in the middle. Standing perhaps as a close third/fourth option after Kiefer Ravena, Chris Newsome, and Ryan Buenafe, the team is going to need his hot hands to stretch defenses.

Energy Spurts. Eighteen of the team's 92 points came off the energy players off the bench: Vince Tolentino, Von Pessumal, and Gwynne Capacio. Tolentino has been gaining reputation as a player of extra-efficiency, scoring a decent number of points given his limited minutes of play, and in this game, he has shown why he deserves to be such. His asset remains to be his ability to slide in and out of the paint, allowing him to sneak in to either receive passes (or steal them, if he's defending) and grab rebounds out of nowhere. Now, if he can only toughen more in order to box out, he might just replace Frank Golla come out of the bench to relieve Newsome or Buenafe from frontcourt duties and let them play their natural guard/forward game.

The MRT Needs Renovation. This is what Tolomia, Garcia, and Romeo's output this game:

• 39 points on 13 of 45 shooting (28.9% FG), 5 of 23 from beyond the arc (21.7% 3FG), 7 of 12 from charity stripe (58.3%)
• 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 5 fouls

These numbers are pretty dismal, especially that it was actually Terrence Romeo who brought the percentages down (7 of 24 total field goals, 2 of 11 from three, not to mention that most of these have been made during garbage time). This brings out even more the obvious fact that FEU, in every game, has been taking risks that seem to be uncalculated, but approved and warranted by Coach Nash Racela. But if that is the case, then it will always be a thing of letting Romeo either give or take away. But then, does Coach Nash have a choice? Can he actually run the offense through, say, RR Garcia (once again) or Mike Tolomia? Or is it a question of the incapability of other players like Roger Pogoy and Mac Belo to keep up with these three and assert themselves as legitimate options? Unless these questions are answered, then the Tamaraws will find themselves labeled as the team who peaked too soon this season, and is set to experience a huge downfall come the Final Four.

Whose Streak Will End? The Blue Eagles' next game will be their second round encounter with their rivals the DLSU Green Archers, and I think this is where they will be truly tested. The greenies' big men are more reliable than UP's, Adamson's*, or FEU's, in Norbert Torres, Jason Perkins, and Arnold Van Opstal. In fact, one could claim that this is DLSU's strong point, considering that other teams opt to have towering African imports while some (like Ateneo) have none. This makes the match really difficult; however, it seems that everything would depend on the way Kiefer Ravena, who was absent during the first round match, will play.

The Scores:

Ateneo 92 - Tiongson 20, Ravena 18, Newsome 11, Tolentino 9, Golla 9, Buenafe 9, Pessumal 5, Elorde 5, Capacio 4, Erram 2, Murphy 0, Asuncion 0, Asistio 0

FEU 73 - Romeo 19, Garcia 11, Tolomia 9, Pogoy 9, Hargrove 6, Belo 6, Jose 5, Inigo 3, Cruz 3, Lee Yu 2, Sentcheu 0, Mendoza 0, Luz 0, Dennison 0, Delfinado 0, Aguilon 0


Quarter scores: 26-11, 51-28, 73-45, 92-73

Credits to the Fabilioh Facebook page for the pic, HumbleBola for the stats, and GMA Network Online for the box.

Gameday Sunday: 18 August 2013

Is there any need for explanation why this is called Gameday? One thing to note, though, is that there will always be something significant to look at, and that's why we put the Spotlight on it.

UAAP

National U 80, Adamson 48

Wow. Just wow.This was a serious attack there brought by the Bulldogs, just a few days after they delivered the FEU Tamaraws' first loss. And by handing the Soaring Falcons' second straight loss which pummeled them further down the seventh spot, it seems that the promise to be contenders, despite having a reliable big man in Ingrid Sewa, will just remain to be a promise. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, are proving that they deserve to have that number one spot that the Tams stole from them way back in Round 1

Spotlight: A year ago, it was rumored that Emmanuel Mbe opted out of the team in order to search for a French league where he can play and hone his skills. Fortunately for NU, it was either a rumor or a case of not having been discovered, as Mbe is back in his (questionably) fourth year as a Bulldog. And in the battle of the imports this afternoon, it was the older and more experienced one who prevailed, as Mbe tallied 21 points and 10 boards for this game.

NU 80 - Mbe 21, Parks 16, Roño 8, Porter 6, Javillonar 6, Alolino 6, Rosario 5, Khobuntin 4,  Neypes 3, Javelona 3, Villamor 2, Perez 0, Labing-isa 0, De Guzman 0, Alejandro 0

AdU 48 - Cabrera 12, Cruz 11, Sewa 8, Petilos 5, Brondial 5, Garcia 2, Agustin 2, Abrigo 2, Monteclaro 1, Trollano 0, Rios 0, Ochea 0, Julkipli 0, Inigo 0

Quarter scoring: 21-7, 37-25, 55-40, 80-48

De La Salle 75, FEU 66

First, the match against NU happened. Afterwards, this happened, and in between there was Terrence Romeo. After the first round, everyone was praising Nash Racela's fantastic dribble drive offense; however, this second round, it seems that everything is failing, not because the play isn't working, but more because the one who has been easily proclaimed as the first round MVP has been nothing but awful.

Spotlight: The biggest addition that DLSU has been so far this season is not a stronger and "improved" Jeron Teng, who has remained subpar with his free throw shooting. In fact, it's Jason Perkins, who provided a boost for the Green Archers especially in the huge 2nd quarter run that gave them a safe lead entering the second half.

DLSU 75 - Perkins 18, Teng 16, Vosotros 13, Van Opstal 9, Salem 6, Montalbo 5, Torres 4, Tampus 4, Revilla 0, Bolick 0

FEU 66 - Pogoy 16, Belo 16, Romeo 12, Tolomia 7, Garcia 6, Cruz 4, Inigo 0, Sentcheu 0, Mendoza 0, Lee Yu 0, Jose 0, Dennison 0, Delfinado 0, Aguilon 0

Quarter scoring: 23-14, 44-33, 60-50, 75-66

PBA

Barako Bull 90, Meralco 89

Admit it. You don't expect the Pocket Rocket, Emman Monfort, squeezing this win out, especially that Barako Bull has gone through a lot in the past few weeks (actually, I was talking about the blunder that is the Allein Maliksi trade). Well, for a team that Alaska coach Luigi Trillo hits at for the past few weeks, it is a pretty impressive performance out there.

Spotlight: 22 big points and 7 boards were delivered by Monfort for this team, including a go-ahead jumper that pretty much sealed the deal for the Energy Boosters. Now, who would think that this 5'7" guard would come out that big in a conference where giants dominate?

Barako Bull 90 - Singletary 28, Monfort 22, Seigle 12, Buenafe 7, Jensen 6, Pennisi 5, Intal 4, Marcelo 2, Macapagal 2, Cruz 2, Weinstein 0, Yap 0, Pena 0

Meralco 89 - West 33, Hugnatan 16, Salvacion 12, Wilson 9, Hodge 4, Guevarra 4, Ross 4, Allado 4, Vanlandingham 3, Mangahas 0

Quarter scoring: 22-21, 41-48, 66-67, 90-89

Petron 101, Ginebra 95

Finally, Coach Gee Abanilla has given some confidence back to the Petron Blaze Boosters after what happened last two conferences, including the "relegation" of Coach Olsen Racela to the San Mig Coffee Mixers alongside Coach Tim Cone. Wish the same could have been said for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, who still has to find some solid foundation in Ato Agustin.

Spotlight: It was former Blue Eagle and Powerade Tiger Doug Kramer who provided the win for Petron, as he finished the game with a double-double, 17 points and 10 rebounds. He once saved the Blue Eagles from falling behind Coach Pido Jarencio's UST Growling Tigers, supported Gary David, JVee Casio, and Marcio Lassiter in their finals bid under Coach Bo Perasol, and now he has provided key plays late in the game to seal the deal for the Blaze Boosters.

Petron 101 - Millsap 24, Lassiter 23, Cabagnot 18, Kramer 17, Santos 12, Tubid 5, Fajardo 2, Deutchman 0, Lutz 0, Lanete 0

Ginebra 95 - Lowhorn 29, Caguioa 15, Ellis 12, Tenorio 9, Aguilar 8, Wilson 7, Mamaril 6, Helterbrand 5, Baracael 4, Urbiztondo 0

Quarter scoring: 26-29, 45-52, 79-71, 101-95

The First Seven Games of Season 76

The first round of the men's basketball competition of the UAAP Season 76 has just ended, and each of the teams have played seven interesting games. But out of all of them, who stands out? What enabled them to get to this point? This column takes a look at what happened so far in the season, pointing out as well significant players that stepped up for their team

FEU Tamaraws (7-0)

Average Points Scored (APS): 80.57
Average Points Allowed (APA): 72.86
Average Winning Margin (AWM): +7.71

The Tams So Far: Thanks to Coach Nash Racela, the Tamaraws have proven the doubters wrong. When others perceived the MRT guard combo (composed of Mike Tolomia, RR Garcia, and Terrence Romeo), Racela used it as a strength, convincing them to playing shared minutes and encouraging them to play more team ball than they used to. And the result? A high-octane offense that thrives in the perimeter, thanks to the team's reliable three-point and perimeter shooting, they were able to get a solid hold of the number one spot. What's more is that because of the confidence from the outside that the three guards have, it made the job of Mark Belo, Carl Bryan Cruz, and Anthony Hargrove easier.

Significant Performance? The game against the DLSU Green Archers. By the fourth quarter, they were staring at a 13-point lead, only to force the game to overtime and eventually render their record spotless.

Spotlight: It's obvious that Terrence Romeo (22.6ppg, 6.3rpg, 4.1apg, 1.4spg) that he is not only the best player of the Tamaraws, but also the MVP of the first round as well. He did come up with a marvelous 12-assist performance in their first game, but he is the Tams' gem when it comes to scoring. Sure, one can judge how he is trigger-happy, but his accuracy has saved FEU over and over again. Expect him to shoot more, but only to disappoint more.

UST Growling Tigers (4-3)

APS: 69.71ppg
APA: 67.86ppg
AWM: +1.85

The Tigers So Far: Coach Pido Jarencio is confident that this team will be contenders, but it seems that the loss of Jeric Teng due to his shoulder injury dealt a big blow to the Tigers' offense. Fortunately, the bunch of Aljon Mariano, Clark Bautista, Kevin Ferrer, and Eduardo Daquioag have taken the burden, despite coming up short in their matches against NU (the game wherein Teng got injured), FEU, and Ateneo. And going to the other end of the court, it seems that, with Karim Abdul at the helm, they do not have any problem on D, save for the fact that without any legitimate point guard, they really struggled with perimeter offense, especially when matched up against smaller but quicker guards. One thing that the Growling Tigers have to really count on, however, is that Teng returns sooner, especially that his perimeter D and his three-point shooting does wonders for them.

Significant Performance? The Tigers' first game of the season has showed what they can do at full force during pressure situations. Teng exploded for 23 points on 10-of-24 shooting, while Karim Abdul hauled 17 markers and 10 boards to put an exclamation point and show that, while the Green Archers are highly touted, the Tigers can reach that level.

Spotlight: One could expect Aljon Mariano to step up and bring his game, but a sprained ankle somehow brought his level of play down, settling with easy lay ups and baseline jumpers instead of his amazing inside plays that threatened the Blue Eagles' title run last year. However, Karim Abdul (13.6ppg, 10.3rpg, 2.1apg, 1.1 spg, 1.5bpg) continues with his consistent all-around performance last year. Thanks to Abdul, the Tigers have held their fort from the inside. Plus, his offense isn't too bad either, as he was able to work on his post-ups and spin moves on the inside (despite his inability to manage his way out of double teams), as well as shoot from the outside.

UE Red Warriors (4-3)

APS: 73.71ppg
APA: 75.57ppg
AWM: -1.86

The Warriors So Far: This rebuilt team has surprised the league during the Fil-Oil Flying V Preseason Tournament, and they have proven that they can be contenders this season, which is a far cry from their performance two seasons ago. However, this should not be that surprising since they have only shown that a formidable big man and an athletic point guard in Charles Mammie and Roi Sumang respectively can run the show. The first round has proven that as long as Mammie and Sumang played well, the whole Red Warriors as a team can superbly perform as well, not to mention the individual performances by Ralf Olivares and, at times, veteran Lord Casajeros.

Significant Performance? The Red Warriors' bout against the DLSU Green Archers have brought the best out of Sumang, Olivarez, and Mammie, especially during the last stretch. Trailing for most of the fourth quarter, trigger fingers were activated to start a barrage from the outside, confident that their misses will be saved by Mammie on the inside. The result? A hard-fought win that put them on a safe spot in the top four.

Spotlight: Roi Sumang (19ppg, 5.7rpg, 4apg, 1.1spg, 0.1bpg) remains to be the heart and soul of this team. In all seven games of the Red Warriors, he was steady in terms of his offense, scoring from dribble drives and stop-and-pop-triples that surprise anyone guarding him on isolation sets. And fortunately, when a Sumang explosion occurs, he is almost unstoppable, even with double or triple teams hounding him. Should doubts occur, check this video out:



NU Bulldogs (4-3)

APS: 69.57ppg
APA: 66.14ppg
AWM: +3.43

The Bulldogs So Far: The NU Bulldogs have been highly touted as this year's championship contenders, primarily because they have lost very little after Season 75. Coach Eric Altamirano mans the whole team for the third straight year, while we see improvements from holdovers Emmanuel Mbe, Gelo Alolino, and Denice Villamor. Furthermore, it seems that as the years go by, the team's top scorer Bobby Ray Parks keeps getting better and better not merely as a scorer, but also a playmaker and leader for his team. Unfortunately, they had some games that have gone out of hand, leading to losses that could have been avoided.

Significant Performance? The best game that the Bulldogs could have played so far is their last first round match, against the DLSU Green Archers. With the green and white daring to make a comeback after a three-quarter slump, Bobby Ray Parks hit two big threes in the beginning of the fourth quarter, and coupled with a defensive scheme that forced turnovers from the Green Archers' big men, they never looked back until the final buzzer.

Spotlight: Two-time MVP Bobby Ray Parks (18.9ppg, 9.4rpg, 4.4apg, 1.3spg, 0.7bpg) could have been displaced by Romeo in the MVP race (at least for the first round), but he has shown flashes of great basketball leadership in this stretch. Now we see him setting up and trusting his teammates on one hand, and delivering shutdown one-on-one defense on the other. His team is already built around him, and all it takes for Parks and the Bulldogs is to go all the way towards a Finals appearance and, possibly, a championship.

DLSU Green Archers (3-4)

APS: 74.86ppg
APA: 74.0ppg
AWM: +0.86

The Archers So Far: This team is already complete, but moves by the management to replace Coach Gee Abanilla with Coach Juno Sauler ended up with the Archers still seeking to find their ground in the UAAP as contenders. And it is surprising since it seems that there were a few changes made, and yet they end up with meltdowns and breakdowns that frustrate every member of the Gang Green. Do I need to still say that free throws are just part of that problem?

Significant Performance? Nothing beats the Green Archers' win against the Ateneo Blue Eagles this season, when they crawled out of a 14-point slump to win by 9 points, thanks to the efforts of their big men who took advantage of the absence of Ateneo's big men due to fouling out.

Spotlight: Everyone's eyes are on hotshot sophomore Jeron Teng, but because of his woes on the charity stripe, he was jeered more than cheered for most of the first round. However, Almond Vosotros (14.7ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.6apg, 1spg, 0.3bpg) already had big games of his own and consistently coming out as a threat from the outside, which reminds us of a younger JVee Casio. If Vosotros gets white hot, then expect a guaranteed DLSU win, for it will allow the lane to open up for Teng, Arnold Van Opstal, Norbert Torres, and Jason Perkins to operate.

Ateneo Blue Eagles (3-4)

APS: 67.71ppg
APA: 68.14ppg
AWM: -0.43

The Blue Eagles So Far: With a new coach and with most of Season 75's best players gone, consider this the post-fivepeat era for the Blue Eagles, who looks promising but has struggled so far, no thanks to Kiefer Ravena's grade 3 ankle injury that kept him sidelined for the half of the first season. However, after a miserable 0-3 start in which the Blue Eagles suffered various meltdowns as well as heartbreaking comebacks, the team ended on a high note after winning 3 of their 4 games, just in time when Ravena returned and Coach Bo Perasol was able to polish the offense.

Significant Performance? The Blue Eagles' win against the UST Growling Tigers, their last game of the first round, showed the team (mostly) in championship form. Notwithstanding the missed free throws during the end of the game, the Blue Eagles averted a huge comeback attempt from the Growling Tigers and sealed the game with big defensive stops.

Spotlight: First year Blue Eagle Chris Newsome (13.7ppg, 8.3rpg, 2.9apg, 0.6spg, 0.4bpg) seems to be the Blue Eagles' Mr. Do-It-All on the first round, leading the team in the Blue Eagles' offensive charge (two big jams aren't enough proof for you?). When he starts attacking from the inside, alongside Ravena and Ryan Buenafe, it frees up the perimeter, allowing off-ball shooters like Juami Tiongson and Von Pessumal to find their place and hit sweet triples. And with Ravena at 100% by the beginning of the second round (which boosts the team's performance in general), expect Newsome to completely take over the team's interior offense.

Adamson Soaring Falcons (3-4)

APS: 69.14ppg
APA: 69.43ppg
AWM: -0.29

The Falcons So Far: On paper, the Adamson Falcons are a solid team, with most of Coach Leo Austria's boys stepping up their game. Ingrid Sewa indeed is a big addition, but due to his shoulder injury, we have seen very little of what he can actually do in the court. Furthermore, they have surprising individual performances from their backups, like Ar-Raouf Julkipli, Gian Abrigo, Harry Petilos, and rookie Axel Inigo. But what brought them under .500? End-game executions. Save for their game against NU, it seems that the Falcons falter during the last two minutes. And with the FIBA break coming, they better polish their last minute plays and learn to thrive while Sewa is on recovery mode.

Significant Performance? The Falcons played a rare clutch game against the NU Bulldogs, as they escaped with a big win. Down by one in the final three minutes, the Falcons initiated a huge 8-2 run, en route to a very close, 68-66 win. This game has shown what the team can do even without Ingrid Sewa, and if everyone is in rhythm, then they could find themselves once again back in the Final Four after their one-year hiatus from the postseason.

Spotlight: Jericho Cruz (16.7ppg, 5.1rpg, 3.6apg, 1.0spg, 0.4bpg) is obviously the most important piece of the Soaring Falcons. Never mind the contested triples and sudden midrange shots that leave fans of the Falcons dumbfounded, for once he adjusts his game and shifts his focus on the inside, he's determined to break through even the tightest of zone defenses and barrage his way to a difficult lay up, floater, or hook. And so far, this has worked.

UP Fighting Maroons (0-7)

APS: 65.43ppg
APA: 76.71ppg
AWM: -11.28

The Fighting Maroons So Far: UP's last win came during Season 74, when Jett Manuel singlehandedly torched the Tams en route to a 76-63 victory. However, in the past two seasons, Coach Ricky Dandan's team still has not found the light, and even with major changes, including a transferring player, nothing seems to be working.

Significant Performance? The closest that the Maroons have ever gotten to a win was their match against the UE Red Warriors, when they nearly overcame an 11-point deficit, only to fail at executing a last-minute due to a turnover.

Spotlight: A bad shot by Joseph Marata (14.2ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.9apg, 0.9apg, 0.1bpg) would be better than anyone else's, especially on a crucial stretch. The DLSU transferee immediately became the Fighting Maroons' number one option, especially now that former sniper Jett Manuel takes a break from playing to study abroad. And in this seven-game stretch, we have seen flashes of brilliance, but more than that a lack of proper shot selection.

Gameday Sunday: 28 July 2013

Is there any need for explanation why this is called Gameday? One thing to note, though, is that there will always be something significant to look at, and that's why we put the Spotlight on it.

UAAP

Far Eastern U 74, Adamson 71

The Tamaraws and the Falcons traded leads in the first three quarters, but it was the former who had the upper hand during the final buzzer, as the latter broke down the last five minutes in the quarters, thanks to the pesky defense and the scoring sprees of the "MRT."

Spotlight: Isn't it obvious that this is Terrence Romeo's team now? The top MVP candidate (as per HumbleBola's evaluation) had a big, though not necessarily his best, outing in this match, but he showed that he's just not a chuck-and-choke guard. Just when the Falcons were making a big comeback (surprisingly) thanks to Ar-Raouf Julkipl helping out Jericho Cruz, Romeo hit a cold-blooded three pointer, and the Tamaraws never looked back, en route to a sweep of the first round, sitting comfortably on top of the standings. Romeo chipped in 26 points on 10-of-23 shooting.

FEU 74 - Romeo 26, Pogoy 9, Garcia 9, Belo 9, Tolomia 8, Hargrove 4, Mendoza 3, Sentcheu 2, Jose 2, Cruz 2, Inigo 0

AdU 71 - Cruz 21, Sewa 13, Brondial 13, Trollano 5, Julkipli 5, Agustin 4, Abrigo 4, Petilos 3, Cabrera 3, Rios 0, Monteclaro 0, Inigo 0

Quarter scores: 20-13, 36-37, 54-56, 74-71

National U 63, De La Salle 56

Everyone thought that the Green Archers are coming back after nearly sinking into oblivion during the third quarter, when they trimmed a 15-point deficit to one. But then, top dog Bobby Ray Parks unleashed two straight triples to keep the Bulldogs afloat, leaving the Green Archers a notch below .500 as the Bulldogs ended the first round with a win that snapped their two-game losing streak.

Spotlight: Free throw shooting might have improved for Jeron Teng, but he played limited minutes due to foul trouble, and one could easily say that this was his worst game so far in the season. The Seaso 75 Rookie of the Year only had 9 measly points on the floor, hitting 2 of his (just!) 4 free throws in the game. However, praise has to be given by the much improved Arnold Van Opstal, whose excellent footwork had the Bulldogs' big men confused until he was double teamed and forced to turn the ball over multipled instances. Had the Green Archers won, it would be easy to say that this was AVO's biggest game so far, hauling in 14 points, 7 boards, and 3 swats on the floor.

NU 63 - Parks 20, Mbe 12, Villamor 10, Alolino 9, Neypes 6, Rosario 23, Alejandro 2, Rono 0, Perez 0, Khobuntin 0, Javillonar 0, Javelona 0

DLSU 56 - Van Opstal 14, Vosotros 11, Teng 9, T. Torres 7, Perkins 6, Salem 5, N. Torres 2, Revilla 2, Tampus 0, Dela Paz 0

Quarter scores: 20-9, 33-25, 43-42, 63-56

Credits to GMANews Online for the box scores, and Rappler and Yahoo! Sports for the photos.

6 Points: AdMU vs. FEU (Round 1)

Ateneo 75, Far Eastern U 79 (OT)

-This is the second time that the Blue Eagles have shown how gutsy they can get when they badly needed the win, but this is also the second time that they did not get anything from Kiefer Ravena, who remained in the injury list since the second half of the Ateneo-NU game due to an ankle sprain (UPDATE: Apparently, Ravena sustained a Grade 3 sprained ankle, and will be out indefinitely, one month the most). Down by 11 points in the fourth quarter, Chris Newsome and Ryan Buenafe willed a huge comeback to force overtime, only to fall in the extra period, due to two crucial turnovers committed by Buenafe and Nico Elorde. It could have been possible, but the guard-oriented offense of FEU was too hot to handle, adding that to the fact that Anthony Hargrove was given so much space to convert second-chance opportunities.

-King Eagle Ryan Buenafe came out perhaps with the greatest elimination game of his college career so far, with a statline of 29 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, and one turnover. But then, all was naught as the Blue Eagles were still nipped in the extra period, unable to respond to long-range baskets that the Tamaraws threw at them one after another. Buenafe's productivity aside, what could have changed the game was Juami Tiongson's performance. With Ravena still out, he was expected to become the third member of the Blue Eagles' offensive trifecta (along with Buenafe and Newsome) and carry the scoring load especially from the outside. He scored a decent 7 points in the game, but if the Blue Eagles want a win, more is expected from him.

-As with the previous game, it was the third quarter that finally did it for the Blue Eagles. They entered the second half with a 2-point lead, but they finished with a quarter staring at a 9-point deficit, still puzzled as to how they can counter an FEU team that makes their triples inasmuch as the Blue Eagles miss their own. If there is anything that needs fixing in a Ravena-less Blue Eagles, it would be managing the rotation during the third canto.

-Humble Bola head honcho Nico Baguio has pointed out that the Blue Eagles have been running plays similar to the Hawk sets, made famous by former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins, and with a team chuck full of jump shooters, this perhaps serves as the most appropriate offensive sets for the Blue Eagles. This is important specifically because, granted that Coach Bo Perasol intended the team to run these sets, then definitely the team is in good shape in terms of offensive execution, only that their shots aren't hitting, adding to the fact that second chance opportunites also resulted in misses. What is obvious, though, is that the Blue Eagles' defensive sets need to be adjusted. The perimeter has been defended well, as the team was able to force misses from Garcia, Romeo, and Tolomia; however, the Blue Eagles need to be more aware with what is going on in the paint, as the Tams greatly benefited from the lack of interior defense.

-Health concerns once again hounded the Blue Eagles in this game. Besides the fact that Kiefer Ravena has been perceived to be "out indefinitely" due to an ankle sprain, which kept him out of the Blue Eagles' lineup these past two games and is seen in this game wearing a leg boot, Giboy Babilonia suffered pain on his injured shoulder in the middle of the game, while JP Erram hobbled after a fall during the second half. On hindsight, it is a wise decision indeed for the team to pull out of the Fil-Oil Flying V Pre-Season Tournament, but it would not be of much value if what the Blue Eagles get in return is only Von Pessumal at 100%. The team already has a very thin frontcourt rotation, and without Babilonia, it would be very difficult to force other three-guys to elevate to four (Gwynne Capacio is an option, but not actually a legitimate one).

-Terrence Romeo still remained to be the main man of the Tamaraws in this game, and the Blue Eagles have prepared for what he could do. However, he was still able to hit the big shots that only put Ateneo further away from the chance of ending the game with a 1-1 record, especially the big triple at overtime. However, in their absence, Mike Tolomia has stepped up and filled the shoes of the shackled Romeo and Garcia. As a result, he found his way to 16 big points, scattered all over the floor. This not only asserted the guard-oriented offense that the Tamaraws run, but also shows the improvements that the Blue Eagles must do, especially now that even their defense thrives and focuses on the perimeter.

The Scores:

Ateneo 75 - Buenafe 29, Newsome 17, Elorde 9, Tiongson 7, Pessumal 6, Erram 4, Capacio 3, Murphy 0, Golla 0, Babilonia 0, Asistio 0

FEU 79 - Romeo 21, Tolomia 16, Garcia 13, Pogoy 8, Hargrove 8, Cruz 5, Mendoza 4, Jose 2, Belo 2, Sentcheu 0.

Quarter Scores: 18-14, 33-31, 44-53, 66-66, 75-79

Credits to the Fabilioh Facebook page for the photo and Spin.ph for the box.

6 Points: AdMU vs. NU (Round 1)

Ateneo 54, National U 64

-If the bunch of new faces, the coach included, are already matters to be concerned about as five-time champions, then having the Blue Eagles' star player and number one option out of opening day just made things way worse than before. It is true that during the Fil-Oil Preseason Tournament, the Blue Eagles seem to run like a well-oiled machine, coping with Coach Bo Perasol's system and keeping up despite the lack of a legitimate big man (especially now that six of the other seven teams made use of foreign players to take care of the paint). However, the UAAP is different, and with Kiefer Ravena out (but eventually played almost-useless minutes in the first half), the Blue Eagles were forced to make game-time adjustments. And faced against an experienced basketball team that hungrily wants desires revenge, Ateneo ended up relying on their gutsy effort to at least eke out a decent loss after having been left behind as early as the third quarter.

-One glaring fact is that Ateneo missed 52 of their 72 shots in the game, most of them from the outside, not just a clear effect of Ravena's absence, but the dismal shooting effort of the supposed snipers of the team (Tiongson, Pessumal, et al., not to mention that rookies Anton Asistio and Earl Murphy have not played). The team has missed a lot of open three-point shots that, had they made three or four more, could have made this a close game. Except a few mishaps in the paint as well as the failure to give up offensive boards, one could point that the Blue Eagles have played relatively good defense, as they were able to contain NU's perimeter shooters (but unfortunately at the expense of having Jean Mbe torch the team from the inside and Denice Villamor getting good looks from beyond the arc) and gave Rayray Parks a hard time driving down the lane. However, it could have been better had the offense been present.

-During the first quarter, the Blue Eagles just trailed the Bulldogs by 2 points, and by halftime, it blew to 12. Everyone was expecting the famous "third quarter storm" to happen, but unfortunately, it turned to a nightmare as the team experienced everything going really bad: they were missing shots, turned the ball over, and gave space for NU's offense to operate.The lead then went as big as 16 in the third, and even got to 24 in the fourth. It's quite unfortunate that Nico Elorde and Juami Tiongson found their touch beyond the arc at an inopportune time, just when the Bulldogs would almost seal the win. Hopefully, adjustments on offense would come up, whether Ravena would be there or not. The middle quarters was Ateneo's fort to hold during the past two seasons, and it should remain to be despite these changes.

-No doubt, Chris Newsome and Ryan Buenafe were the keys to Ateneo's offense in this game. The former has already shown what he can do: shoot from the outside, sink those perimeter baskets, and own opponents during isolation sets (that dunk Rayray Parks, had it gotten in, could have been poster material); however, it seems that he has not gotten inside the basket too frequently during the second and third quarters, saving those dribble-drives unfortunately in the almost-garbage fourth quarter. Ryan Buenafe, on the other hand, resorted instead to chucking bad threes, perhaps finding it difficult to do his usual drive-and-dish stuff. However, it is clear that alongside Ravena, they will be the Blue Eagles' penetration players, with JP Erram and Frank Golla doing the screens and managing the post. While for the rest, hopefully they can create shots and make themselves available for short stabs and perimeter jumpers to add additional spark. After all, they were able to do it during the Fil-Oil tournament.

-If there's something that can be said about the NU Bulldogs in their first game, it's the fact that they looked to be a dominant bunch. Parks has been in his usual self, while Mbe already had the confidence to man the paint given that no one except Golla or Erram could contain him. The confidence in offense that both of these  directly contributed to the extra effort that their teammates have exerted, among them Villamor and Gelo Alolino. That precisely is the reason why they left Ateneo behind as early as third quarter, and with the Blue Eagles finding a way to a probable upset, Parks hit a three to silence the Sixth Men, which is perhaps a statement that the league will soon be their own.

-With the FEU Tamaraws waiting for the next game, the Blue Eagles have a day or two to do serious adjustments and let Ravena recover. A lot of glaring mishaps and rooms for improvement have already been brought out in the first game, and it would be interesting to see how Coach Perasol would respond to these.

The Scores:

NU 64 - Parks 22, Mbe 14, Villamor 13, Javillonar  5, Alolino 4, Rosario 2, Khobuntin 2, Alejandro 2, Rono 0, De Guzman 0

Ateneo 54 - Tiongson 13, Elorde 10, Buenafe 10, Newsome 9, Erram 4, Ravena 2, Pessumal 2, Golla 2, Capacio 2, Tolentino 0, Babilonia 0


Quarter scores: 15-10, 33-21, 48-32, 64-54

Credits to the Fil-Oil Flying V Facebook Page for the pic, GMA Sports for the box.

6 Points: AdMU vs. FEU

Ateneo 74, Far Eastern U 71

-During last season's second round eliminations against FEU, Ateneo found itself trailing by more than 16 points by the halftime buzzer, only to come back in the second half by forcing overtime and taking over from there. In this year's first round match against the Blue Eagles' Finals opponents for two straight years, they found themselves in that same double-digit hole; however, they need not force another period as they took care of things within regulation time, overcoming a 10-point first half deficit to seal the victory.

-The last time we saw Ryan Buenafe against FEU was in the Finals of Season 73, when he hit a big 3-pointer to seal the victory for the Blue Eagles. Returning from a season-length hiatus, Buenafe remained to be a threat to the Tamaraws, as he made various crucial plays that let Ateneo crawl back and take the game in the last five minutes of play, which includes his classic drive-and-pass play for Greg Slaughter and and-ones over two or three FEU defenders as he gets inside the paint. So far, this has been Buenafe's best game, and as one who will take over after Season 75, the new coach might want to maximize his talents, especially in playmaking and scoring during crucial stretches.

-Playing the four position, Nico Salva had difficulty on both sides, and he was not able to get over that slump until the fourth quarter, where he made that basket which gave the Blue Eagles the lead. However, in one's seeming absence, another one stood out and made a big contribution. Being a quick and athletic big man, JP Erram gave the burly bigs of FEU problems when it comes to hauling rebounds after misses. When Slaughter fails to make it inside, Erram will be jumping out of nowhere to grab that second chance opportunity. When Slaughter is double or triple teamed, Erram will come out of nowhere and into the paint, receive the pass, and make the easy basket. It really is baffling that since Season 73, the Tamaraws have not yet found a way to stop Erram when he plays alongside dominant bigs.

-The Blue Eagles are not known for shooting threes, and would only take them when there are no options available. Fortunately, key triples were made in that third quarter run, thanks mostly to Juami Tiongson (who had two straight from the same spot) and Nico Elorde (who in one play made himself available to shoot a three after a play executed by Buenafe). This game showed that Ateneo's point guards can also be relied on to score big baskets and not just make big plays. If Tiongson and Elorde develop to become reliant offensive options before the Final Four (at the same time, improve on their quickness and perimeter defense), then it would seem like Emman Monfort had not left the team at all.

-One can easily notice the Blue Eagles' fourth quarter strategy in a close game. In the crucial minutes, slashers would pound it inside and force fouls in order to bring the opposing team to the penalty, with Ravena and Buenafe leading the charge. The defense, on the other hand, will tighten in the paint, but the guards will keep coming at the perimeter players. This strategy has worked so far, and there seemed to be no way of winning against Ateneo if each Blue Eagle is at his best in clutch situations.

-With the way FEU was playing before they faced Ateneo, one might wonder how it happened that they were not able to capitalize on their early lead against the Blue Eagles and snag the win. RR Garcia proved to be a threat to the Blue Eagles' run for their fifth straight championship, as he went by all his defenders to score a three or a layup under the basket. Anthony Hargrove and the Bringas brothers tried to shut Slaughter down, only to be overpowered by a lanky Erram. However, Terrence Romeo somehow failed to live up to the expectations, as he went out hot only to falter in the dying minutes of the game, mostly due to simple, unforced mistakes. Nevertheless, it would be interesting how the Tamaraws would adjust, given that they have at least one more game to play against the Blue Eagles. Will they be again the legitimate rivals to the Blue Eagles for the third straight season, given that UST and DLSU have largely improved and have the right weapons against both the Blue Eagles and the Tamaraws?

The Scores:

Ateneo 74 – Slaughter 17, Tiongson 12, Ravena 12, Buenafe 10, Salva 6, Erram 6, Sumalinog 3, Chua 2, Gonzaga 0, Golla 0

FEU 71 – Garcia 21, Hargrove 12, Romeo 10, A. Bringas 10, M. Bringas 7, Belo 6, Pogoy 3, Sentcheu 0, Cruz 0, Mendoza 0

Quarter Scoring: 18-21, 27-37, 49-53, 74-71

Credits to GMA News Online for the box, Fabilioh for the image.

6 Points: AdMU vs. FEU (Fil-Oil Flying V Preseason Tournament)

Ateneo 74, Far Eastern U 63


-After a very slow start for the defending Fil-Oil and UAAP champions all through out the elimination round, the Blue Eagles finally had a big win that fans were waiting for, as they dismantled the FEU Tamaraws to enter the semis. However, this came after three tight quarters, where the Tams somehow managed to find their offense early thanks to RR Garcia and new import Anthony Hargrove. In the end, it was still Greg Slaughter who came out on top, with Ateneo not looking back at the Tams who mustered all efforts just to keep the score close.

-This game showed the importance of Slaughter in the Blue Eagles' offense this season. While the Ateneo backcourt has struggled to find their shots from the outside, the Blue Eagles were very comfortable in the paint, as Slaughter's presence helped them haul second chance opportunities to score. His presence could have also contributed in . On the other end of the court, his presence gave the other Eagles the confidence to go for the boards, something that they failed to do during their game against DLSU.

-Kiefer Ravena remains to be a question mark up until this game. The former rookie of the year's shooting has gone down to the low thirties in this Fil-Oil tournament, not even making those simple midrange jumpers and fastbreak lay ups. However, in this game, he garnered 9 rebounds and 7 assists, which is an amazing feat considering his scoring slump lately. Is this just a case of poor shooting on his part? Or is it a matter of adjusting to the pace that the Blue Eagles are playing right now? Either way, we hope to see a better Ravena as the UAAP season opens.

-Thanks to scoring spurts late in the fourth quarter, the Blue Eagles have firmly padded the lead that they had in the third, finally sealing the victory earlier than expected, and surprisingly, it came from long bombs that the Blue Eagles have been wanting to put in since the first day of the preseason tournament. Tonino Gonzaga, the energetic scorer who did not get a single shot in during the first three quarters, started the fourth with a 5-0 run of his own. Juami Tiongson, heavily criticized because of his playing style as a starting guard alongside Ravena, hit two more threes to finally give the win to Ateneo. It's a consoling thought that with Ravena out cold in the backcourt, there are guys who can carry his load and actually score when it's needed; however, consistency should be the key for them, and perhaps the team needs to really work out their offensive sets before the UAAP season kicks in.

-As far as the first three quarters are concerned, the Tamaraws have shown that they are still championship contenders after experiencing two straight Finals losses against the four-time champions. The trio of RR Garcia, Terrence Romeo, and Mike Tolomia have not changed in terms of scoring. The backcourt got a huge upgrade with the addition of American Anthony Hargrove (who once trained for the Blue Eagles) and former DLSU forward Arvie Bringas (who was slapped with two technicals in this game and was consequently ejected from the game due to trash-talking). Right now, all the Tamaraws need to do is to work out their combinations in the court, and if they ever find the right ones, then they still have a good chance of entering the Finals for the third straight year.

-Another championship contender is next in line to test the Blue Eagles, as Ateneo now gains a semifinal match with the National University Bulldogs. Keeping in mind the huge improvement that the Bulldogs had this season, it will be exciting to see how the defending champions will adjust and keep up with Bobby Ray Park's team that is sure to make it big come Season 75.

The Scores:


Ateneo 75 - Slaughter 29, Tiongson 12, Salva 9, Gonzaga 9, Sumalinog 7, Ravena 6, Erram 2, Babilonia 0, Pessumal 0, Lim 0, Cipriano 0, Chua 0, Buenafe 0, Elorde 0, Porter 0, Golla 0

FEU 63 – Romeo 13, Hargrove 12, Garcia 8, Tolomia 8, Cruz 6, Belo 5, Mendoza 4, A. Bringas 4, Escoto 2, Sentcheu 1, Huevos 0, M. Bringas 0, Pogoy 0, Inigo 0

Quarter scoring: 15-16, 30-33, 51-50, 75-63

Credits to Inquirer for the pic.

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.

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