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

UPDATE: Coach Norman Black To Step Down After Season 75

According to a memo from the Ateneo de Manila University president, Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ

"It is with regret that I inform the community that Coach Norman Black, who we all know has been such an outstanding coach for the Ateneo Blue Eagles these last seven years, has indicated his desire to return to the PBA where he hopes to replicate his successful system. Having been at the PBA before, he is in a way coming full circle with this move."

However, he will have his last run for another championship come Season 75, and will serve for two years as consultant, while a search committee is formed to look for Black's replacement.

With four titles in his seven years of being with the Ateneo community, Coach Black might be headed to a) the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters, or b) the Meralco Bolts, both of which are owned by Ateneo's top sponsor, Manuel V. Pangilinan.

This may be a legitimate reason for Blue Eagle fans to worry, not only because it will affect the playing style of team as a whole, but also it might make a difference during the recruitment phase.But with enough time to prepare for what is to come, the Blue Eagles might as well build a bridge before getting there.

Credits to Inquirer News for the image.

Update: Tim Cone Lands Consultancy Job for DLSU

It seems that the Green Archers are not yet done with their major revamping, showing that they are doing all that they can in order to put the Green Archers back into the radar.

Just days after acquiring prized high school standout Jeron Teng, the Green Archers hired Coach Tim Cone of the B-Meg Llamados to serve as the team's consultant for Season 75. The post has been held by Coach Jong Uichico, who left the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and landed a position as one of the coaches of the next Smart Gilas Pilipinas team and a consultant for the Meralco Bolts.

Before handling the reins of the B-Meg Llamados, the former head coach of the Alaska Aces, which won 13 titles under his leadership, expressed his interest in becoming the Green Archers' head coach. But due to his commitments with B-Meg, the DLSU management gave the post to Gee Abanilla, following Coach Dindo Pumaren's departure.

Known as the master of the famous triangle offense, which became the key to NBA Coach Phil Jackson's success with the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers, Coach Tim Cone would contribute largely to attaining the goals set for the Green Archers come Season 75, which primarily include returning to the Final Four after a dismal Season 74 where they were booted out of the final four with a 5-9 record.

Credits to Manila Bulletin for the news and Inquirer Sports for the image.

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.