6 Points: AdMU vs. AdU (Round 2)

Ateneo 79, Adamson 66

-For teams that badly need a string of wins, a blowout would indeed be a pleasing sight, especially if it occurs late in the third period and there seems to be no more hope of a comeback. This is what the Blue Eagles faced as they finished the third period with a 25-point lead against the slumping Adamson Falcons. However, due to a few errors, not to mention various and-ones, unnecessary cross-court turnovers, and an unsportsmanlike foul, the Falcons has caught up through a huge 19-0 run. However, the trifecta of Kiefer Ravena, Ryan Buenafe, and Chris Newsome saved the day once again as they restored the double digit lead and sustained it until the end of the game. It will be easy to criticize the team's lack of effort in sustaining the lead during the first five minutes of the fourth; however, one should not be too quick to judge it as a meltdown, especially when we consider the fact that Coach Bo Perasol did not call a timeout in order to train the team to handle situations by themselves as well as make adjustments while keeping in mind his instructions.

-The Blue Eagles are on a roll with four straight wins, and so is Kiefer Ravena who provided the firepower that was missing in their first three games (and first three losses) of the season. In those four games (UP, UST, UP again, and then this game), Ravena averaged 15.0ppg and accounted for 22.5% of the team's total points scored in these games, which is pretty big considering that in three out of these four games, Coach Bo Perasol stretched the team's rotation which means less minutes for him. This all the more confirms the fact that he is the heart and soul of the Blue Eagles of Season 76. If he continues to play like that, then it is still possible for the Blue Eagles to go for a sweep of the second round, at best, and make it to the Final Four.

-Steady defense and efficient offense are the weapons that the Blue Eagles had against the Falcons even in their first round match, and not only is this the theme of the past five games, but also the past five seasons. In this game, the Blue Eagles have played magnificent defense, shutting down Adamson's shooters and sealing hotspots while taking the time to gang up on rebounds. On the other side of the court, they were able to play solid offense, settling for close-range shots and points in the paint, besides sticking with their usual horns offense (but now with Ravena manning the post more since he returned from his injury) and with Buenafe and Newsome coming off as the usual second options. And at first glance, one could say that this is one of the most efficient games of the Blue Eagles on both ends.

-Nobody noticed the huge presence of sixteenth man Ivan Enriquez outside the Blue Eagles' matches against Adamson, but here he came up as a quality energy player who was able to keep Ingrid Sewa out of his comfort zone despite the huge size advantage. Fouling out of the game early was expected given the huge disadvantage (but the same could not be said of JP Erram, who should be more familiar with defending bigger frontcourt members after nine games), but he showed what it takes to manhandle the paint and make life difficult even for imports. And with what he has shown, it would be possible for him to team up with Frank Golla to guard a Charles Mammie, Karim Abdul, or an Arnold Van Opstal in the next few games.

-Sewa continued to be a monster in the paint, but not as well as he should despite the height advantage. It is surprising that the Blue Eagles' strategy of ganging up on him worked, and the fouls were forgivable considering that Sewa shot 7 of 12 from the charity stripe. Jericho Cruz has been rendered ineffective save for the final minutes of "not-so-garbage" time. Brondial did much of the damage late in the game but to no avail, and Roider Cabrera swished a triple only once. The Ateneo defense pretty much taken them out of their game, but one should also recognize that since their win against the NU Bulldogs, the Falcons experienced a two game slump which includes this game. Their winning margin for the past two games soared to -23.5, which is far from the team that garnered a close win and a close loss against NU and DLSU, respectively. During the beginning of the season, they were tagged as favorites, with Cruz, Roider Cabrera, and Sewa at the helm. But now, they are nothing but a shadow of what they were supposed to be, and it seems that the chances of making it again at the Final Four are slimming, not to mention that they still have to face top tier teams like FEU and UE.

-Insofar as winning the big games is concerned, the Blue Eagles have not yet proven anything. If at all, the matches against UP and Adamson are nothing but warm-up games to keep their toes on the court. The next five battles will be crucial, as it would determine how tough can the Blue Eagles get when they have games that can possibly go down the wire or extend to overtime. If they can overcome this, then a six-peat is more than possible.

The Scores:

The scores:

Ateneo79 – Ravena 18, Buenafe 18, Newsome 9, Elorde 9, Tiongson 7, Pessumal 6, Golla 6, Erram 2, Enriquez 2, Capacio 2, Tolentino 0, Lim 0

Adamson 66 – Sewa 17, Rios 14, Cruz 14, Brondial 14, Cabrera 2, Inigo 2, Agustin 2, Trollano 0, Petilos 0, Monteclaro 0, Julkipli 0, Abrigo 0


Quarter scoring: 19-13, 33-26, 57-32, 79-66

Credits to the Fabilioh Facebook page for the post and GMA News 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.

6 Points: AdMU vs. AdU (Round 1)

Ateneo 71, Adamson 59

-So far in this season, this is the only time wherein, save for the opening canto, everything went well for the new(ly shaven heads of the) Blue Eagles. Despite barely having Kiefer Ravena (who only went in for less than 15 minutes and scored only 4 points), the offense clicked and went smoothly as planned, with everyone finding their spots from the outside and yet managing to bring the ball inside for impressive baskets. The defense has significantly improved, as the Ateneo frontline held up their fort and was able to deny the baskets that mattered for Adamson. If at all, this seems to be a sign for the team being able to indeed play as a team, which resulted in their first and only win after four games.

-Four Blue Eagles scored in double figures, all with notable and significant performances. Juami Tiongson finally completed the Blue Eagles trifecta by scoring from beyond the arc and producing easy fastbreak points. JP Erram showed everybody that his ACL is a thing of the past, as his 10-point barrage in the third quarter kept the Blue Eagles afloat. Chris Newsome has been, well, awesome, in creating scoring opportunities for everyone. And of course, the King Eagle himself Ryan Buenafe has shown that he is an all-around player with a near triple double (11 markers, 12 boards, 9 dishes), which perhaps made things lighter (pun intended) for him when everyone just got it going. Such instance tells a very obvious fact that has been there since the Fil-Oil Preseason Tournament, namely that when the Blue Eagle go berserk on offense, coupled with impressive defensive stretches that even the tallest import could not get his hands on, expect scoring runs to happen more often, and with the way the team finishes this game with a 12-point lead testifies to that. And if this is going to happen for the last ten games of eliminations, expect the Blue Eagles to be back in contention for their sixth straight championship (although this would be too early to conclude).

-Gang rebound, gang rebound, gang rebound. This has been reiterated in the previous three games, and it should have worked against DLSU except that the bigs were in foul trouble and that the team's overall energy dissipated, and this is the only way for the Blue Eagles to go, because of the fact that they have no bigs to counter those of the other UAAP teams. It is interesting to see that the three biggest players on the court gang up on the paint, while the other two wait ten to fifteen feet outside the basket for shots that might go too strong, and it has worked wonders for this game. Buenafe, Newsom, Erram, and Golla got their respective turns to scoop up the ball, while the guards were simply on the watch if ever the ball finds its way outside the paint. And the result? A huge rebounding advantage over the league's best rebounding team, and an 11-0 advantage on fastbreak points.

-Coach Bo Perasol observed that the reason for leads to get dissipated is because the team lacked energy during the latter stages of the game, when it seems that everyone's gas have run out. And responding to that, he made a quick fix: he expanded the rotation. In this game, he fielded 12 players that came in and out every three to four minutes or so, to give them quick breaks and allow time to recover before going in and playing Ateneo's own brand of a running game. With Tiongson and Nico Elorde starting, reserve Ice Lim got a few minutes, and even managed to get a jumper in, while Kiefer Ravena, not yet in perfect form, forced the Adamson defense to collapse on him if ever he gets into a good position to score. Vince Tolentino and Ivan Enriquez also had their fair share of minutes in which they contributed. This let Newsome, Buenafe, and Tiongson to rest and save their energy for the most important moments of the game.

-The horrible dreams that the Blue Eagles had in their last three third quarter nightmares were quickly dissipated when, holding a 4-point lead, they entered the second half. Just when the Falcons are threatening to grab that lead triple after triple, the Blue Eagles had responses of their own. By the end of the third canto, keeping up was just too much for the Falcons, as Erram unloaded tons of inside stabs (a couple off a Von Pessumal assist) to further stretch the lead, not to mention the individual contributions of Newsome and Buenafe in this run. Watch out, for the third quarter might just be once again a turning point for the rest of the games.

-Roider Cabrera and Rodney Brondial's game made them easy favorites and go-to guys for the Falcons. The former indeed has all it takes to be the team, and perhaps the league's, top snipers, being able to hit big threes ever since his first game in the league. The latter, meanwhile, does not only provide the Falcons with points in the paint, but more than that, knows how to slide in and out of the point and score quick stabs. However, like the rest of the Falcons (including their "rising star" Axel Inigo) needs to play more as a team and cease relying on individual efforts and too much isolation plays. If the Falcons are going to be a championship contender, then they have to realize that the offense lies beyond Brondial, Cabrera, and Jericho Cruz.

The Scores:

Ateneo 71 - Tiongson 15, Erram 12, Buenafe 11, Newsome 10, Golla 6, Ravena 4, Capacio 4, Pessumal 3, Tolentino 2, Lim 2, Elorde 2, Enriquez 1

Adamson U, 59 - Cruz 21, Cabrera 14, Brondial 8, Sewa 4, Inigo 3, Agustin 3, Rios 2, Monteclaro 2, Abrigo 2, Trollano 0, Petilos 0, Julkipli 0


Quarter scores: 13-16, 32-28, 57-47, 71-59

Credits to the UAAP Season 76 Facebook page for the pic and GMA Online News for the box.

6 Points: AdMU vs. AdU (Round 2)

Ateneo 79, Adamson U 72

-Since 2008, the Blue Eagles have always won after a game in which they would lose, usually coming out big and showing that they are still the most dominant team in the UAAP. In Ateneo's twelfth game of the elimination, the Adamson Soaring Falcons seem to break the four-peat champions' record, using all means to separate themselves and consequently deal another second-round loss to the Blue Eagles. However, late baskets coming from the Blue Eagles in the closing minutes of the game enabled them to separate themselves from the feisty  Falcons and secured their 10th win of the season and 11th straight Final Four appearance since 2002.

-The Soaring Falcons' early lead, which they sustained most of the game came mainly from Eric Camson who shot the ball like frenzy both from the inside and the outside. However, in the dying minutes of the game, it was Nico Salva's turn to hit those big shots that gave the Blue Eagles the lead until the final buzzer. After struggling for much of the second round, Salva shot his way to 24 big points, with most coming from the long-two area where he is at home. If the former SBC Red Cub, now in his last year as a Blue Eagle, continues this splendid performance on both ends until the Final Four, he might just grab his second Finals MVP plum.

-Nico Elorde finally emerged out of the shadows of beneficial intangibles and made himself visible in the stat sheet. Elorde, who snapped his arrows for a pair of wings, became the fourth Blue Eagle to score in double digits off a few short stabs and long jumpers, proving to be an effective replacement to Juami Tiongson, who at that time was struggling on the defensive end which greatly affected his offense. With Elorde around, it seems that the future of the Blue and White at the one spot would be safe, as his toughness and ability to get past defenders (which brings him close to being an Emman Monfort) would be the greatest asset of the Blue Eagles in the near future, insofar as the backcourt department is concerned.

-What everyone witnessed in this game is not so much about the skills and talents of the players involved, but more importantly, the coaching war that occurred. Adamson's Coach Leo Austria knows Coach Norman Black and his Ateneo team very well, and he has every weapon for everything that the Blue and White throws at him. He came up with a quick lineup to provide double, triple teams to Slaughter in the low post, devised a way of clogging up the lanes which lessened the chances of Kiefer Ravena and Ryan Buenafe to drive in the lane, and when it's the Blue Eagles' turn to clog Adamson's lanes, he brought out the snipers and hit big threes to keep themselves afloat. However, the closing minutes of the game belonged to Coach Norman Black, as he tightened the clamps on defense, put more pressure on the red-hot Camson while letting guards run past picks and keep their men intact, and let his own players create their own offense.

-Eric Camson definitely had the license to shoot, finishing with 26 points thanks to six big triples that kept the Soaring Falcons afloat most of the game.  However, his struggles to get past the defense of the Blue Eagles just to score cost him in the final minutes, as fatigue crept up on him and hindered him from scoring big in the final stretch. Worse, other Falcons who were supposed to play second fiddle to him and back him up were seemingly missing. Roider Cabrera hit his threes early, but he cannot find his own position in the final minutes of the game. Rookie Jericho Cruz seemingly lost his ability to finish inside the basket, and Jansen Rios and Ryan Monteclaro failed to put the clamps down on Ravena as soon as he was barraging his way inside for quick layups.

-This win earned the Blue Eagles their Final Four spot for this season, their 11th straight since winning the championship in 2002, the most recent Ateneo championship before the historic 4-peat. They will be facing the streaking National U Bulldogs next. However, they will have to face their remaining UAAP games without the services of their backup center JP Erram, who tore his ACL after going for a rebound late in the third quarter. Erram will be out for the rest of the season for therapy, leaving Justin Chua and Frank Golla to man the four and five spots for the reserve unit.

The Scores:


Ateneo 79 – Salva 24, Slaughter 16, Ravena 15, Elorde 10, Chua 6, Tiongson 3, Buenafe 3, Sumalinog 1, Erram 1, Gonzaga 0, Golla 0

Adamson 72 – Camson 26, Cruz 14, Cabrera 10, Brondial 8, Monteclaro 8, Rios 4, Etrone 2, Trollano 0, Petilos 0, Agustin 0

Quarter scoring: 21-25, 38-38, 55-59, 79-72

6 Points: AdMU vs. AdU

Ateneo 72, Adamson 57

-Is there anything more consoling for a championship team than to beat down one of their strongest opponents last season? Of course there are, but the Blue Eagles must have been happy to see that they have retained their status as the team to beat in Season 75. In last year's opening game, the Adamson Soaring Falcons have almost defeated them with a 55-51 score, but with the departure of their top two playmakers/scorers in Lester Alvarez and Jerick Canada, the Falcons have almost lost their firepower. The Blue Eagles took advantage of the Soaring Falcons' lack of depth, as they cruised their way into the second half after struggling both offensively and defensively in the first. One could perhaps count this as one of the Blue Eagles' best starts in the previous years, considering that Coach Norman Black usually sets the first game as his own opportunity to experiment with lineups and combinations.

-As usual, the Blue Eagles Big Three have led the charge in this game. Greg Slaughter came up with his usual double double output, with Nico Salva helping him on offense. Kiefer Ravena's second opening game in his UAAP career had not been in vain, as he finished with nine markers. However, one can see Ravena struggling to score, something that got carried over from this summer's Fil-Oil preseason tournament. Is it a matter of losing his touch, a kind of sophomore slump? Or just bad shots, and therefore the need to slash more to score more? Or adjusting to his role as an assistant playmaker to Juami Tiongson of some sorts? Whatever the reason is, one thing is clear: Ravena should get his scoring spunk in the game in order for the Blue Eagles to become dominant over stronger teams this season, especially when it comes to situations when the team could only rely on him. (here's a hint: who's closing the close games?)

-Compared to last season's opening games, this year's bench is more productive and is packed with firepower. The second and third squad led by the returning crowd favorite Ryan Buenafe helped a lot in widening the gap in the second half. More than his 5-point output, Buenafe has always been credited with playing point-forward and creating avenues for teammates to score, and as such, he has helped JP Erram and Justin Chua find their own spots early and provide their finishing touches. Nico Elorde has once again shown glimpses of smart basketball, proving to the blue crowd (and some of those in green) that he had indeed made the right decision to transfer from De La Salle.

-If one of the Blue Eagles has to be named as this game's X-factor, it has to be Tiongson, who unexpectedly showed playmaking brilliance in the game. Known as someone who sets plays in order to create shots for himself, he seems to have embraced his role as a point guard and perimeter defender, taking the responsibility of feeding to his teammates for easy scores and religiously blocking off passing lanes for the Adamson guards. It has paid off statistically though, as he got 5 points with 5 boards and 7 assists. Blue Eagle fans could only hope that he keeps up with that ind of performance, eventually serving as replacement for the now-graduated Emman Monfort.

-Despite losing key people, the Soaring Falcons still ha something to throw at the Blue Eagles. Their own trifecta of Alex Nuyles, Eric Camson, and Rodney Brondial provided a spark that lasted only until the beginning of the second half. It was a splendid performance for Alex Nuyles, who, knowing that he would be hounded consistently by defenders, decided to make the extra pass as he drives to the bucket, which led to 10 of 13 points that Brondial had. Eric Camson still had his inside-outside with him, as he breezes through Ateneo's slower defenders and positioned himself to make his 10-15 footers. Had Adamson gotten hold of playmakers that could replace Canada and Alvarez, they could become a powerhouse once again, as some of them, like Jericho Cruz and Allan Etrone, still have room for improvement.

-Based on the second half performance, one can conclude that the Blue Eagles are too much for the dilapidated Soaring Falcons, who still have to find their own rhythm especially when going against dominant teams. On the other hand, the Blue Eagles now have to take the game more sriously, as they set out to face the UST Growling Tigers who almost notched a win against Season 74 second-placers the FEU Tamaraws. Perhaps it will only be in the second game where we can see the stuff that the Blue Eagles are made off, the very conditions of possibility of getting that coveted fifth championship that has not been achieved by previous fourpeat teams (and were you reminded that the Blue Eagles were the ones who broke La Salle's streak way back in '02?).

The Scores:

Ateneo 73 – Slaughter 17, Salva 14, Ravena 9, Sumalinog 6, Buenafe 6, TIongson 5, Erram 5, Chua 4, Gonzaga 3, Golla 2, Elorde 2, Porter 0, Pessumal 0, Lim 0, Capacio 0.

Adamson 57 – Brondial 13, Nuyles 12, Camson 10, Cabrera 10, Cruz 4, Monteclaro 3, Trollano 2, Etrone 2, Cabigas 1, Julkipli 0, Agustin 0, Abrigo 0.

Quarter Scoring: 15-16, 32-28, 55-45, 73-57

Credits to Fabilioh.com for the pic.

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.

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

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

All In A Day's Games (1 September 2011)

UAAP


Adamson U 76, UE 57

The Red Warriors really have their own ways of surprising their opponents, but this time, the Falcons wasted no time to show them that it's all about finishing the game well. The duo of Eric Camson and Alex Nuyles combined for 37 big points, putting the Warriors away during the second half despite leading by a point in the second quarter

Adamson 76 – Camson 20, Nuyles 17, Alvarez 10, Cabrera 9, Brondial 8, Lozada 7, Rios 2, Colina 2, Cañada 1, Petilos 0, Agustin 0, Olalia 0, Monteclaro 0, Etrone 0

UE 57 – Zamar 17, Santos 6, Enguio 6, Casajeros 5, Noble 5, Tagarda 4, Duran 4, Zosa 3, Sabangan 2, Sumido 2, Flores 2, Javier 1, Sumang 0, de Leon 0 Quarter scoring: 17-14, 27-28, 51-40, 76-57

Ateneo 73, State U 58

This is another lazy Thursday game for the Blue Eagles, but when Mike Silungan hit that three to give the Fighting Maroons a six-point advantage in the second quarter, the boys in blue woke up and sparked a 10-0 run, giving them eventually a lead that they would not relinquish until the end. Greg Slaughter  had 18 markers that go with 18 rebounds, while Nico Salva continues where he left off against DLSU. Silungan and Juruena led the 2-10 Maroons with no hopes of a semifinal berth.

Ateneo 73 – Slaughter 18, Salva 16, Chua 11, Ravena 7, Tiongson 5, Long 5, Austria 4, Gonzaga 3, Erram 2, Monfort 2, Pessumal 0, Capacio 0, Sumalinog 0

UP 58 – Silungan 16, Juruena 12, Maniego 7, Romero 6, Montecastro 4, Gamboa 4, Mbah 3, Wierzba 2, Gomez 2, Manuel 1, Gingerich 1, Pascual 0

Credits to inboundpass for the box score and the AdU-UE pic, as well as Fabilioh for the AdMU-UP pic.

All In A Day's Games (21 August 2011)

UAAP


National U 65, State U 43

The Fighting Maroons have been going haywire since the First Round, but this was the worst game they have played. With their screens not working against the NU defense, Paolo Romero, Jett Manuel, and even non-jumpshooting Jelo Montecastro continued to chuck up shots while giving the Bulldogs the boards. On the other hand, why does Coach Eric Altamirano let Mbe remain in the fourth, when they already have an insurmountable lead.

NU 65 – Parks 22, Mbe 17, Terso 7, Javillonar 6, Khobuntin 4, Villamor 2, Celda 2, Alolino 2, Singh 2, Ignacio 1, Neypes 0, Labing-isa 0, Celiz 0

UP 43 – Romero 7, Montecastro 6, Maniego 6, Juruena 6, Gamboa 5, Mbah 4, Gingerich 3, Silungan 2, Manuel 2, Gomez 2, Wong 0, Wierzba 0, Fortu 0

Quarter scoring: 17-6, 27-13, 48-26, 65-43

Far Eastern U 62, Adamson U 61

Terrence Romeo might have exploded, but this does not excuse him from committing another boneheaded turnover that allowed the Soaring Falcons' Alex Nuyles to to trim the margin to a point after being behind by as much as 15. The tams should be thankful for Aldrech Ramos' superb performance. If not for him, they could have lost the game and be on the verge of elimination from the Final Four.

FEU 62 – Ramos 18, Romeo 14, Garcia 14, Tolomia 8, Escoto 4, Cruz 2, Exciminiano 2, Pogoy 0, Mendoza 0, Bringas 0, Knuttel 0

Adamson 61 – Nuyles 17, Camson 9, Alvarez 9, Lozada 8, Cañada 7, Brondial 6, Cabrera 4, Manyara 1, Petilos 0, Etrone 0, Colina 0

Quarter scoring: 14-12, 30-24, 47-39, 62-61

PBA


Petron Blaze Boosters 85, Talk N Text Tropang Texters 73

The Grandslam can wait another season for the Tropang Texters, as the Boosters stayed ahead for the rest of the game despite being branded as this series' underdogs. It's true that they were fortunate enough for TnT to miss point guard Jason Castro, but they had bigger misfortunes, namely injured ones Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Joseph Yeo, Jay Washington, and Lordy Tugade. Former FEU Tam Arwind Santos was crowned the Finals MVP, leading the ragtag pack with a magnificent 16-point, 16-rebound output.

Petron 85 – Grundy 26, Santos 16, Miranda 16, Ildefonso 13, Cabagnot 12, Pennisi 2, Duncil 0, Hubalde 0, Salvacion 0.

Talk N' Text 73 – Baker 22, De Ocampo 15, Williams 13, Alapag 13, Carey 6, Castro 2, Peek 2, Dillinger 0, Reyes 0, Aban 0. Fonacier 0, Alvarez 0.

Quarter scoring: 28-17, 40-34, 64-53, 85-73

Thanks to inboundpass for UAAP box and photos, and Interaktv for PBA box and photo

The First Seven Games

Here's a quick look at the different UAAP teams after the first round of the eliminations of Season 74:

AdMU Blue Eagles (7-0)

-vs. AdU 55-51
-vs. DLSU 81-72
-vs. NU 86-62
-vs. UE 73-61
-vs. UP 77-57
-vs. UST 66-53
-vs. FEU 69-49

The Blue Eagles have been on a roll since that hard-fought win over the Soaring Falcons, winning by an average margin of 15 points not through explosive offense but in patient and solid team defense. With the bench guys not having their breakout game as a whole, this team can only get better as the league heads to the second round.

Spotlight: Kiefer Ravena (14.6 ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.7spg) lives up to his name as the Phenom, surprising opponents with outstanding basketball both on the offensive and defensive end. Most of his contribution came in the form of fastbreak lay ups, timely passes, and excellent pickpocketing. More than that, everyone knows that he has four more years to develop his already all-around game.

AdU Soaring Falcons (5-2)

-vs. AdMU 51-55
-vs. FEU 72-59
-vs.UST 81-71
-vs. UE 85-54
-vs. NU 56-63
-vs. DLSU 66-58
-vs. UP 72-46

The veterans of San Marcelino declare themselves second best as a response to their first game against the Blue Eagles, sealing wins in a fashionable manner save for their loss to the Bulldogs, a big ink blot in their record. And what made them rise to the top? It's their way of hoisting timely shots, which include bombing three-pointers, and their clamp-down defense on the inside. And yes, Leo Austria is a coaching genius, for real.

Spotlight: Alex Nuyles (15.4ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.3apg, 0.7spg) has always been on the way to development. Now in his arguably best, he can put teams away in various ways. However, lately, he has been comfortable with shooting from the outside and failing to make extra passes. If this continues, the Falcons better not be surprised when they drop a notch or two in the standings.

FEU Tamaraws (4-3)

-vs. DLSU 74-65
-vs. AdU 59-74
-vs. UE 66-47
-vs. NU 62-59
-vs.UST 62-59
-vs. UP 63-76
-vs. AdMU 49-69

It seems that early on, the Tamaraws have not lost their spunk even if they did not have center Pipo Nondou, for they have shown their will to win and put opponents away early during the first three games. But things went out of hand in the next four, nearly losing to NU and UST, and blowing it away against UP and Ateneo. Looks like the Tamaraws need dousing in order to wake up, especially former S73's best kid Terrence Romeo.

Spotlight: Season 73 MVP RR Garcia (15.1ppg, 3.6rpg, 2.6apg, 0.9spg) does not live up to the hype he had last season. But then, without his offense (which mysteriously disappeared in FEU's games against UP and Ateneo) that does NOT involve him taking up too much shots instead of forcing it inside or finding his right spots, the Tams could have been in a worse position.

DLSU Green Archers (4-3)

-vs. FEU 65-74
-vs. AdMU 72-81
-vs. UP 79-67
-vs. NU 74-63
-vs. UE 87-63
-vs. AdU 66-58
-vs. UST 74-71

After two straight losses under powerhouses FEU and Ateneo, the Green Archers made up for it with big wins against UP, NU, and UE, which should not be surprising. A late game breakdown, however, against AdU exposed small weaknesses, and their game against UST was only an escape even after leading for more than 20 points. How would Coach Dindo Pumaren make the adjustment, considering that DLSU puts so much trust in him so as not to start putting him in the grill? And Simon Atkins, better explain what you are doing right now.

Spotlight: LA Revilla (11.7ppg, 4.7rpg, 3.9apg, 2.0spg) is obviously the leader for this team, as he was the one who led La Salle to where they are right now. What could have happened to DLSU had he still not recovered from his health predicament? Definitely not really good. Oh wait, did we just say that Oda Tampus can carry the gang green to wins? Not even close.

UST Growling Tigers (3-4)

-vs. NU 73-72
-vs. UE 70-63
-vs. AdU 71-81
-vs. FEU 59-62
-vs. AdMU 53-66
-vs. UP 68-49
-vs. DLSU 71-74

They might not have sniper Clark Bautista, but the addition of Karrim Abdul became an advantage for the Growling Tigers. They have been doing a good job in both ends of the floor, it's just that they fail to decently close their games. Also, the Tigers seem to lack personnel beyond their first five (Is Robin Tan a real point guard?). Coach Pido Jarencio needs to keep his cool and rotate players efficiently if they want to go beyond fourteen games.

Spotlight: Jeric Fortuna (16.1ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.4apg, 1.3spg)is Coach Pido's favorite, and his solid performance on the court tells us why. Among the Tigers, he is the only one who knows what it means to have proper timing, necessary in taking up the duties of a real court general. It would not be surprising if people name him as this league's best point guard, for he has already proven this claim, and might continue to show further evidence in the second round.

NU Bulldogs (2-5)

-vs. UST 72-73
-vs. UP 75-66
-vs. AdMU 62-86
-vs. FEU 59-62
-vs. DLSU 63-74
-vs. AdU 63-56
-vs. UE 71-72

Coming out in the Season 74 hailed as title contenders, this team composed of an elite batch of rookies seem to not live up to the expectations. They had a lot of games that they could have won, and yet Coach Eric Altamirano's last-minute strategies didn't work at all. But still, we can't count out the fact that there are still promising performances to be seen, including former UST Tiger Cub Kyle Neypes who has not seen a lot of action lately.

Spotlight: Bobby Ray Parks (17.1 ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.9apg, 1.4spg, 1.1bpg) is unquestionably dominant. He can drive, he can dish, and he certainly can shoot outside. But where are his teammates when he needs them? The veterans like Joseph Terso and Glenn Khobuntin were nowhere, as well as his former RP Youth members. While he looks dominant, he still has to learn about teamplay and develop his ability to close games, which the Red Warriors can really attest to.

UP Fighting Maroons (2-5)

-vs.UE 69-61
-vs. NU 75-66
-vs. DLSU 67-79
-vs. AdMU 57-77
-vs. FEU 76-63
-vs. UST 68-49
-vs. AdU

Bracketing the fact that the Red Warriors were being the Red Warriors, the Fighting Maroons' first win gave a glimpse of hope to the Diliman-based UAAP fans, hoping that they could at least have a fighting chance of making it in the Final Four. However, despite having former CSB Blazer Jelo Montecastro and Alinko Mbah in their arsenal, they played liked what they were in Season 73, chucking up shots wishing that they would get in. Unfortunately, it only worked once, against FEU. Now they have to go back to the drawing board and redesign their plays, or better, have Jett Manuel and Mike Silungan take the ball inside.

Spotlight: Alinko Mbah (7.4ppg, 8.0rpg, 0.4apg, 0.9spg, 2.4bpg) provided what was missing fundamentally from the Maroon last season, namely responsibilities in the paint. While the rest of the Maroons take jumper after jumper, he was the one who takes care of the inside, grabbing rebounds and scoring in the paint. However, he has to improve his ways of maneuvering and posting up, which could be his possible strengths when given time to improve.

UE Red Warriors (1-6)

-vs. UP 61-69
-vs. UST 63-70
-vs. FEU 47-66
-vs. AdMU 61-73
-vs. AdU 54-85
-vs. DLSU 63-87
-vs. NU 72-71

It's as if everyone would be surprised with the outcome of Paul Lee and Ken Acibar's departures. Unorganized rotations and lack of team chemistry, mingled with a lack of experience made the Red Warriors this season's cellar dwellers. Can Coach Jerry Codinera perform a miracle in the second round? Even with crossed fingers of the UE crowd in every game, looks like it won't happen.

Spolight: Paul Zamar (13.6ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.7apg, 0.3spg) did not show any signs of growth since his rookie year. He entered the Red Warriors as a shooter and remained at that, without moving a notch up in terms of his gameplay. Minus their game against FEU, he scored double digits throughout the first round, with 95 points in total. But then, he needs to be more than a shooting point guard to pull this team up (hint: see those assist figures?).

Credits to PBFantasy for the stats and the UAAP Sports Website for the pictures.

6 Points: AdMU vs. AdU

Ateneo 55, Adamson 51

-Season 74's first game confirmed that Adamson is one of those teams that could get Ateneo when caught red-handed. Applying the lessons learned in summer camps and tournament, Coach Leo Austria of the Falcons seemed to find holes and made the most out of the situation, which in turn was a call for the Blue Eagles to play at their best, especially in the final minutes of the game. Luckily, Ateneo was able to focus on what is at hand to escape with their first win of Season 74.

-It's quite surprising that against a team this threatening, Coach Norman Black opted to mix and match twelve men to match that of Coach Leo's ten, which features five experienced Falcons who are familiar with the Eagles' ways last year. The results were fruitful, as Ateneo was able to see individual strengths and weaknesses, and how they can be blended in various game situations.

-The Blue Eagles were also maximized their advantage in the person of Greg Slaughter, who has the height and the hoops to own any Adamson big man who presents himself as an obstacle to the basket. He led the Eagles both in scoring (23 markers) and rebounds (8) for this game, and add two blocked shots (the other being the crucial one as he was able to stop a driving Lester Alvarez whose attempt could have tied the game and sent it to overtime). Now, who wouldn't want to have someone like that when push comes to shove in the next thirteen games?

-What kept Adamson up in the game was the way they set up plays for Cañada, Alvarez, Cabrera, and Nuyles to make their shots from beyond the arc. They made 9 three-pointers out of 22, most of them in the third quarter when they stole Ateneo's six-point lead after the half and even extended their lead up to seven. Unfortunately, one who lives by the three dies by the three, and with these guys firing blanks, they were not able to score in the last five or so minutes of the game.

-Another surprise here was the sudden (but hopefully, brief) disappearance of Kiefer Ravena, with Coach Black commenting after the game that he was being posted up by the Falcons' guards, leaving him helpless on the D. Hopefully, Ravena will make the necessary adjustments to up his game on both ends.

-This first game definitely said a lot (of course not all) about the essential things that the Blue Eagles need to improve on before they face DLSU next week. And I hope that The Sixth Men do their job, not just after Greg Slaughter dunks.

Scores:

Ateneo 55 – Slaughter 23, Long 10, Salva 8, Monfort 6, Erram 3, Gonzaga 3, Austria 2, Ravena 0, Tiongson 0, Sumalinog 0, Golla 0, Chua 0

Adamson 51 – Nuyles 11, Alvarez 8, Cañada 6, Camson 6, Cabrera 6, Manyara 5, Lozada 3, Etrone 2, Brondial 2, Colina 2

Quarter scoring: 16-12, 33-27, 43-44, 55-51

Credits to inboundpass.com for both the photo and the box scores.

Presenting The PBA-DL Teams

With the Philippine Basketball League under hibernation, it seems that the Philippine Basketball Association Development League (PBADL) will be serve as the home for those amateur players who would want to play in the pros.

With 13 teams in the league (which nearly doubles that of the PBL), this 3-month stint will force college ballers to bring out their A-game earlier than expected, playing a few games to train for the upcoming 74th Season of the UAAP. But then, this is not just another summer training camp, for they have to face up against college league alumni and mainstay amateur league players.

In featuring the following PBADL teams, it would be noteworthy to look at the incoming UAAP Season 74 players and coaches and see how their participation in the PBDL can help them gear up for July.

1.Blackwater Elite
Former Barako Bull and present Arellano University Chiefs coach Leo Isaac will be one of those who will take the reins for this Ever Bilena-sponsored team. It has UP Fighting Maroon Joshua Saret, who obviously needs a lot of exposure in order to make it big next season, considering that, despite having his own share of the limelight during high school, did not become a productive member of the UP basketball team.

2.Freego Jeans
To put it short, it's just an upgrade of the Adamson University Soaring Falcons, and rest assured, they will be taking this league seriously. Coach Leo Austria might find this as an opportunity to experiment with various plays that they can use in the UAAP.

Falcons Janus Lozada, Alex Nuyles, Jan Colina, Jerick Canada, Eric Camson, Roider Cabrera, and Lester Alvarez will be the Austria's main pieces for this league, joined by other Falcons Jeff Olalia and alumnus Mike Galinato. If Adamson wants to stay in the Final Four next year, then they definitely have to fill in the holes that they had last year in terms of defense.

3.Nlex Road Warriors
Former Fighting Maroons coach Boyet Fernandez could have another opportunity to prove himself as he will be the one to lead this team, and in fact he can redeem himself by having some noteworthy talents at his disposal.

Former Blue Eagle Eric Salamat is just one of them, and knowing the way he plays, he might just fit in Fernandez' offensive system that concentrates on swingmen. The Red Lions' Ogie Menor, the SSC-R Stags' Calvin Abueva and UP Fighting Maroons' Woody Co will go with him while they wait for the upcoming PBA draft.

4.PC Gilmore Wizard
It's quite unusual that the Gilmore group of PC manufacturers would form a team, but why not accept them if we want an expanded league? CSB Blazers coach Richard del Rosario will be the one who will be in charge of the team, and he will have a few significant players which include Mapua Cardinals Allan Mangahas and Mike Parala.

5.Pharex Naproxen Sodium Bidang Generix
This former PBL team will have its steering wheels held by coach Gian Carlo Tan, and he has a lot of former UAAP ballers, which include NU Bulldog Edwin Asoro, UST Growling Tigers Aljon Mariano and Chester Taylor, FEU Tamaraw Marlon Adolfo, and DLSU Green Archer James Mangahas.

6.RnW Pacific Pipes
Finally, former Aces player Topex Robinson got hold of the job that he wants from the very start, and he was duly rewarded with a big win last Saturday against PC Gilmore. But then, this team could have been stronger if Blue Eagle Ryan Buenafe will play. Unfortunately, He has to concentrate on his studies so that he can play for the Season 74. Besides, Coach Norman Black would rather have the Blue Eagles participate in other summer competitions where they can play as a team.

7.Cafe France
Former La Salle Green Archer and Pop Cola coach Mon Jose will have to lead this team that features former Bulldog Jewel Ponferada among others.

8.Cebuana Lhuiller Gems
Ex-Adamson coach Luigi Trillo will have a mix of UAAP and NCAA alumni at his disposal, which includes Kelvin Gregorio (UE), Allein Maliksi (UST), Ben Fernandez (FEU) and Hyram Bagatsing (DLSU). He also has current Letran Knight Kevin Alas to back them up.

9.Cobra Energy Drink
Former UE Coach Lawrence Chongson turns to a new page in his coaching career by leaving the UAAP altogether and take over this former PBL franchise. And as always, he has former Red Warrior Paul Lee, who will be the main man on his offensive sets. Other fresh grads playing with him will be Paul Sanga of the FEU Tamaraws, Melvin Baloran, and Kokoy Hermosisima, both from the NU Bulldogs. Significant in their roster would be Ken Acibar, who will serve as the main man of the Red Warriors for Season 74.

10.FCA Cultivators
Chiang Kai Shek aspirants and Air21 assistant coach Arsenio Dysangco takes a step forward as he will try to handle a PBA-DL team that is composed of those who play in minor leagues. Too bad he won't handle someone who will suit up for UAAP's Season 74.

11.Max Bond Superglue Sumos
Entering his last contract year as Growling Tigers head coach, Pido Jarencio has to prove that he can take his boys to greater heights after his UST Tigers dropped to the 6th spot last year. This D-League might be the opportunity for Tigers Jeric Teng, Chris Camus, Melo Afuang, Clark Bautista, Jeric Fortuna, and Aljon Mariano to up their game down the stretch. Fortunately, a few tips and pointers from UAAP alumni Jun Cabatu (DLSU), Roel Hugnatan (AdU), Rudy Lingganay (UE), Mark Benitez (DLSU), Japs Cuan (UST), and Reil Cervantes (FEU - opted out of his final year to enter the PBA draft) can help.

12.Maynilad Water Dragons
This D-League team might not stay for long as it could be given a slot in the pros in the coming years (thus, a whole roster change or probably a whole new team if basketball mogul MVP would prefer to also have a D-League team). But for the moment, it has to play alongside all the D-League amateur teams and would be headed by Red Lions coach Frankie Lim. Joining him in this stint are his boys the Semerad twins (Dave and Anthony), Jake Pascual, Garvo Lanete, and Sudan Daniel.

13.Junior Powerade Tigers
The new Fighting Maroons coach Ricky Dandan has to show that he can carry a team out of a 0-14 hole last year. But first, he has to deal with a D-League team that can promise good results come July. He has Maroons Alvin Padilla, Miggy Manego, Moriah Gingerich, Mark Juruena, and Kevin Wong, and joining them would be alumnus Mike Gamboa.

Credits to Bleacher's Brew and Chinoy Hoops Fan for this large chunk of info.