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.

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. 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.

The Fifteenth Gold: SEA Games Men's Basketball Finals

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


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

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

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

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

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

The Scores:

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Where To, Smart Gilas?

It seems that after the Olympic qualifier, we won't be seeing the same Smart-Gilas team that brought a revived enthusiasm for Philippine basketball. There are those who would try their skill in the professional leagues, namely JV Casio, Andy Barroca, Mac Baracael, Marcio Lassiter, and Chris Lutz, who applied for the PBA draft. On the other hand, the Cebuano Hotshot, Dondon Hontiveros, called it quits after a tiring stint. The same goes for Asi Taulava, who already felt that a handful of PBA seasons and stints with the various national teams were more than enough.

The good news is, Smart-Gilas Pilipinas team captain Chris Tiu decided not to play in the professional league, and hoped that his contract will be renewed with the Philippine team. And hopefully, Tiu's decision to stay would also invite Coach Raijko Toroman to do so as well, seeing that there's still someone left who knows his system.

But the more important concern is the replacements for those who have departed. Who could be the ones who can wear the red, blue, and white, and represent our country in international tournaments?

-News came in a few months ago about the addition of professional cagers Sol Mercado, Jimmy Alapag, and Kelly Williams in the Smart Gilas roster. Of course, their professional experience have already said a lot about them, and they could provide the necessary force that the national team needs. But the question is, can they work full time with the national team like Hontiveros or Taulava? Could they also be willing to leave their respective teams and participate on a full time basis?

-Also, remember that there are current Smart Gilas players playing in the collegiate ranks. Greg Slaughter still has to work for his college degree, including two years of serving as the pillar of the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles. Aldrech Ramos, on the other hand, is in his final year in Far Eastern University. These two will be helpful especially that Japeth Aguilar and Marcus Douthit need reliable back ups to cover the paint.

-Speaking of collegiate players, how about considering recalling JR Cawaling, also in the final year of playing for the Tamaraws? Or former applicant Ryan Buenafe, who is on a hiatus at the moment to catch up on academic requirements and trim his weight down?

-It might be also good to review the previous Powerade Pilipinas national team, led by Yeng Guiao, and pick out some gems. Governor's Cup Finals MVP Arwind Santos is a likely candidate, and so is Alaska Aces guard Cyrus Baguio. James Yap would be a good addition, as well as Gabe Norwood. But then, we run again into the question of commitment.

-Is anyone familiar with the Sinag Pilipinas team that Coach Norman Black came up with for international amateur tournaments? There are a handful of names from the collegiate ranks that could be standouts for the Smart Gilas team. But the most qualified candidate among them would be FEU Tamaraws' RR Garcia. The Season 73 Most Valuable Player can do even more than what Mark Barroca can do in his FEU days, and maybe he will be as valuable as Barroca was in the team. Fil-Ams Bobby Ray Parks and soon-to-be Blue Eagle Chris Newsome could also be good additions. On the NCAA side, we have "The Beast" Calvin Abueva and Garvo Lanete, from the Stags and the Red Lions respectively. And this may not be an immediate concern, but Smart Gilas should do all it takes to sway the Phenom Kiefer Ravena and have him play for the country. After all he has already done so in the U-16 and U-18 categories.

So, having all these options, what would it be for Smart Gilas? Or would everyone still hang on to the hopes that the guys in the PBA draft drop their names off when Friday comes?

Credits to Inquirer.net, Interaktv, GMANews, CDOLifestyle.com, Kvitters, Nugglepurl, and Metagini for the pictures.

6 Points: AdMU vs. FEU (Round 2)

Ateneo 74, Far Eastern U 67 (OT)

-Before the events that have recently transpired, let's backtrack a few steps to see how the Tamaraws fared against the Blue Eagles in similar situations:

• Season 72, Round 2 Elims (AdMU wins 74-73, clinches number one spot, went on to win their second straight championship)

The FEU Tamaraws were ahead by as much as 18 points entering the fourth quarter. The Eagles then went into berserk mode, making their shots from downtown and drawing and-ones to claw back into the game, thanks mostly to that guy wearing number 13. The heartbreak for the Tamaraws, though, was Reil Cervantes' split from the charity stripe after a Rabeh Al-Hussaini basket that could have sent the game to overtime.

• Season 73, Finals Game 2 (AdMU wins 65-62, clinches third straight championship)

This is a softer case. After a 72-49 beating of the Tamaraws in the first game, the Eagles found themselves behind by nine (though it was as large as a 12-point margin) after the first quarter of Game 2. Again, thanks to teamwork and the clutch three-pointer by, again, that guy wearing number 13, they were able to win the game and their third straight title.

Boy, does FEU have butterfingers over leads.

-It is expected that the second round would be difficult, as teams would double their efforts and learn from their previous encounters with the Blue Eagles, hoping that they could at least prevent an elimination round sweep. FEU was one of the hopefuls to do just that. They made sure that their players get to their spots and shoot after kick outs, and on the defensive end at least check Kiefer Ravena and Greg Slaughter. But  the ending of the story didn't go to their favor, as Ateneo extended the game to overtime, took the lead and won their eighth game.

-"Clutch" would be the one word that summarizes this game (… or at least the last two minutes of regulation and the overtime). Down by 6, 57-63, with a little more than a minute remaining, Emman Monfort and Kiefer Ravena stepped on the gas pedal to score six straight points and send the game to overtime. The former stole an inbound pass and ran to the other side for a quick lay up, while the latter was able to make two driving lay ups that shattered the hopes of the FEU crowd. This is how Ateneo trusts its small and mighty point guard and the Phenom that it can call their own.

-RR Garcia was outstanding in this contest, as he hit shot after shot in the first half (yes, even with three defenders raising their hands). He had 17 big points spread around the court, from lay ups to spot-up jumpers and three pointers. Apparently, he was not able to carry his team for the win, with that last three pointer that got the FEU crowd prematurely celebrating (including his chestbump with Ping Exciminiano).

-Goaltending on Greg Slaughter for blocking Garcia's shot? Not quite. Garcia's layup would not have gotten in because it bounced away from the goal (meaning the board and the ring). What Slaughter just did, based on appearances, was use the board for a teammate to grab the ball and sprint towards the other side. Or this may be a wrong way of looking at it.

-Justin Chua led the bench today with nine big points, most of them off free throws after banging bodies and fishing fouls from the Tamaraws' bigs. Although he just had 1 of 5 shots, he made up for it by posting a decent 7-of-8 from the charity stripe. Tonino Gonzaga, the Blue Eagles' energy off the bench, had 6 big points after playing for 16 minutes. On the other hand, Frank Golla still needs improvement in terms of putback shots, for he had two terrible ones that could have shifted the momentum earlier. Do we see the gradual rise of the bench here? Hopefully. If Chua is this dangerous, then the Blue Eagles will not have a problem matching up against almost every frontcourt member of any team.

The Scores:

Ateneo 74 – Salva 18, Ravena 15, Slaughter 14, Chua 9, Monfort 7, Gonzaga 6, Long 3, Austria 2, Tiongson 0, Golla 0

FEU 67 – Garcia 17, Romeo 11, Cruz 10, Ramos 8, Escoto 7, Bringas 6, Tolomia 5, Exciminiano 3, Pogoy 0, Mendoza 0, Knuttel 0

Quarter scoring: 13-21, 25-38, 42-47, 63-63, 74-67

History notes from Fast & The Spurious, photo from Fabilioh, and box from InboundPass.

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.