High & Low

Just got back from Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Before I get into the games, the De La Salle Zobel team lost all their bags, clothes and personal effects inside their locker room. The team found out only after the game, but right before the game's final minutes, some cops entered going to the locker room. No wonder. And I thought it was because it was an Ateneo vs. La Salle game.

There are two ways out of the locker room: one that exits right into the playing court and another in the back -- a gate that is locked at all times. So does this mean that it's an inside job?

Damn. That's just not right.

Sorry but the multiple venues in the last two years smacks of poor preparation by the hosts. The NCAA plays mostly at the San Juan Arena with the really big games reserved for the Araneta Coliseum. So why didn't we get the Arena? Or even Philsports? Doesn't it make more sense to hold the Ateneo vs. UP games in Blue Eagle gym? Bakit kailangang sumawsaw ng UST kapag Ateneo vs. La Salle? Set a different day for your games. That way walang problema sa tickets.

UP...hope you can correct this and get NABRO out.

Women's Basketball Championship
The Lady Eagles outsteadied the Lady Maroons down the stretch to win Game 1 64-60. Great defense and some heady plays by Kat Quimpo (hey, I've always been a fan of hers) and Sarah Mercado saved the day. Hey, Kat. You rock, girl!

It was nice seeing Coach John Flores jump up and down at the final buzzer. Who says he doesn't know how to enjoy a win?

Juniors Championship
Shades of the seniors. The Junior Archers upset the Blue Eaglets 76-74 in Game 1. The Blue Eaglets beat the Junior Archers twice during the elims, then found themselves faltering when it counted the most.

I thought that in the last five minutes the execution, the rotation and substitution by the Blue Eaglets was bad. Why wasn't Al Bugarin fielded in the game's last minute? Why send in a small shooter in Stu Balmaceda to replace Frank Golla when you only need two points and a high percentage shot? Why go with Ael Banal who was having a horrible shooting day when they should have stuck with Kiefer Ravena? DLSZ was in penalty with like five minutes to go, so why was the team settling for mostly jumpshots? With the game on the line and you're behind by two points, ideally you get a shot off as soon as possible. In case the team misses, they have a chance for an offensive rebound and a putback or if the opponent gets the ball, to give a foul to make it a two possession game.

And the fact they they took a number of shots with the clock winding down smacks of poor decision making.

That was a won game, brothers.