Cardinals shoot down Altas

This appears in the Monday June 28, 2010 edition of the Business Mirror.

Cardinals shoot down Altas

by rick olivares

The Mapua Cardinals signified their intention as a contender in the Men’s Basketball Tournament of Season 86 of the National Collegiate Athletics Association with a 79-65 thumping of the University of Perpetual Help Dalta System Altas at the San Juan Arena yesterday June 27, 2010.

Right from the start, the Cardinals’ second year guard Andretti Stevens got in the face of the Altas’ Jefferson Vidal as he refused to give the high scoring transferee from Philippine Christian University any daylight. Although Vidal hit 50% of his shots, he only had 10 attempts from the field for 16 points (with two coming from the free throw line).

The tight-guarding Stevens also got the goat of the Altas’ Arnold Daganan when the latter planted an elbow on the fallen Mapuan following a pick and roll. That incident at the 8:20 mark of the 4^th Quarter with the Cardinals up 58-50 nearly sparked a melee that saw the Altas’ Mark Sumera, and Chris Elorpe and the Mapua’s Jason Pascual and Mike Parala called for technical fouls. Daganan was assessed a flagrant foul while Mapua’s Raymark Cabrera and Narr Garay were both ejected from the match for entering the court.

After a six minute stoppage where Commissioner Arica del Rosario stepped in to help calm the frayed nerves of both teams, the Cardinals proceeded to drop a mighty 29-15 finishing kick that put then atop the NCAA leader board alongside opening day winners San Sebastian and San Beda.

The Altas were clearly in disarray following the disqualification of forward-centers Marlon Gomez and Paul Nuilan following eligibility violations. Gomez, is one of six former PCU Dolphins who transferred to UPHDS while Nuilan is a transferee from FEU. Gomez allegedly enrolled in JRU and Nuilan in Letran and did not complete their residency before suiting up for the Altas. Their absence was sorely felt said UPHDS head coach Boris Aldeguer who also said that their correct papers will submitted later in the week in a last ditch effort to get the two to suit up for the Altas.

A day earlier, the NCAA opened to a lavish extravaganza highlighted by song and dance number by Kyla, Jay-R, Billy Joe Crawford, and KC Montero at the Araneta Coliseum. NCAA President Fr. Anthony Morillo, OAR, management committee chairman Frank Gusi and San Sebastian’s very own 2008 bar top-notcher Judy Lardizzabal graced the Opening Ceremonies at the jam-packed Araneta Coliseum. This year’s theme is “Youth Speaks@86: Empowerment, Leadership and Nationalism.”

The defending champions San Sebastian Stags proved steadier in the endgame against a gritty Letran squad that played without the injured Kevin Alas for a 59-53 win. The second match of the opening day doubleheader pitted last year’s first runner up San Beda against Jose Rizal University.

The Heavy Bombers upset the Red Lions in the recently concluded Fil Oil Invitational and that loss said SBC head coach Frankie Lim, “served as motivation for my boys.”

The Red Lions pulled away with an incandescent 21-7 3^rd quarter highlighted by 10 points Garvo Lanete. San Beda, a heavy favorite to battle San Sebastian for the title coasted to a 68-52 win.

Mapua 79 – Acosta 14, Cornejo 13, Ranises 11, Pascual 10, Stevens 6, Sarangay 6, Guillermo 6, Parala 6, Mangahas 4, Banal 3, Maniego 0, Ighalo 0, Cabrera 0

UPHDS 65 – Daganan 23, Vidal 16, Ynion 7, Allen 6, Alano 6, Sumera 4, Arboleda 2, Elorpe 1, Sison 0, Kintanar 0, Asuncion 0