Seaoil MMBL tips off and a bit of a scouting report

Seaoil MMBL tips off and a bit of a scouting report

by rick olivares

It was the first day of the 30^th Seaoil Metro Manila Basketball League that tipped off Saturday, November 10, at the Ynares Center Pasig with games also held at the Philsports Arena and San Beda Gym.

Caught the following matches to check out some of the rising talent.

San Beda A vs. UST A

The first match of the day pitted San Beda and UST. Unfortunately, the Tiger Cubs were woefully out of shape. They looked like they put on some pounds and to think that Noche Buena is still a ways to go.

The Red Cubs in the meantime looked razor sharp. From a close 13-13 tie at the end of the first quarter, they took an 11-point lead going into the halftime break.

However, come the third quarter, San Beda blew the game wide open by scoring 27 points in the third quarter while UST managed only nine points. When UST’s bigs doubled Arvin Tolentino, they drove and dished off for assists. When the Tiger Cubs threw a zone, San Beda snipped from the outside. The biggest lead was at 42 points after an Axel Iñigo lay-up in the fourth.

San Beda won by a romp 97-53. Evan Furaque and Ranbill Tongco led the Red Cubs with 15 and 14 points respectively.

San Beda B vs. NU B

The National U Bullpups lead early 23-17 before a series of turnovers saw the Bedans take a lead they would not surrender.

The Bulldogs battled back with 6’2” Fil-Nigerian center Mark Anthony Dyke who tallied 21 points and 15 rebounds in a dominating performance. With the San Beda leading 75-73, NU had two stops but also two costly turnovers that saw the Red Cubs eke out a 77-73 win.

Faith Academy A vs. De La Salle Zobel B

The Faith Academy Vanguards arrived with only 10 players but they were more than a match for the severely outgunned Junior Archers as they were a bunch of Charlie Hustles. La Salle had trouble dealing with the do-it-all forwards of Faith Academy in Neil De Cleene, TJ Hardemann, and Mark Lovatt who all brought the ball down, played some center, played outside, and taught the Junior Archers a lesson in hustle.

Faith Academy pulled away in the third quarter, 58-31. The lead was too much for Zobel to overcome even when they went on a 9-0 run. The Vanguards simply answered by throwing a 2-1-2 zone press that stifled La Salle. The Vanguards coasted to a 77-52 victory.

TJ Hardemann scored 25 points to lead Faith Academy that had UP Fighting Maroon and former Vanguard star Moriah Gingerich assist head coach Robby Nichols.

Players I came away most impressed with:

Javee Mocon of San Beda – long and athletic with a terrific medium range jumper and hangtime. Reminds me of former San Sebastian Stags forward Rodney Santos.

Mark Anthony Dyke of NU. Only 15 years old and stands 6’2”. A sophomore in NU High School, he can post up, put the ball on the floor and drive, and he can dish some. Good nose for the ball.

TJ Hardemann of Faith Academy. Raw talent who is tough. Dribbles well and handles the press well. But Zobel’s Team B is even more raw if not lacking in talent. So hard to judge but I liked his work ethic and willingness to take charge. Another Kirk Long in the making?