This appears in the Monday, April 15, 2013 edition of the Business Mirror.
Breaking down Opening Day of the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup
Breaking down Opening Day of the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup
by rick olivares
It was only the first playing date of
the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup but the games already provide a glimpse
of what is to come when the main collegiate leagues tip off.
Of course, no one looks razor sharp on
opening day. Players grope for form. Coaches experiment. Line-ups aren’t
complete. And a loss today doesn’t mean your season has gone to hell. A win as
well should be regarded with caution. After all, it’s a different ball game
when it’s for the marbles.
However, here are some things that can
be gleaned from opening day.
Jeric
Teng and Aljon Mariano were like Kevin Durant & Russell Westbrook.
Every team, at least on opening day,
looked different except for UST. There was a glaring hole at the one-spot with
Clark Bautista unavailable for the match. So when the Growling Tigers’ offense
wasn’t going anywhere, Jeric Teng took it upon himself to bring up that ball.
With Karim Abdul and Kevin Ferrer in
Boracay (no, they weren’t in Aklan but they might have well been given they way
they played), Teng and Aljon Mariano scored 59 of their team’s 67 points.
Teng, in his final year for UST, took
20 field goals (40%) and 13 free throws (100%) for a game high of 31 points.
Mariano took 23 shots from the field (39%) and nine shots at the 15-foot line
(89%) for a second best 28 points.
You know that Abdul and Ferrer (and
Bautista) will eventually find their bearings and get their game going. They’ll
need to do so because UST does not have much of a bench.
After UST took a 61-56 lead on a Teng
putback, La Salle scored their 14 of their final 17 points inside the shaded
area.
The Tigers need to find more weapons
because if not, they will go the way of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who despite
the prodigious scoring exploits of Durant and Westbrook, are not going to win
the NBA title this year.
Result: La Salle defeated UST 73-67
Result: La Salle defeated UST 73-67
La
Salle’s rooks and sophs showed the way
Great addition in forward Jason
Perkins who displayed an excellent work ethic and a relentless attitude inside
the lane. The Minneapolis native scored 17 points and grabbed 13 boards.
Second-year forward Gab Reyes added 13
points off a mixture of layups and long range shots. If he keeps up this
offensive output, he will be an important component in the Green Archers’
rotation.
Last year’s Rookie of the Year Jeron
Teng was in and out but he scored when it mattered.
Of the veterans, it was once more
Almond Vosotros who provided the leadership and the points when they needed to
rally.
What did I like? It’s how Perkins and
Reyes carried this team for stretches. Perk, who says his mom says is related
(distantly though) to Kendrick Perkins (but he doesn’t believe it), will be
fantastic playing alongside Norbert Torres or coming in relief. The youngsters
showed more fight than the vets.
As a whole, they showed that La Salle
will be a rebounding force this season.
Alfred
Aroga will be a huge factor for NU this coming season.
See Alfred Aroga crossover San Beda’s
Ola Adeogun and send the Red Lion center to the floor tied up in knots? Every
African who has since played in collegiate hoops has manned the five-spot.
Aroga isn’t a five. He is a three albeit a slow three. But that crossover…
sick.
The 6’7” Cameroonian, who once played
defender in soccer, likes to bring up the ball (something that NU head coach
Eric Altamirano might eventually discourage). He asks for the rock almost every
time out (wait, Ray Parks will need to get that ball as will Jean Mbe, Lee
Villamor, JJ Alejandro, and Troy Rosario as well). And he likes to play facing
the basket.
Refreshing. And for what it’s worth
you can see the passion in Aroga’s face.
Face up, folks. It’s double trouble
with NU coz they’ll have the outside-inside punch with Mbe and Aroga in the
lineup. Ouch.
San
Beda’s success will lean heavily on Rome de la Rosa and Art de la Cruz
Rome de la Rosa and Art de la Cruz are
fabulous wing players with the former preferring to drive or shoot from the
outside while the latter is deadly with those medium range jump hooks of his. And
they can bring it on the defensive end as well.
Yes, they are but two-thirds of the
starting eleven but it looks like the Red Lions will play a halfcourt offense
more than a run-and-gun type of play. The two will be integral to the game plan
if that’s the case. Another thing of note is they played the longest minutes
outside Baser Amer.
I liked how first year head coach
Boyet Fernandez played Ola Adeogun off the bench to give Kyle Pascual a chance
to play the slot. I think this is excellent because it decentralizes from the
center position and the wing play becomes even more important. If the returning
Anthony and David Semerad can provide scoring punch off the bench then they’ll
be a tough team to deal with in the NCAA.
Result: NU defeated San Beda 73-71
Result: NU defeated San Beda 73-71
How
did the Ateneo Bo Eagles play?
Welcome to the uptempo Ateneo play in
the first year of Bo Perasol. The Blue Eagles were up against a three-headed
African monster of Fabrice Siewe (love this player for his size and deft
touch), Landry Sanjo, and Justin Aboude. All three are at least 6’7”.
The result? Forty-eight rebounds for
the Southwestern University Cobras. Forty-two rebounds for Ateneo. The Bo, er,
Blue Eagles rebounding stud was Chris Newsome who had 11. Everyone else had to
pitch in hauling down those boards.
Despite the disparity, the Blue Eagles
scored 21 fastbreak points. The Cobras had eight. The 21 markers was more than
any other team for the day.
When Ateneo pressed the Cobras coughed
the ball up. And this was where they began to put some distance with their Visayan
foes. I was a little surprised they didn’t press SWU to oblivion the whole
game. On the halfcourt D, Ateneo got more blocks, 4-3.
There was a heart-stopping moment when
JP Erram fell to the court with 17.2 seconds left in the second quarter. I quickly
glanced to the Blue Eagles’ bench and they were ashen and in shock. No Greg
Slaughter. No Nico Salva. Justin Chua was in street clothes and on the
sidelines watching the game. No Erram. No more bigs.
Thankfully, he did go back and play
again while adding two points in the second half. It’s a scary moment and
methinks, Ateneo will have to keep him under close watch and play him
sparingly.
On the other hand, I liked the activity
from Frank Golla and Giboy Babilonia. Very active on both ends of the court. But
they have to nail those open jumpers if they want to be able to decongest that
lane.
Speaking of nailing shots, if Nico
Elorde can find consistency in his outside shot, he will be of huge help.
Now if the only Jerie Pingoy can be
freed.
-------------------
The Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup is
presented by Hanes and Vulcaseal/Bostick. The collegiate basketball tournament
is co-presented by Master Facial Wash, Starmobile, Meralco, and San Mig Coffee.
Sponsors include DHL, Nature’s Spring, Reyes BBQ, Banco De Oro, and Bayo. Minor
sponsors include Molten, Brother’s Burger, San Marino, Bank of the Philippine
Islands, and Bacchus Energy Drink.
Tickets are available at SM Tickets 470-2222.
Television coverage is live on Saturdays over ABS-CBN Studio 23.
Where is john lasa?
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