UE power bombs JRU
by rick olivares
The UE Red Warriors quickly shifted on the attack
after forcing a turnover. Charles Mammie sprinted forward, sealed off JRU’s
Marco Balagtas, after which the ball was quickly fed to him inside. Heavy
Bomber Michael Mabulac raced from the blind side hoping to strip Mammie of the
ball, but in one quick motion, the second year UE center spun inside the
no-charge zone and laid the ball off the window for a deuce. Mabulac swiped at
the air as Balagtas crashed to the floor. The former wore a grimace and looked
to Mabulac who slammed the ball in equal parts dismay and helplessness.
Mammie would add one more free throw a few seconds
later for a 78-53 lead, their highest of the match, with 11 seconds to play in
the third period.
There was to be no comeback for the JRU. Any notion
of an ambush was brushed off the moment the curtain fell on the Heavy Bombers’
conquest of La Salle the previous week. UE head coach Derrick Pumaren watched
that game. Aside from that, he knows this Heavy Bombers team having served as a
consultant to their team in the first two years of Vergel Meneses’ appointment
as head coach. “Pareho lang naman halos yung sistema namin,” revealed UE
shooting guard Bong Galanza after the match.
None of JRU’s shooters were given much daylight.
Jaycee Asuncion was scoreless in the first period. Philip Paniamogan came in
with about halfway through that opening quarter with the hope he could open
that lane for his teammates. Jordan dela Paz and Teytey Teodoro fared no
better.
It actually took their defensive stopper in Nonoy
Benavides to get them on the board with their first three points that came past
the five-minute mark.
Paniamogan chipped in three free throws.
UE also got several of JRU’s players in foul trouble
in Rhyle Salaveria, Razak Abdulwahab, and Balagtas.
Not all of JRU’s problems were caused by UE. They
would have greatly alleviated some of the pressure early in the game had
Abdulwahab made good on three undergoal stabs where he was perfectly set up by
his teammates. But as hard working as he is he doesn’t have very good hands
which is why Benavides opted to scoot in for a lay-up on a fastbreak even if
Abdulwahab was ahead of him.
While Roi Sumang was checked once more, his teammates
finally came to play.
“We cannot get used to losing,” underscored Pumaren
after the match.
Gino Jumao-as was aggressive from the get-go. He
drove, fished a big foul from Michael Mabulac, and compiled 12 points, five
rebounds, and five assists in 17 minutes of play. His touchdown pass (outlet)
to a streaking Chris Javier for a layup at the 4:28 mark of the third period
for a 20-point lead was a thing of beauty.
This was what has been expected from the second year
player out of San Sebastian High School – the do-it-all player who can help
Sumang in facilitating UE’s offense.
Emil Palma is also emerging as a similar player – someone
who can pass and defend. The second year forward scored five points in addition
to pulling down three rebounds and pilfering three balls from JRU.
Five Warriors scored in double digits for the match –
Galanza led the way with 17 points. Mammie was in his wreaking crew-best as he
put together 15 points, six boards, one steal, three rejections, and two
monster slams. Moustaph Arafat who could pass off for a young Chris Webber had
a stat line of 14 points, seven rebounds, one assist, two steals, and two
blocks. Gino had 12 while Sumang added a quiet 10 points.
So unforgiving was UE’s defense was that they notched
24 fastbreak points and 30 turnover points. JRU could only counter with 18
fastbreak points and nine turnover points.
It was only Michael Mabulac and Paniamogan from the
regular rotation who came through for JRU. While JRU was trying to find an
opening from the outside, Mabulac had the right idea – attack the interior. He
netted nine points during UE’s third quarter blitz as he attacked Mark Olayon
and Arafat. Rich Marticio, pulled out deep from the bench by Meneses provided
the outside sniping (as he wasn’t scouted by UE) for 10 points including two
triples.
But UE was in control of this game as their first
unit set the tone form the opening tip. Their power game and repeated attack
inside saw them shoot an accuracy rate of 52%.
It was a resounding 99-78 win for UE (now at 1-2)
against a good JRU team (now 3-2) and places them in the proper frame of mind
as they head for Cebu next week in the first road matches of the summer
tournament.
Pumaren said that while he was pleased with how his
team responded to the challenge, he hoped that his wards can bring it for every
game. “we’re learning to play together as we have new players and are counting
on some players who didn’t get much playing time last year. How they rise to
the challenge will determine how far we go in the UAAP which is every team’s
ultimate goal.”
Big stat: UE shooting 52% from the field which is an
indication of their willingness to take it inside. That is actually the fifth
best showing in this tournament. Here are the other top shooting matches in the
2014 Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup:
National
University 59% vs. Holy Trinity
College
La Salle’s
54% vs. JRU (incredibly in a losing
effort)
College of
Saint Benilde’s 53% against Holy
Trinity College in a controversial game where the Wildcats played matador
defense in the final five minutes (that no doubt brought up the percentage)
St. Clare
College’s 52% vs. the RP Youth
Under-18 team
UE’s Cebu
schedule of Filoil matches:
May 23 5pm vs. USC
May 24 5pm vs. UV
May 25 3pm vs.
SWU
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