Looking at Bataan's win over Paranaque

Looking at Bataan's win over Paranaque

by rick olivares

This match was a tale of two teams going in different directions.

The Bataan Risers are moving on into the play-offs while the Parañaque Patriots who after being on the receiving end of a 102-73 blowout would drop to 9-16, and out of play-off contention. According to Patriots official and former coach Nomar Isla, it is about building for the future. 

In games like these, it is about finishing strong. 

Bataan clearly wanted to not only keep its streak going and defend their homecourt, but to also make sure that they improve with every game. 

The onus was on Patriot to spoil the home game and come out like gangbusters. Well, if you think jacking up shot after shot from beyond the arc by essentially one man is good strategy then you’re in trouble. 

And the game was like a track meet with Bataan emerging triumphant for their 22^ndwin in 24 matches; a MPBL best. 

The win by the Bataan Risers over the Parañaque Patriots was the fourth time the former hit the century mark in 24 matches in this Datu Cup of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

The highest tally the Risers hit was against Mandaluyong El Tigre, 109-65, followed by a 108-77 triumph over Basilan Steel. And there was the 101-68 win over the Quezon City Capitals.

This was their third straight blowout win – the 44-point blowout of Mandaluyong and the 17-point, 81-64, victory over the Marikina Shoemasters last week.

This was also the third game where every single player available (excluding the injured) was sent in the game and scored. The other two matches were against Basilan and Mandaluyong. Against Muntinlupa, every player Lastimosa sent in scored but there were a few who didn’t get off the bench. So, this triumph against Parañaque was also a feel-good win because everyone contributed something including its cadre of homegrown Bataeños in Gary David, Arvie Bringas, Gio Espuelas, Christian Capuli, and Francis Ebidag. They definitely gave the home crowd that packed the Bataan Peoples’ Center something to cheer for.

With one more elimination round game to go against the Pasig Pirates before the play-offs, the Bataan Risers are where exactly their coaching staff as led by Jojo Lastimosa, want them to be – firing on all cylinders.

This is the best stretch of basketball that the Risers have put together. 

Against the overmatched Patriots, Bataan looked to put the game beyond doubt in the first half with Gary David and Gab Dagangon dropping buckets. Were it not for Paolo Castro’s and RR Garcia’s triples (including a buzzer-beating shot by Ryan Monteclaro), the blowout would have begun much earlier.

As such, Bataan went into the half with a 47-44 lead. 

You have to like the adjustments that the coaching staff made with essentially Dagangon putting the clamps on Castro in the third period. Castro only had one attempt which he missed and he turned the ball over twice. Three touch. Zero points.

By third period’s end, the score was 76-60. It was over.

Every single Riser scored in this game. Dagangon had a scintillating performance. Not only did he do it on defense, but he also scored a team high 21 points, he also added five rebounds. His reverse lay-up in the third period where he flicked the ball up the backboard to gentle nestle into the basket is one of the game’s highlights. 

We have said since we began covering the Risers that Dagangon is one of the team’s most important players because of his myriad of talents that enables him to get it done on both ends of the floor. 

When he was playing for the Perpetual Help Altas, he was overshadowed by their own Fab Four in Scottie Thompson, Harold Arboleda, Juneric Baloria, and Justine Alano who is now with Parañaque. And then Bright Akhuetie came in further diminishing his impact. But Dagangon I always thought was someone who could be a game changer. He is absolutely fearless and never complains about what he gets on the court. 

When Jayjay Alejandro went to the PBA, some quarters feared that there would be a drop in the team’s scoring. Untrue, I said back then because Dagangon has since taken up the cudgels in a much bigger way.

And speaking of cudgels, one player who seems to have been lost in the shuffle since the acquisition of Yvan Ludovice is Byron Villarias. The uncle of Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena finally rediscovered his scoring touch with 14 points. And he’ll challenge Dagangon’s gravity defying lay-up for play of the game with his nifty spin around two defenders for a lay-up. 

Richard Escoto was terrific as well with 11 points and six boards.

One massive advantage for Bataan was its rule of the boards. The 63-45 advantage saw the Risers scoot for 22 fastbreak points to the paltry five of Parañaque. 

Bataan’s willingness to take the ball to the rack saw them net a 58-28 advantage in points in the paint. When you’re able to do that, you will see a massive disparity in field goal percentage. The Risers hit 48% of their shots while Parañaque netted only 30% accuracy.

It is the last elimination round home game before the play-offs. 

Now, Bataan’s march continues.