First Bite
NU 74 vs. UP 64
story by rick olivares
photo by nonoy lacza
Some three months before the start of the 72nd season of the UAAP, the National University Bulldogs knew that they were going to play the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the opening weekend.
The Bulldogs’ longtime mentor Manfred James Dandan knew that he had an opportunity here.
Three hundred seventy-one days ago, his Bulldogs, dark horse favorites to contend for a Final Four slot, were dealt with an embarrassing blow in the opening weekend by the Maroons 86-72. That loss sent them on a downward spiral that saw them once more relegated to the cellar with a disappointing 2-12 record.
That dismal season begat a lot of changes. Gone were the cornerstones of their previous teams in studs Jonathan Jahnke, Edwin Asoro, and Raymond Aguilar who completed their tour of duty with the Sampaloc-based team. But more than those who graduated, team management blew up the squad as they called for open tryouts. No one was spared and when the dust settled, only seven players on the previous year’s roster were left. And of that seven only center Jewel Ponferrada and forward Melvin Baloran saw significant playing time.
The other holdovers were guard Michael Luy who inherited the playmaker’s chores from Jahnke, former UAAP’s Juniors MVP Kevin Batac, rough sophomore Bonjovi Manito, streaky shooter Elmer Fabula, and center Marion Magat.
The newbies included guard Ajeet Singh, forward Denmark Cabaluna, former RP Youth member Joseph Terso, gunner Kokoy Hermosisima, and forward Larry Malanday.
Singh and Hermosisima were inserted into the starting line-up by Dandan along with Ponferrada, Luy, and Baloran as they took to the floor of the Araneta Coliseum.
The UP team they faced went through a similar facelift as it featured five prominent newcomers in RP Youth Teamer Alvin Padilla, last year’s UAAP Juniors MVP Mark Juruena, point guard Mikee Reyes, forward Carlo Gomez, and guard Moriah Gingerich.
As the two teams squared off, NU got on the board fast via five points from Baloran. After Ponferrada scored underneath to give NU the lead 7-5, the Bulldogs got another scare when Baloran crumpled to the floor after an awkward lay-up.
The wiry Baloran doesn’t have the build of NU’s past shooters like Jeff Napa or Jonathan Fernandez but he is never afraid to take the shot. He spent part of last season on the disabled list and now as a starter, he looked forward to leading NU back to Final Four contention. As he went out with a bruised knee, so did the Bulldogs’ offense.
The Maroons started with three rookies to two veterans and Padilla, Gomez, and Reyes got them off to a hot start. It was Padilla in particular who showed the makings of the State University’s next big star as he pumped in 9 points in the first 10 minutes of play.
He would score only 2 more points. And that was in the second quarter when NU poured in 26 points to UP’s 11.
They beat UP’s 2-2-1 press with ease as Ponferrada (10 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks) stood tall in the lane while Malanday, Luy, and Terso put on a terrific shooting display.
The Bulldogs wrested the lead for good after a Malanday jumper at the 5:51 mark of the second quarter 21-20.
The Maroons sought to punish them inside with their taller line-up but the point production from Magi Sison, Juruena, and Kevin Astorga was disappointing. Carlo Gomez and Martin Reyes teamed up for 20 points but they were mostly taken from the outside.
Baloran’s inspired return in the second quarter – where he scored another twinner to give NU a four-point lead 26-22 – underscored the new attitude of a team wanting to achieve.
In the second half, NU not only maintained their lead but they outscored the Maroons in the last two quarters -- 17 to 15 in the 3rd and 21 to 20 in the 4th.
Kokoy Hermosisima found the range as he nailed his four treys in the second half while the Bulldogs’ guard corps contributed mightily.
They even raced to a 26-point lead early in the fourth period and held on as UP made the final margin more respectable by game’s end 74-64 for NU.
In last year’s campaign, NU led the league in fastbreak points. They did more of the same against UP as they turned the game into a track meet en route to a 26-10 disparity in points. They also forced UP into a UAAP record of 37 turnovers.
The NU teams of past were always noted for their outside gunners. As much as Hermosisima showed he is the heir to that legacy, they had bought into Dandan’s preaching of defense wins games.
And 371 days after that heartbreaking opening day loss to UP, they repaid the debt in spades. More importantly, it gave this team of underachievers a huge confidence booster en route to its upcoming match against the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers who themselves came off a huge upset win against the Adamson Falcons.
When a sports writer asked Dandan if the win was “a statement game,” he coolly replied, “Well, it only says that we’re here to compete. But a statement is when we beat one of the top teams of the league and we make the Final Four.”
NU 74 – Hermosisima 12, Singh 10, Ponferrada 10, Malanday 10, Luy 9, Batac 9, Baloran 9, Terso 4, Manito 1, Roy, Magat 0, Fabula 0, Cabaluna 0
UP 64 – Padilla 11, Gomez 11, Reyes Martin 9, Lopez 9, Co 9, Sison 4, Maniego 4, Hipolito 3, Reyes Miguel 2, Juruena 2, Gingerich 0, Gamboa 0, Astorga 0
The Bulldogs’ longtime mentor Manfred James Dandan knew that he had an opportunity here.
Three hundred seventy-one days ago, his Bulldogs, dark horse favorites to contend for a Final Four slot, were dealt with an embarrassing blow in the opening weekend by the Maroons 86-72. That loss sent them on a downward spiral that saw them once more relegated to the cellar with a disappointing 2-12 record.
That dismal season begat a lot of changes. Gone were the cornerstones of their previous teams in studs Jonathan Jahnke, Edwin Asoro, and Raymond Aguilar who completed their tour of duty with the Sampaloc-based team. But more than those who graduated, team management blew up the squad as they called for open tryouts. No one was spared and when the dust settled, only seven players on the previous year’s roster were left. And of that seven only center Jewel Ponferrada and forward Melvin Baloran saw significant playing time.
The other holdovers were guard Michael Luy who inherited the playmaker’s chores from Jahnke, former UAAP’s Juniors MVP Kevin Batac, rough sophomore Bonjovi Manito, streaky shooter Elmer Fabula, and center Marion Magat.
The newbies included guard Ajeet Singh, forward Denmark Cabaluna, former RP Youth member Joseph Terso, gunner Kokoy Hermosisima, and forward Larry Malanday.
Singh and Hermosisima were inserted into the starting line-up by Dandan along with Ponferrada, Luy, and Baloran as they took to the floor of the Araneta Coliseum.
The UP team they faced went through a similar facelift as it featured five prominent newcomers in RP Youth Teamer Alvin Padilla, last year’s UAAP Juniors MVP Mark Juruena, point guard Mikee Reyes, forward Carlo Gomez, and guard Moriah Gingerich.
As the two teams squared off, NU got on the board fast via five points from Baloran. After Ponferrada scored underneath to give NU the lead 7-5, the Bulldogs got another scare when Baloran crumpled to the floor after an awkward lay-up.
The wiry Baloran doesn’t have the build of NU’s past shooters like Jeff Napa or Jonathan Fernandez but he is never afraid to take the shot. He spent part of last season on the disabled list and now as a starter, he looked forward to leading NU back to Final Four contention. As he went out with a bruised knee, so did the Bulldogs’ offense.
The Maroons started with three rookies to two veterans and Padilla, Gomez, and Reyes got them off to a hot start. It was Padilla in particular who showed the makings of the State University’s next big star as he pumped in 9 points in the first 10 minutes of play.
He would score only 2 more points. And that was in the second quarter when NU poured in 26 points to UP’s 11.
They beat UP’s 2-2-1 press with ease as Ponferrada (10 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks) stood tall in the lane while Malanday, Luy, and Terso put on a terrific shooting display.
The Bulldogs wrested the lead for good after a Malanday jumper at the 5:51 mark of the second quarter 21-20.
The Maroons sought to punish them inside with their taller line-up but the point production from Magi Sison, Juruena, and Kevin Astorga was disappointing. Carlo Gomez and Martin Reyes teamed up for 20 points but they were mostly taken from the outside.
Baloran’s inspired return in the second quarter – where he scored another twinner to give NU a four-point lead 26-22 – underscored the new attitude of a team wanting to achieve.
In the second half, NU not only maintained their lead but they outscored the Maroons in the last two quarters -- 17 to 15 in the 3rd and 21 to 20 in the 4th.
Kokoy Hermosisima found the range as he nailed his four treys in the second half while the Bulldogs’ guard corps contributed mightily.
They even raced to a 26-point lead early in the fourth period and held on as UP made the final margin more respectable by game’s end 74-64 for NU.
In last year’s campaign, NU led the league in fastbreak points. They did more of the same against UP as they turned the game into a track meet en route to a 26-10 disparity in points. They also forced UP into a UAAP record of 37 turnovers.
The NU teams of past were always noted for their outside gunners. As much as Hermosisima showed he is the heir to that legacy, they had bought into Dandan’s preaching of defense wins games.
And 371 days after that heartbreaking opening day loss to UP, they repaid the debt in spades. More importantly, it gave this team of underachievers a huge confidence booster en route to its upcoming match against the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers who themselves came off a huge upset win against the Adamson Falcons.
When a sports writer asked Dandan if the win was “a statement game,” he coolly replied, “Well, it only says that we’re here to compete. But a statement is when we beat one of the top teams of the league and we make the Final Four.”
NU 74 – Hermosisima 12, Singh 10, Ponferrada 10, Malanday 10, Luy 9, Batac 9, Baloran 9, Terso 4, Manito 1, Roy, Magat 0, Fabula 0, Cabaluna 0
UP 64 – Padilla 11, Gomez 11, Reyes Martin 9, Lopez 9, Co 9, Sison 4, Maniego 4, Hipolito 3, Reyes Miguel 2, Juruena 2, Gingerich 0, Gamboa 0, Astorga 0
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