With the Philippine Volcanoes

With Anthony Wolfe (above) and Jon Morales, Jake Letts, and head coach Matt Cullen. Hang on to your hats here. Will be writing about rugby and the Philippine Volcanoes!

Wow x 3

August 25, 2011. The New York Yankees hit three grand slams in one game for the first time in Major League Baseball history in a 22-9 win over the Oakland A's at Yankee Stadium. Robinson Cano, Russell Martin, and Curtis Granderson all belted the home runs in a spectacular display of slugging. And the cool thing is... Jorge Posada got to play... at second base.

Who said my career is over?

Yes, it’s been almost a month but Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson was awesome.

Since I have been real busy for the past couple of months, I tried not to read too much of the sports news sites like ESPN and Sports Illustrated. I’d read the baseball and football stuff but I stayed away from others like Mixed Martial Arts.

I’ve been a fan of UFC and Strikeforce but have largely been unable to watch the last PPVs. In fact, it was only yesterday where I finally got to watch the match between Fedor Emelianenko and Dan Henderson. Pulled out my DVD of the entire event. I didn’t like some of the undercards but the main event was worth everything. Even if it went only one round.

Honestly, I thought that Henderson wasn’t going to beat Emelianenko. Sure the Last Emperor had lost his last two fights (against Brazilian Jiu Jitsu artists Fabricio Werdum and the acromegaly-striken Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva), but this was where he was supposed to bounce back, right?

But it looks like Silva had hurt him bad to the point that he even contemplated retiring. Once that weighs in your mind, some doubt creeps in. Emelianenko’s only 34 years of age and yet he was going up against Henderson who’s 40 (he’s turning 41 today so Happy B-day, Dangerous Dan!) but has never been knocked out.

I haven’t seen all of Hendo’s fights but I saw those losses to Wanderlei Silva and Antonio Nogueira, the wins versus Vitor Belfort, Wanderlei Silva, Michael Bisping, and Renato Sobral.

In the fight against the last Strikeforce, Hendo and Fedor came out trading punches. I think that Emelianenko was somewhat surprised about the pace and I wondered how long could a 40-year old man keep up the frenetic pace. Henderson did hurt Fedor and he back him up against the fence. When the two got out into the pocket, it was Emelianenko’s turn to rock Hendo who fell down to the mat. I thought that this was going to be over as the Russian would pound him with those strikes of his. But in one of the niftiest escapes, Hendo got around and suddenly he was on top of Fedor. Hendo hit him with the uppercut that floored the Russian. Some strikes here and Dean stopped the fight.

I thought that it was a little premature and maybe it should have been allowed a few more seconds to see where it would go? Could Fedor have escaped? Or would have Dan closed up that injured eye of his?

Hard to say but at 4:12, the fight was over but that was one of the best first rounds ever in MMA history.

Not sure about Fedor but like what Hendo said, I’d sure like to see him fight some more. After all, he’s only 34. But those three consecutive loses have to weigh heavily in his mind.

Missed MMA. Will try not to miss it again.

Mapua hopes that the CSB win puts them on track to the F4

Mapua hopes that the CSB win puts them on track to the F4

by rick olivares

The reason why the fourth seat to the NCAA’s Final Four bus is still open for takers is because of the poor play of these two teams – the Mapua Institute of Technology and the College of Saint Benilde.

Both teams have talented line-ups that go deep and can compete with the upper tied teams for the league title. Instead, poor play, inconsistency, rumors of internal strife have seen both on the verge of not only missing the playoff picture but tumbling down to the nether lands of NCAA mediocrity.

Benilde had the upper hand, if only for one game, against Mapua 4-5 to 3-6 of the latter heading into yesterday’s match up.

Surprisingly, they have been playing catch up to the even more surprising Lyceum of the Philippine University that was underwhelming during the pre-season. And for more than a half of play, it seemed that Benilde would go one up on Lyceum and two up on Mapua with their stellar play.

But the Cardinals, perhaps in a season-turning game for them, found their resolve behind Andretti Stevens and Josan Nimes before turning it over to their star, Allan Mangahas for the taking.

With the Blazers holding a 53-43 lead with under five minutes to play in the third period, Stevens strung up seven consecutive points for Mapua including a huge triple to make come close at 58-52. But the sophomore guard out of San Beda Alabang was whistled for his third (that led to a three-point play for Ian dela Paz) and fourth fouls sending him back to the bench.

In search of a firestarter? Mapua dialed Nimes, the Fil-Am from Phoenix, Arizona who only had two points in the first half of play. Nimes strung up nine consecutive points on a variety of drives and a triple that saw the Cardinals creep up to a point behind CSB 62-61.

When point guard Jonathan Banal drove inside and found himself in no man’s land, he kicked the rock out to a suddenly very wide open Jason Pascual whose trey attempt from the top of the arc hit nothing but net. 64-61 Mapua.

Both teams battled through seven lead changes and three deadlocks with Nimes and Pascual trading triples with CSB’s Carlo Lastimosa and Mark Romero.

With the game clock showing four minutes left, it was up to Mangahas to work his end game magic. The graduating point guard who won the Rookie of the Year for Mapua in 2008, stole a poor inbound by Blazer guard Anton Altamirano that got his father, former national coach and current NU Bulldogs bench master Eric up on his feet. He pulled down two defensive boards (he had a total of eight) and with under a minute to play, he put the moves on his guards and went inside the lane before kicking out to Nimes who drained a triple for an 81-77 lead.

Unfortunately, Mangahas nearly went from hero to goat as he lost the leather to Altamirano who fed Lastimosa for a bucket and he missed a potential game winning shot at the buzzer.

But at 81-all, the game was headed into an extra five-minute period where it was Mangahas time. The younger brother of James who once play for La Salle scored seven points including a shake and bake move on Altamirano for a pull up jumper (to tie the match at 83), a triple (to make it 88-83), and a nifty drop pass to center Mark Sarangay after getting whacked in the face by his guard that gave Mapua a seemingly insurmountable lead at 91-83 with a minute and 30 left. “I got hit near the eye but I still had to finish that play,” said Mangahas in the vernacular. “This game is very important to us or else this season is over.”

The Cardinals held on for a 94-90 win that saw the win their fourth match in ten outings.

“Hopefully, this is where we make a stand and play our best basketball the rest of the way,” added head coach Chito Victolero who has taken a lot of heat for his team’s dismal performance despite having a talented team. “It’s a good win now sana tuloy tuloy na.”

Mapua 94 – Nimes 25, Mangahas 23, Pascual 9, Sarangay 8, Parala 7, Stevens 7, Ighalo 6, Taha 4, Banal 4, Chien 1, Ranises 0.

CSB 90 – Lastimosa 23, Grey 21, Taha 19, Romero 14, Altamirano 5, dela Paz 5, Sinco 2, McCoy 1, Carlos 0, Nayve 0, Deles 0.

Letran demolishes Arellano U with smart bomb efficiency

Letran demolishes Arellano U with smart bomb efficiency

by rick olivares

Dive. Hustle. Challenge.

Those were the three key words that Letran head coach Louie Alas wanted his Knights to drum into their heads. He wrote them in bold letters on the whiteboard inside the team’s dugout at the San Juan Arena.

And the Intramuros quintet headed the words of their coach to fashion out a workmanlike win 73-59 win over Arellano University in yesterday’s NCAA Season 87 at the San Juan Arena.

Showing more poise borne out a more mature and offensively better lineup, the Knights have beaten foes by dominating the paint and shooting the ball better.

Against the crumbling 3-7 Arellano Chiefs who haven’t beaten any of the top tier teams, Letran hauled down 49 rebounds, dished off 18 assists, and stole the leather nine times. Arellano managed only 39 rebounds and 12 assists while being thoroughly outplayed on both ends of the floor.

Both teams played to three deadlocks in the early goings of the match. And following a Mark Cruz triple to close out the first period that gave Letran a 14-11 lead, the Knights would not surrender their advantage throughout the match.

While known as a tough and unforgiving defense unit under Alas, the Knights have incredibly been a share-the-wealth team and the second best scoring team in the league right behind San Beda.

And that was best illustrated during the 4:12 mark of the third quarter when rookie point guard Mark Cruz threw a crosscourt pass to swingman Jay Espiritu who was open on the left wing. Attracting an Arellano defender, Espiritu ditched him with a head fake and drove to the basket. Drawing out center Jerald Lapus, Espiritu wrapped around a pass to a suddenly open Junjun Alas who laid it off the window for a 49-37 lead.

While the Chiefs would try to make a game of it behind Andrian Celada, Rocky Acidre, and Lapus, they could come no closer than 10 points, 50-40,  following two free throws by freshman guard Mark Doligon at the 3:38 mark of the third period. “Trabaho lang,” urged Alas during a timeout just to make sure his would not let up on the flustered Chiefs.

Letran closed out the third period with six points to Arellano’s two for a 56-42 lead. They would maintain that 14-point lead up to the final buzzer of the game.

Alas’ son, Kevin, playing with a fever, continued his stellar season by leading the Knights in scoring with 17 points while Jam Cortes and Kevin Racal added 16 and 11 points respectively. The younger Alas, in sixth spot in the overall player rankings, also had seven rebounds and four assists. 

“Having better teammates has made the game easier for Kevin,” said coach and father. “Last year there was pressure on him to carry them team and he tried too hard that it affected his game. This year he’s more relaxed.”

“Having Mark Cruz come up from the juniors ranks helps because pusong Letranista yan,” added the coach who has led the Knights to three titles. Alas pointed out one instance in the fourth where he ran the pick and roll exquisitely with Cortes who scores on a nifty finger roll to pad the lead to 60-48 with four minutes to play. “He’s (Cruz) is a smart player who plays much bigger than his size.”

The win gave Letran an 8-2 record and put them at solo third in the standings right behind unbeaten San Sebastian (10-0) and San Beda (9-1).

Arellano’s seventh loss in 10 matches put a huge crimp on their final four aspirations. While the top three teams look to be a lock in their spots barring any second round tailspin, the fourth spot will be hotly disputed by Lyceum of the Philippines University, College of St. Benilde, Mapua Institute of Technology, and Jose Rizal University. All four team, even Arellano should they win all their remaining matches, have a chance to go the NCAA’s second season.

Notes: I have been covering Letran very closely these past three years and have been to their practices, team meetings, dugout before, during, and after games, and even lunch inside their campus. And I can’t help but notice how Louie Alas seems to be a different coach this year. He is teaching more, encouraging his players more, communicating more and practically being more patient. Inside the locker room, he allows his players to offer their inputs into what they do. If it’s a solid idea, he goes with it. the results are quite revealing because the team has played much much better.

A link to a Liverpool FC piece in interaksyon.com

A new piece for interaksyon.com.

PBA Governors Cup Finals: Slammed

Slammed

by rick olivares with photo by nuki sabio

There are four moments that will embody Game 7 of the 2011 Philippine Basketball Association Governors Cup. Two each for Petron and for Talk ‘N Text.

The first for Petron was with time running down in the second quarter. Talk ‘N Text’s Ranidel de Ocampo drove in for a one-handed dunk when the Blaze Boosters’ elongated forward Arwind Santos met him up high and emphatically rejected him to maintain a 40-34 lead going into the halftime break.

Santos, who would be adjudged Finals MVP after the game, played all three frontcourt positions in the final game and guarded everyone from Kelly Williams to Maurice Baker to Ali Peek to Jason Castro. And after 48 minutes of play, Santos, in his fourth PBA finals, was finally a champion.

That play encapsulated the incredible achievement of Petron in winning a record 19^th title for the San Miguel Corporation team while denying Talk ‘N Text’s bid for only the fifth grand slam in Philippine Basketball Association history. The telecommunications franchise had won three championships including a third place finish in the last three years and looked to be building a new dynasty.

Petron’s win, the first win by the SMC franchise outside using the “San Miguel” brand name, was to send a signal that they were not ready to surrender supremacy to a corporate rival.

The Boosters, playing with a vastly depleted bench due to injuries, picked up from head coach Ato Agustin’s fiery lead, in thoroughly outplaying the pre-tournament favorites in Game 7 of the Governors Cup.

Agustin’s charges shot 43.2% from the field, pulled down 51 rebounds, and had 9 steals as compared to the 32.9% shooting, 48 rebounds, and 2 steals of the Tropang Texters of Chot Reyes.

The second key moment for Petron was when import Anthony Grundy poked the ball away from TNT import Maurice Baker (after a poor inbound by de Ocampo) that Santos picked up for a flush that put the game out of reach 81-73 with 37 seconds left.

Grundy, who had played basketball in almost every continent, did not plane into Manila with gaudy numbers. He wasn’t sleek or overpowering. “He is efficient,” glowed Agustin. “Quiet but highly efficient.”

After Jason Castro, hobbled with a MCL injury, inspired Talk ‘N Text to come back and briefly overtake Petron, 42-41 after a Ranidel de Ocampo flush, Grundy scored 7 of the next 12 points by Petron to re-take control of the match.

Grundy would finish with a game high 26 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals.

Both teams had played over 60 games this 36^th season of the PBA and were already pretty banged up but it was the Boosters, despite being reduced to 11 men (with forward Jojo Duncil being thrown out in the first half following a Flagrant Foul Penalty 2 – the “Landing Spot Rule”) who showed remarkable resiliency and energy in closing out a hotly contested series.

While Petron found strength in what it perceived to be an insult when they felt that TNT deliberately chose them as their finals foe as opposed to Ginebra or Alaska, the Tropang Texters were in the game because of the courage of Castro.

The first moment for the grand slam-seeking team was when Castro, the former PCU Dolphin came back late in the third quarter to block Grundy’s post up attempt. The quicksilver TNT, point guard already suffering from a MCL injury rolled his ankle at the height of their third quarter rally. Coming back with his left ankle heavily taped, Castro tried to make a go of it but the pain became too unbearable and he asked out of the game.

Without Castro, Talk ‘n Text ended the game like how they started it -- somewhat flat, disconnected, and hoisting up bricks.

And that brings us to TNT’s second moment with Petron holding a 79-73 lead with under a minute to go when swingman Larry Fonacier let lose a trey that hit only the backboard.

Fonacier was dubbed “Lucky Larry” for having been able to win championships with Red Bull, Alaska, and Talk ‘n Text. But in Game 6, Fonacier along with Ali Peek and Ryan Reyes played long minutes in their Game 6 victory but only combined for 13 points. On Sunday night, in the ultimate game of the season, the three would collectively play 46 minutes with only two points to their name. Fonacier, the 6’3” forward, who had become a key contributor in TNT’s entire season, finished with zero points and missed all 10 of his field goals.

On the cusp of history, Talk ‘n Text folded like a house of cards.

Even with the final buzzer long since sounded, Petron head coach Ato Agustin still wanted to have the last word in. “Pinagbigyan nila kami. Nagkamali sila.”

It was a momentous triumph and at the same time one of the league’s greatest upsets.

And for sure, it will be talked about for quite a long time.

Post-Game 7 press interview with Petron's Ato Agustin, Arwind Santos and Anthony Grundy

Post-Game 7 presscon with Petron's Ato Agustin, Arwind Santos, and Anthony Grundy after Petron slammed the grand slam door on Talk 'N Text. Kinda revealing answers here.

UAAP Sunday

Women’s Basketball

Ateneo 61 – Mercado 16, Bo-ot 8, Morales 7, Jose 6, Ong 5, Aseron 4, Tiu 4, Dimaano 4, Chua 4, Estrada 2, Javier 1, Tantoco 0.

UE 57 – Resultay 22, Ventura 16, Vergara 9, Junsay 6, Doqueza 2, Tan 2, Domino 0, Abarquez 0, Puno 0, Floralde 0.

Men’s Basketball

NU 65 – Parks 22, Mbe 17, Terso 7, Javillionar 6, Khobuntin 4, Villamor 2, Celda 2, Alolino 2, Singh 2, Ignacio 1, Neypes 0, Labing-isa 0, Celiz 0.

UP 43 – Romero 7, Montecastro 6, Maniego 6, Juruena 6, Gamboa 5, Mbah 4, Gingerich 3, Silungan 2, Manuel 2, Gomez 2, Wong 0, Wierzba 0, Fortu 0.

Best stat line:

Emmanuel Mbe: 17 points, 13 rebounds and 1 block

Dud line:

Mike Silungan: 26 minutes but only 2 points on 1-11 shooting

The Bulldogs: 53 rebounds and 13-24 FTs.

The Fighting Maroons  FG% -- 17-63 = 27% and 35 rebounds. No one finished in double figure scoring.

FEU 62 – Ramos 18, Romeo 14, Garcia 14, Tolomia 8, Escoto 4, Cruz 2, Exciminiano 2, Pogoy 0, Mendoza 0, Bringas 0, Knuttel 0.

Adamson 61 – Nuyles 17, Camson 9, Alvarez 9, Lozada 8, Cañada 7, Brondial 6, Cabrera 4, Manyara 1, Petilos 0, Etrone 0, Colina 0.

Best stat line:

Aldrech Ramos 18 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal

Crucial misses: free throw by Eric Camson and drive by Alvarez. TO by Nuyles who forced the issue while driving against a zone D.

This is a dangerous situation for Adamson because FEU can match them in the standings. And the Falcons have yet to play Ateneo. 

NU Bulldogs: some bones to chew on

NU Bulldogs: some bones to chew on

by rick olivares

After nine games in Season 74, the National University Bulldogs toted a 3-6 record. With one more loss, they will have matched their number of loses from the previous campaign.

Last year’s Bulldogs finished 7-7 and nearly made it to the Final Four. Emmanuel Mbe was nearly named league MVP and lost by a shade in percentage points to eventual winner Ryan Roose Garcia of Far Eastern University.

This year’s Bulldogs have Bobby Ray Parks, Lee Villamor, Joel Alolino, Ced Labing-isa, Kyle Neypes, Robby Celiz, Spencer Eman, Reden Celda, and Robin Roño.

Nine new faces, some high profile ones, to shore up last year’s holdovers in Glenn Khobuntin, Jul-Ashri Ignacio, Joeffrey Javillionar, Joseph Terso, Ajeet Singh, and Marion Magat who played under Eric Gonzales. Of those names, only Javillionar, Terso, Singh, and Magat played three years ago under Manny Dandan. And of those names, it was Terso who had any sort of reputation when he arrived in the Sampaloc, Manila campus having played for the National Team alongside other ballyhooed names like Frank Golla, Norbert Torres, and Garcia to name a few.

But Terso who averaged 26 minutes, 7.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists last year is way off the mark this Season 74.

Largely benched, the second or at times now third-string point guard has played an average of 19 minutes while compiling 3.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. I thought that last year, Terso was prime time. Who do you guard – Kokoy Hermosisima or Terso? And as a third option (outside their frontline), there was Mervin Baloran.

Shan Mbe is not what he was last year. Maybe that can be chalked up to missing a lot of the pre-season that could have been used to attain match fitness. And the numbers speak volumes:

Season 73: 30.6 minutes, 13.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks.

Season 74: 28.4 minutes, 10.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks.

Last season’s Bulldogs were the third-best defensive team. This year they are sixth.

I wrote before that what made Jewel Ponferrada a better player was the presence of Edwin Asoro as he played clean up to whatever got past the Bulldogs' stud forward.

When Asoro graduated and looking at it in hindsight, Ponferrada made Mbe better too. Without that cleanup guy, Mbe has struggled too as he has had to shoulder the brunt of the interior D. He might have only one more foul at the end of this year’s first round as opposed to last year, but take note that he has no dependable back up. Marion Magat is more of a small forward in a center’s body.

Of course, people’s stats are going to suffer. Any time you get a weapon like a Ray Parks, you give him the ball. He is the most fouled player in the fourth quarter in the UAAP. That says something. He wants the ball in the clutch and when he attempts, he gets fouled and troops to the line for a deuce.

He shoots too much, criticize many? Parks, playing the three-spot, has 1.9 assists. That’s second behind Alolino who has 2.1

Why single out Parks? This is a team of known scorers including Khobuntin, Mbe, Villamor, and Terso. The only one with a lockdown mode is Singh. What they have is a bunch of guys who’d rather score than pass the rock around.

But this team that won last year’s Uni-Games and the Fr. Martin I Cup? So why have they struggled in the UAAP?

The weight of expectations?

Maybe. While I am happy to see that National U can no longer be considered the league doormat, they have to understand what schools like Ateneo and La Salle always harp about – tradition, history, and a lot of hard work. They do not hang championship banners outside the NCAA and the UAAP.

While asking Ray Parks what he thought was wrong, he said: “Man, it’s a different animal, this UAAP. People will just kill themselves to win.”

There you go.

I am also reminded of Norman Black’s first year with Ateneo; he struggled. Eric Altamirano is not only a good friend but I know him to be an excellent coach. He will adjust and this NU team will only get better. A year tucked under their belts will help. At least it should. And I know, it might be apples and oranges comparing the last two Bulldogs teams but without trying to put anyone down, maybe some recognition must be directed at Eric Gonzales’ way.

Because in his one year at NU, he did far more with much less.

Ateneo-UST Round Two: 42

42

by rick olivares

In their eighth assignment of the season, the Ateneo Blue Eagles responded to a huge challenge where they snatched victory from the jaws of a hungry and angry foe. There was the first round sweep yet there was nothing pretty about it. Games had been won on sheer grit and a champion’s fighting heart.

In the previous years, the team groped for form in the early stages before flashing its deadly form in the later stages and beyond. And this year, so far, the song has remained the same.

Before anyone anoints FEU as the king of the comeback for this year (for their three wins over NU, UST and UP), you might want to hold that thought.

Ateneo, in eight games, has always responded masterfully in the second half of play by putting on the clamps and the big hurt on its foes. In fact, you might want to chew on these nuggets:

Ateneo has come back after the half to play better and score the most points in the second half with an average of 39.4.

The Blue Eagles are the most fouled team in the fourth period with opposing squads whistled for an average of 9.6 fouls.

The Blue Eagles have attempted 77 free throws in the fourth period and have converted 56 of them for an accuracy rate of 73%.

Gaudy numbers aside, it wasn’t only Ateneo that had something going in the fourth quarter. The Growling Tigers too, had their pluses.

UST point guard Jeric Fortuna, who has emerged as one of the best players in the league has been averaging over 16 points per game. He was at his best in the fourth period where he played 8.4 minutes, the most of any player in the UAAP, while also scoring 6.1 points; also a league best.

Such is Fortuna’s value that when he cramped out late in a game against FEU, so went the Tigers’ chances.

So in the second round meeting between Ateneo and UST, something was going to be put to the test.

However, unlike the first round battle that saw Ateneo grind out a 66-53 win, this was well over, in pretty much the first half.

In the first quarter alone, UST had more (eight) turnovers than (six) points and (two) assists. The result was a 15-6 lead that would grow larger with each quarter.

In the second quarter, for every UST committed one turnover for every basket (16 points to eight TOs). The half-time lead was 40-22.

Now this is where we get to test if the Blue Eagles are the second half team that they are.

As the Tigers went about their first offensive of the third period, forward Chris Camus, who has not had good games against Ateneo, drove hard along the baseline. He tried to sneak in a bucket with a reverse lay-up but Greg Slaughter erased the shot.

While UST tried to once more deny Slaughter the lane, they also once more forgot to shut down the other Blue Eagles.

On the next attack, Kiefer Ravena found Nico Salva who faked a hand off before scoring on a layup.

Two sets later, Slaughter pulled down a brick before passing out to Emman Monfort who looked up ahead and threw a quick strike to a streaking Ravena for another deuce. Three touches. One dribble. Two points.

The 8-1 opening salvo in the third saw Ateneo on top 48-23.

After 30 minutes of play the score stood at 68-37 and only the final margin had to be settled.

The Blue Eagles scored 42 points in the second half topping their 39.4 average. They were fouled seven times and hit three of six free throws. Norman Black sent in all 16 of his men and every one of them contributed to the stat sheet be it a point, a rebound, an assist, a steal or a block. It was the first time that happened this year for Ateneo.

UST’s Pido Jarencio sent in 12 players however it was only Alijohn Ungria who did not have anything positive across his name in the ledger. Forward Chris Camus who was playing about 26 minutes per game played 21 this time and had no points. But he did have five rebounds. Fortuna played 9 minutes in the fourth quarter but only scored 5 points; less than his average.

After the match, Norman Black mentioned that part of the game plan was to showcase their offense and to play with more consistency. They have learned to adjust when a foe picks it’s poison – double team Slaughter or provide single coverage and just play everyone tough. Well, that’s like being between a rock and a hard place as the Blue Eagles never stepped off the gas pedal pausing only with six and change left in the fourth.

When it mercifully came to an end, the 82-57 win saw Ateneo remain unbeaten at 9-0. It would also be the fourth time in nine games they would win by at least 20 points with their second round tiff with UST having their largest margin of 25 points.

And they did it on close to 42% shooting.

UE deals La Salle a crushing loss

This appears in the Sunday August 21, 2011 edition of the Business Mirror.

UE deals La Salle a crushing loss

by rick olivares

The University of the East Red Warriors erased the stigma of a crushing loss one week earlier to hand struggling De La Salle University a stinging 74-69 loss in yesterday’s opening UAAP game at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Red Warriors, who absorbed a 91-51 massacre at the hands of the National University Bulldogs last August 14, kept the game close with a stifling 2-2-1 zone and answered every La Salle run with one of their own.

For the first time this Season 74, UE’s starting five of Paul Zamar, Lucas Tagarda, Adrian Santos, Biboy Enguio, and Erwin Duran outscored an opponent. The put up 41 points to La Salle’s 25. Although the Green Archers’ bench rose up to the challenge by coming up with 44 markers of their own, UE’s head coach Jerry Codinera said that his reserves deserve to be commended for playing their hearts out.

“I told them that we may lose 40 points, 100 points, but we have to put that behind us,” said Codinera who led UE to its last two UAAP titles in 1984 and 85 along with Allan Caidic. ““During the summer, basta close lang yung game, kaya namin. With our win and other teams losing, who knows what can happen. Basta laban lang. And we wanted to dedicate these games to our veterans who are graduating at the end of the season.”

JM Noble came off the bench to score 16 big points to backstop Zamar including a long jumper with 40 seconds left that put a serious crimp on La Salle’s last ditch rally that gave his side a 72-64 lead.

It was a painful loss for La Salle who lost a heartbreaker to Adamson last Saturday when Alex Nuyles buried a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer. And with 1:08 left in the first quarter against UE, forward Yutien Andrada crashed to the floor during a fastbreak opportunity. The momentary stoppage cast a pall on the game as La Salle’s players huddled around their fallen teammate. “It’s just an ankle sprain,” said DLSU trainer Dan Rose. “But he’ll be under observation. Andrada also hurt his right knee in their season opener against FEU when he banged in on the coliseum hardcourt.

Although La Salle held on for a 19-17 first quarter lead, the Red Warriors took control of the second period as they drove hard to the basket and put points on the board from free throws. UE outrebounded DLSU 45-40 and out-assisted them 15-12.

The win put UE at 2-7 for a tie with UP while La Salle fell to 4-5 the same record as UST which fell in the second game to Ateneo de Manila which thrashed them 82-57 to remain undefeated at 9-0.

Stags end first round in glorious fashion

Stags end first round in glorious fashion

by rick olivares

pic by paul ryan tan

August 19, 2011

San Juan Arena

For the San Sebastian Golden Stags to win the game against the San Beda Red Lions, rookie head coach Topex Robinson’s game plan hinged on three things – one, playing defense; two, their suspect bench stepping up; and three, Calvin Abueva.

Early in new NCAA season with the Stags racking up huge leads in the early goings before losing them in the endgame, Robinson had a one-on-one talk with his mercurial player.

“Mananalo tayo dahil sa ‘yo,” emphatically underscored Robinson. “At matatalo tayo dahil sa ‘yo. Isn’t it better that we win?”

Abueva silently nodded in agreement.

Robinson, seized the moment and said that he couldn’t keep engaging the crowd and opponents in taunting, trash talking, and rough play to the detriment of the team. “The last word is a win because no one can take that away from you.”

With less than a minute left in the game with the Stags holding a slim 70-68 lead, time was called by San Beda to map out an offensive. San Sebastian had three opportunities to put their crimson foes away but three times they flubbed those chances (an Anthony del Rio airball and two turnovers by Abueva).

In the huddle, Abueva asked to guard SBC guard Anjo Caram who had come of age in the season. The diminutive Bedan guard had 8 points, 6 assists, and as a testament to his quarterbacking a powerful team, zero turnovers.

“Coach, akin siya,” said Abueva who tapped his chest to signify his intention. After being whistled for three fouls in the first half (two of them Robinson described as utterly useless), the human dynamo from Pampanga was able to conserve his fouls.

He took on Caram; a move that surprised San Beda. With gunner Garvo Lanete, 18 points and one crucial turnover in the endgame, well guarded by del Rio, Caram took a jumpshot that missed the rim.

But the Stags gave the ball back to San Beda.

In the next inbound play with both Lanete and Caram unable to extricate themselves for a shot, the ball swung to forward-center Dave Marcelo who found himself open on the right corner. With Ronald Pascual rushing out to challenge the shot, Marcelo released a high arcing shot that was unfortunately short.

San Sebastian held and a first round sweep and in doing so ended San Beda’s 26-game win streak that dated back to last season.

A relieved Robinson accepted congratulations from his players and team supporters. “It got tense, ha,’ he said as he rested his hands on his knees. “We left them an open window…”

As the red and white gallery sang their alma mater song, Abueva beamed. “Masarap ‘tong panalo pero hindi pa rin niya matatangal yung kahihiyaan nung finals last year. Malayo pa ‘to. Pero swerte rin kasi meron akong mga turnover sa huli.”

The Stags were led by their one-two punch of Ronald Pascual and Abueva with 23 and 21 points respectively. Pascual, whose back-to-back treys gave SSCR a 30-23 lead with 2:53 in the second period, carried the Stags early on with Abueva on the bench.

But Robinson’s unheralded players Dexter Maiquez, Jovit dela Cruz, Lyle Antipuesto, Bobby Balucanag, and Michael Miranda chipped in 13 points and held off the hard-charging and deeper Red Lions.

Miranda, the 6’5” rookie center, scored nary a point although he pulled down 9 big rebounds with three coming off the offensive glass. None was more crucial than when he pulled down a Pascual miss from the deep right corner. The ball swung back out to Pascual who drove hard this time. With the Red Lions collapsing to hopefully take a charge, the high-leaping guard dropped the ball to Abueva who was underneath the basketball his lonesome. That was the Stags’ 11^th and 12^th second chance points (to the 8 of San Beda). And they gave last year’s runners-up the 70-68 lead that would stand to the end.

“It’s nice to keep the streak going but what is really important is beating San Beda because it gives everybody the confidence that we can get this done,” said Robinson outside his team’s jubilant locker room. “If you take a look at us, we’re thin at almost every position. We don’t have the weapons that San Beda has. But I have to give credit to my guys and my bench because they stepped up. The task it to put us in a position to make the Final Four and the Finals. It’s still a long season and we haven’t really accomplished anything. What good is a streak if you don’t win at the end?”

“I think at the end, it came down to execution,” said San Beda head coach Frankie Lim who took the loss in stride. “It’s a matter of making better decisions because we had chance to send the game in overtime or even win it outright. But it’s not the end of the world. We will be back.”

Former Stags point guard Pamboy Raymundo who watched from near the team’s bench beside former teammate Jimbo Aquino was pleased with the win. “Malaking accomplishment yan dahil hindi na malalim yung bench ng team,” said the point guard who recently made himself available for the PBA Draft. “Lalo na nawala si Jon Semira (who suffered tore up his ACL early in the season). Kaya naman talaga. Pride yan.”

The two teams battled through eight deadlocks and 21 lead changes.

San Sebastian 70 – Pascual 23, Abueva 21, Sangalang 9, dela Cruz 6, Maiquez 6, Antipuesto 3, Balucanag 2, del Rio 0, Miranda 0, Ferrer 0, Vitug 0.

San Beda 68 – Lanete 18, Marcelo 15, Caram 8, Pascual J. 7, Amer 6, Sorela 6, dela Rosa 4, Pascual K. 4, Lim 0, Semerad D. 0, Villahermosa 0.