By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - September 9, 2008
Jervy Cruz wept when the final buzzer sounded last Saturday as the UST Growling Tigers ended their dismal 6-8 season with a 71-63 win over University of the Philippines.
Playing his last game with the Tigers, Cruz hit nine of his team’s 11 points in the final quarter to cap a three-year career in which he helped his alma mater win the title in 2006.
That championship was the one that Cruz wants to relive.
"Kung may gusto akong balikan siguro yung championship naming noong 2006," Cruz, who was then elevated from Team B prior to that season.
In his final game, Cruz scored 21 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, his seventh consecutive double-double effort.
Cruz said he’s disappointed that the Tigers failed to land a spot in the Final Four.
"Sayang nga kasi maganda entrance ko champion kami tapos pag-exit ko laglag kami so masakit," Cruz lamented.
UST struggled during the season, dropping heartbreaking defeats. The Tigers also lost key players like Japs Cuan and Francis Allera to injuries.
The Tigers also failed to win against teams that made the Final Four.
"Sa end game talaga nawawala kami, yung mga veterans medyo inconsistent tapos yung iba sa amin injured," he said.
Cruz played hurt in the tournament after suffering a hamstring injury while playing for Hapee Toothpaste in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL). He incurred the injury during the halftime break where he slipped off a wet surface.
Against doctors’ advice, Cruz opted to continue playing.
"Hindi pa ako 100 percent dahil sa hamstring, dapat nga ipapahinga ako this season pero sabi ko last season ko na at kailangan kong ibigay lahat para sa team," Cruz said.
Despite the Tigers’ elimination, Cruz remains as one of the top contenders for the coveted Most Valuable Player award for the second straight season.
Cruz leads Rabeh Al-Hussaini of Ateneo in the statistical points race with 75.0714 . He averaged 19.8 points and 13.7 rebounds in all 14 games this season as he led the league in both categories.
UST coach Pido Jarencio said he believes that Cruz has the tools to make it to the Philippine Basketball Association.
"Malaki ang potential niya na mag-PBA so good luck sa career niya, hardworker talaga siya," said Jarencio. "Siya ang MVP ng UAAP ganun kasimple, puro siya double-double kahit injured siya."
Cruz, who is celebrating his 22nd birthday today, is expected to suit up again for Hapee in the PBL.
He admits that he would miss college basketball.
"Ang mami-miss ko sa college basketball ay yung crowd," he reflected.
"Kung pwede lang na hindi ako aalis dito eh hindi ako aalis eh."
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Showing posts with label T - UST Growling Tigers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label T - UST Growling Tigers. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Archers play for win, Eagles for pride
By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - September 6, 2008
It will be a no-bearing game for top semifinalist Ateneo when it tangles with archrival De La Salle University today, but expect the Eagles to battle the Archers as though a championship is at stake as the elimination round of the UAAP basketball tournament comes to fitting close at the Araneta Coliseum.
While the Blue Eagles have nothing to lose but pride in their 4 p.m. encounter, the stakes will be higher for the Archers who will be eyeing the No. 2 spot and the second twice-to-beat incentive in the semifinals.
Nothing will make Ateneo happier than beating their arch enemy. A loss for the Archers means they will have to face the Far Eastern University Tamaraws for the last twice-to-beat-advantage already enjoyed by the Eagles regardless of the result of today’s game.
Ateneo coach Norman Black acknowledges that his team has nothing to gain or lose in today’s duel but he expects them to play their best against La Salle.
"It’s La Salle-Ateneo so there’s always the pressure to win," said Black. "Whether it’s a no-bearing game or not, our supporters would love us to beat La Salle so I know it’s going to be a bearing game for them (fans) and it may not be a bearing game for us but we’ll just try our best to win."
The Eagles are set to meet University of the East in the Final 4 needing only one win to secure a finals berth.
Ateneo will be bannered by Most Valuable Player candidate Rabeh Al-Hussaini along with team skipper Chris Tiu, reserve guard Eric Salamat, and rookie Ryan Buenafe.
As for the Green Archers, all they need to do is to win in order to secure second spot in the Final Four after Far Eastern University suffered a 73-61 defeat to University of the East last Thursday.
Franz Pumaren is expected to be back to coach the team in today’s game after his stint with the RP Youth squad in the FIBA Asia Youth Championships in Tehran, Iran where he led the Filipino cagers to a quarterfinals berth.
In Pumaren’s absence, Jack Santiago, a former PBA cager before being tapped as La Salle’s assistant coach six years ago, steered the Archers to two close victories over University of Santo Tomas and Adamson University.
"It’s a good experience for me pero sabi ko nga sa mga boys sana wag nila sana akong pakabahin ng ganun because it's going to be hard for myself," Santiago said.
As for the match against the Blue Eagles, Santiago hopes that the team would not suffer the same problems it had in the last two games.
"I told them that we’re running away from our system. Some defensive and offensive plays, hindi ginagawa," Santiago said. "I mean come big games like against Ateneo, we cannot have these kinds of mistakes."
In hopes of winning this time against their rivals, Mythical Five candidates JV Casio and Rico Maierhofer are expected to give their all while role players Peejay Barua and James Mangahas will also have to produce well.
Meanwhile, UST aims to end its season on a winning note when it tangles with University of the Philippines in the 2 p.m. opener.
It will be a no-bearing game for top semifinalist Ateneo when it tangles with archrival De La Salle University today, but expect the Eagles to battle the Archers as though a championship is at stake as the elimination round of the UAAP basketball tournament comes to fitting close at the Araneta Coliseum.
While the Blue Eagles have nothing to lose but pride in their 4 p.m. encounter, the stakes will be higher for the Archers who will be eyeing the No. 2 spot and the second twice-to-beat incentive in the semifinals.
Nothing will make Ateneo happier than beating their arch enemy. A loss for the Archers means they will have to face the Far Eastern University Tamaraws for the last twice-to-beat-advantage already enjoyed by the Eagles regardless of the result of today’s game.
Ateneo coach Norman Black acknowledges that his team has nothing to gain or lose in today’s duel but he expects them to play their best against La Salle.
"It’s La Salle-Ateneo so there’s always the pressure to win," said Black. "Whether it’s a no-bearing game or not, our supporters would love us to beat La Salle so I know it’s going to be a bearing game for them (fans) and it may not be a bearing game for us but we’ll just try our best to win."
The Eagles are set to meet University of the East in the Final 4 needing only one win to secure a finals berth.
Ateneo will be bannered by Most Valuable Player candidate Rabeh Al-Hussaini along with team skipper Chris Tiu, reserve guard Eric Salamat, and rookie Ryan Buenafe.
As for the Green Archers, all they need to do is to win in order to secure second spot in the Final Four after Far Eastern University suffered a 73-61 defeat to University of the East last Thursday.
Franz Pumaren is expected to be back to coach the team in today’s game after his stint with the RP Youth squad in the FIBA Asia Youth Championships in Tehran, Iran where he led the Filipino cagers to a quarterfinals berth.
In Pumaren’s absence, Jack Santiago, a former PBA cager before being tapped as La Salle’s assistant coach six years ago, steered the Archers to two close victories over University of Santo Tomas and Adamson University.
"It’s a good experience for me pero sabi ko nga sa mga boys sana wag nila sana akong pakabahin ng ganun because it's going to be hard for myself," Santiago said.
As for the match against the Blue Eagles, Santiago hopes that the team would not suffer the same problems it had in the last two games.
"I told them that we’re running away from our system. Some defensive and offensive plays, hindi ginagawa," Santiago said. "I mean come big games like against Ateneo, we cannot have these kinds of mistakes."
In hopes of winning this time against their rivals, Mythical Five candidates JV Casio and Rico Maierhofer are expected to give their all while role players Peejay Barua and James Mangahas will also have to produce well.
Meanwhile, UST aims to end its season on a winning note when it tangles with University of the Philippines in the 2 p.m. opener.
Monday, September 1, 2008
La Salle escapes against Adamson
By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - September 1, 2008
La Salle went two-of-two without head coach Franz Pumaren.
But what a experience it was for assistant coach Jack Santiago as the Archers needed an extra five minutes to eke a pulsating 84-79 win over the surprisingly stubborn Adamson squad in the UAAP basketball tournament yesterday at the Philsports.
Last Thursday, the Archers leaned on a late-game heroic of Maui Villanueva to produce a harrowing 81-79 win over University of Santo Tomas.
Those wins were scary but Santiago said they were fulfilling.
"It’s a good experience for me pero sabi ko sa kanina na sana wag nila akong pakabahin dahil mahirap din sa akin," said Santiago, who was visibly nervous during the last two minutes of the regulation.
"I accomplished my mission for coach Franz," said Santiago, still feeling jittery.
Pumaren is out of town calling the shots for RP Youth team in the Asian Youth Championship in Tehran, Iran. He will be back in time for another tense duel with Ateneo on Sunday.
Santiago, who played for six seasons in the PBA before he joined the staff of Pumaren, had to thank LA Revilla this time for bailing them out of trouble.
The rookie guard converted a go-ahead triple with 1:46 to go in the extra session as the Green Archers shattered a 76-76 deadlock. JV Casio and James Mangahas also contributed to dispatch the upset-minded Falcons.
With the win, their 10th in 13 starts, the Archers enhanced their bid for a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final. They are currently tied with idle Far Eastern University, thus making their encounter with Ateneo on Sunday a must-win.
In the second game, University of the East completed the semis cast by ousting 2006 champion University of Santo Tomas, 89-87.
For a while, the Red Warriors appeared headed for a breezy win when they took a 74-50 lead late in the third quarter but the Tigers came through with several spurts that saw them move dangerously within 87-88 with 37 ticks left.
Despite missing 7-of-9 free throws, the Warriuors still survived the Tigers’ onslaught who played minus coach Pido Jarencio in the fourth after being ejected for continues complaining.
The Warriors, who will meet FEU on Saturday, will face the Eagles in the semis.
"Sabi ko nga sa mga boys, a win is a win kahit na gaano kasama ang pagkapanalo namin panalo pa rin," Santiago said.
Casio led La Salle with 19 points, five rebounds and three assists despite shooting 6-of-16 from the field while Rico Maierhofer tallied his fifth double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
Mangahas recorded 15 points, including four straight in overtime as La Salle built a 76-73 lead only for Paul Gonzalgo to answer back with a triple at the 2:07 mark.
Gonzalgo scored 23 points on 4-of-10 treys while Marc Agustin made 14 points and five rebounds. It was ninth consecutive defeat for the Falcons to fall to 2-11.
In a game that saw nine deadlocks and eight lead changes, the Falcons took the lead with 1:00 left in regulation on two foul shots by Agustin, 70-68. But Casio scored off several Adamson defenders to tie the contest anew with 43.1 ticks to go.
The Archers had a chance to win the game with 5.7 seconds in the fourth but Revilla failed to convert on a driving lay up.
La Salle went two-of-two without head coach Franz Pumaren.
But what a experience it was for assistant coach Jack Santiago as the Archers needed an extra five minutes to eke a pulsating 84-79 win over the surprisingly stubborn Adamson squad in the UAAP basketball tournament yesterday at the Philsports.
Last Thursday, the Archers leaned on a late-game heroic of Maui Villanueva to produce a harrowing 81-79 win over University of Santo Tomas.
Those wins were scary but Santiago said they were fulfilling.
"It’s a good experience for me pero sabi ko sa kanina na sana wag nila akong pakabahin dahil mahirap din sa akin," said Santiago, who was visibly nervous during the last two minutes of the regulation.
"I accomplished my mission for coach Franz," said Santiago, still feeling jittery.
Pumaren is out of town calling the shots for RP Youth team in the Asian Youth Championship in Tehran, Iran. He will be back in time for another tense duel with Ateneo on Sunday.
Santiago, who played for six seasons in the PBA before he joined the staff of Pumaren, had to thank LA Revilla this time for bailing them out of trouble.
The rookie guard converted a go-ahead triple with 1:46 to go in the extra session as the Green Archers shattered a 76-76 deadlock. JV Casio and James Mangahas also contributed to dispatch the upset-minded Falcons.
With the win, their 10th in 13 starts, the Archers enhanced their bid for a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final. They are currently tied with idle Far Eastern University, thus making their encounter with Ateneo on Sunday a must-win.
In the second game, University of the East completed the semis cast by ousting 2006 champion University of Santo Tomas, 89-87.
For a while, the Red Warriors appeared headed for a breezy win when they took a 74-50 lead late in the third quarter but the Tigers came through with several spurts that saw them move dangerously within 87-88 with 37 ticks left.
Despite missing 7-of-9 free throws, the Warriuors still survived the Tigers’ onslaught who played minus coach Pido Jarencio in the fourth after being ejected for continues complaining.
The Warriors, who will meet FEU on Saturday, will face the Eagles in the semis.
"Sabi ko nga sa mga boys, a win is a win kahit na gaano kasama ang pagkapanalo namin panalo pa rin," Santiago said.
Casio led La Salle with 19 points, five rebounds and three assists despite shooting 6-of-16 from the field while Rico Maierhofer tallied his fifth double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
Mangahas recorded 15 points, including four straight in overtime as La Salle built a 76-73 lead only for Paul Gonzalgo to answer back with a triple at the 2:07 mark.
Gonzalgo scored 23 points on 4-of-10 treys while Marc Agustin made 14 points and five rebounds. It was ninth consecutive defeat for the Falcons to fall to 2-11.
In a game that saw nine deadlocks and eight lead changes, the Falcons took the lead with 1:00 left in regulation on two foul shots by Agustin, 70-68. But Casio scored off several Adamson defenders to tie the contest anew with 43.1 ticks to go.
The Archers had a chance to win the game with 5.7 seconds in the fourth but Revilla failed to convert on a driving lay up.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Tamaraws, Archers barge into semis
By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - August 29, 2008
Baracael returns to FEU bench
Inspired by the presence of Mac Baracael, whose dream of playing in the PBA nearly turned into a nightmare a month ago, Far Eastern University repulsed the spirited challenge of National University, 64-60, yesterday to secure a semifinals berth in the UAAP basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.
Though the 6-foot-3 Baracael was still out of rhythm as evident by his poor timing and balance, FEU coach Glenn Capacio gave him a passing grade.
In the other game, defending champion La Salle also gained a semis berth by downing University of Santo Tomas, 81-79.
With their wins, La Salle and FEU joined league-leading Ateneo (11-1) in the Final Four.
Freshman Maui Villanueva starred for La Salle’s victory when he scored on a follow-up as time expired.
La Salle’s Houdini act despite the absence of head coach Franz Pumaren put UST’s Final Four bid in peril.
The Tigers, who fell to 5-7, rallied mightily to tie the game at 79-79 on the effort of seldom-used Milan Vargas. But the Archers still got the victory as rookie LA Revilla drove hard to the basket in a bid to settle the game. Though he missed his shot, Villanueva was there to follow it up to the cheers of the a huge green and white supporters.
"Actually we don’t have any timeouts left pero nung nag timeout sila, nakapag-diagram pa kami ng play," said La Salle interim coach Jack Santiago. "Talagang play namin was for LA kasi five seconds na lang at siya yung pinakamabilis. Good thing na-beat niya yung defense ng UST."
Pumaren is currently in Iran, calling the shots for the RP Youth Team in the FIBA Asia Youth Championships.
"I had a sleepless night, siguro mga 4 a.m. na ako nakakatulog," said Santiago. "During games, may mga konting adjustments, mostly on defense, same scenario pa din as when coach Franz was here."
JV Casio led La Salle with 29 points, 18 coming in the final canto as the Archers broke a 67-67 tie by hitting five straight points that made it a 74-69 contest with 2:58 left.
Peejay Barua added 17 markers while Rico Maierhofer tallied a double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds before fouling out.
In the first game, Baracael scored only two points in his comeback from a near-fatal shooting incident that remains unsolved until this time but was upbeat about his playing condition.
"Happy ako kasi nakabalik na ako at matutulungan ko na ang team at makakapaglaro, second chance na ito sa akin," said Baracael, who was fielded in the game with only two minutes and 16 seconds left in the first quarter.
He was fielded back in the third where his jumper gave the Tamaraws a 56-48 lead.
"Siguro gusto ko lang ma-feel niya yung laro ulit pero alam ko naman na hindi pa siya 100 percent so ang hiningi ko lang sa kanya ay 2 to 3 minutes. Ayos na sakin basta maka-contribute siya sa defense at sa rebounding," Capacio said of Baracael.
Baracael, who suffered a fractured rib because of the incident, was cleared by doctors to practice with the team two weeks ago but got involved in his first full contact practice only last Monday.
Inspired by the presence of their leader, the Tamaraws, behind Mark Barroca, Aldrech Ramos and Benedict Fernandez, overcame a faltering finish to notch their 9th win in 12 starts, a victory that propelled them to the semis for the first time since Arwind Santos led the Tamaraws to their 19th overall championship in 2005.
Barroca, who scored 26 points last Saturday against De La Salle, led FEU anew with 22 points, 15 of which came in the first half, while Reil Cervantes put in 12 points.
Ramos and Fernandez combined for only 15 points this time but hit crucial baskets down the stretch that stopped NU’s spirited challenge.
Trailing by eight entering the final canto, the Bulldogs unleashed a blistering 10-0 blast as Chris Catamora scored off a pass by Raymund Aguilar that gave NU a 58-56 lead with 4:54 left in the game.
But FEU reclaimed the lead as Ramos scored on a tough lay-in with 2:21 to go, 62-60, before coming up with several defensive plays to frustrate the Bulldogs this time around.
"Parang nabunutan ako ng tinik," said Capacio. "Mabuti na lang na-execute namin ang mga plays namin down the stretch. We’re really happy that we are in the Final Four,"
Jonathan Jahnke led NU with 15 points while Aguilar made 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists but suffered its fourth straight setback to fall down into the cellar with Adamson at 2-10.
Baracael returns to FEU bench
Inspired by the presence of Mac Baracael, whose dream of playing in the PBA nearly turned into a nightmare a month ago, Far Eastern University repulsed the spirited challenge of National University, 64-60, yesterday to secure a semifinals berth in the UAAP basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.
Though the 6-foot-3 Baracael was still out of rhythm as evident by his poor timing and balance, FEU coach Glenn Capacio gave him a passing grade.
In the other game, defending champion La Salle also gained a semis berth by downing University of Santo Tomas, 81-79.
With their wins, La Salle and FEU joined league-leading Ateneo (11-1) in the Final Four.
Freshman Maui Villanueva starred for La Salle’s victory when he scored on a follow-up as time expired.
La Salle’s Houdini act despite the absence of head coach Franz Pumaren put UST’s Final Four bid in peril.
The Tigers, who fell to 5-7, rallied mightily to tie the game at 79-79 on the effort of seldom-used Milan Vargas. But the Archers still got the victory as rookie LA Revilla drove hard to the basket in a bid to settle the game. Though he missed his shot, Villanueva was there to follow it up to the cheers of the a huge green and white supporters.
"Actually we don’t have any timeouts left pero nung nag timeout sila, nakapag-diagram pa kami ng play," said La Salle interim coach Jack Santiago. "Talagang play namin was for LA kasi five seconds na lang at siya yung pinakamabilis. Good thing na-beat niya yung defense ng UST."
Pumaren is currently in Iran, calling the shots for the RP Youth Team in the FIBA Asia Youth Championships.
"I had a sleepless night, siguro mga 4 a.m. na ako nakakatulog," said Santiago. "During games, may mga konting adjustments, mostly on defense, same scenario pa din as when coach Franz was here."
JV Casio led La Salle with 29 points, 18 coming in the final canto as the Archers broke a 67-67 tie by hitting five straight points that made it a 74-69 contest with 2:58 left.
Peejay Barua added 17 markers while Rico Maierhofer tallied a double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds before fouling out.
In the first game, Baracael scored only two points in his comeback from a near-fatal shooting incident that remains unsolved until this time but was upbeat about his playing condition.
"Happy ako kasi nakabalik na ako at matutulungan ko na ang team at makakapaglaro, second chance na ito sa akin," said Baracael, who was fielded in the game with only two minutes and 16 seconds left in the first quarter.
He was fielded back in the third where his jumper gave the Tamaraws a 56-48 lead.
"Siguro gusto ko lang ma-feel niya yung laro ulit pero alam ko naman na hindi pa siya 100 percent so ang hiningi ko lang sa kanya ay 2 to 3 minutes. Ayos na sakin basta maka-contribute siya sa defense at sa rebounding," Capacio said of Baracael.
Baracael, who suffered a fractured rib because of the incident, was cleared by doctors to practice with the team two weeks ago but got involved in his first full contact practice only last Monday.
Inspired by the presence of their leader, the Tamaraws, behind Mark Barroca, Aldrech Ramos and Benedict Fernandez, overcame a faltering finish to notch their 9th win in 12 starts, a victory that propelled them to the semis for the first time since Arwind Santos led the Tamaraws to their 19th overall championship in 2005.
Barroca, who scored 26 points last Saturday against De La Salle, led FEU anew with 22 points, 15 of which came in the first half, while Reil Cervantes put in 12 points.
Ramos and Fernandez combined for only 15 points this time but hit crucial baskets down the stretch that stopped NU’s spirited challenge.
Trailing by eight entering the final canto, the Bulldogs unleashed a blistering 10-0 blast as Chris Catamora scored off a pass by Raymund Aguilar that gave NU a 58-56 lead with 4:54 left in the game.
But FEU reclaimed the lead as Ramos scored on a tough lay-in with 2:21 to go, 62-60, before coming up with several defensive plays to frustrate the Bulldogs this time around.
"Parang nabunutan ako ng tinik," said Capacio. "Mabuti na lang na-execute namin ang mga plays namin down the stretch. We’re really happy that we are in the Final Four,"
Jonathan Jahnke led NU with 15 points while Aguilar made 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists but suffered its fourth straight setback to fall down into the cellar with Adamson at 2-10.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
DLSU, FEU resume twice-to-beat race
By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - August 28, 2008Defending champion La Salle and Far Eastern University resume their chase for the other twice-to-beat privilege in the Final Four when they go up against separate rivals today in the UAAP basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Tamaraws and Green Archers, both toting similar 8-3 records, will not only try to book a spot in the Final Four but also remain in second place behind Ateneo in the team standings.
The Archers, who will play without head coach Franz Pumaren, collide with the University of Santo Tomas Tigers at 4 p.m. while the Tamaraws tangle with the National University Bulldogs at 2 p.m.
Pumaren left Monday for Tehran, Iran to handle the RP Youth team that will take part in the Asian Youth Championship. He will miss two of the last three games of La Salle.
The Tamaraws are on a rampage following their vengeful 83-75 win over the Archers last Sunday.
That will also be their main goal today as they try to avenge their 69-61 loss to the Bulldogs on Aug. 3. "Kailangan namin bumawi kasi first round talo kami," said Capacio. "Kasi period of adjustment nung time na yun wala kaming Robert (Kave), wala kaming Mac Baracael so ngayon maganda naka-adjust na kami without them."
Although they have managed to tie DLSU for second spot in the standings, Capacio wants to remain consistent before the end of the season.
"Siyempre natutuwa kami na number two kami pero hindi pa rin dapat kami maging kumpiyansa dapat trabaho pa din," he said.
FEU hopes to have another strong effort from Mark Barroca, who bedazzled La Salle, especially JV Casio, to finish with 26 points.
Capacio has plenty of offensive options with the consistent showing of Benedict Fernandez, backup guard Jens Knuttel and the frontline tandem of Reil Cervantes and Aldrech Ramos.
For the Bulldogs, they will again rely on veterans Edwin Asoro, Jonathan Jahnke, and Raymund Aguilar.
Still, Pumaren is confident that his assistants, led by Jack Santiago, and his players, are ready to face th challenge of the Tigers.
"I think my players are in good hands," Pumaren said before he left for Iran last Monday. "They know very well what to expect and I think my boys are really prepared, I believe that my veterans will lead this team."
Needing to bounce back from their tough loss to the Tamaraws, are Casio and Rico Maierhofer.
The Tigers are in a must-win situation since they trail the University of the East Warriors by 1 ½ games. And coach Pido Jarencio is fully aware of their situation.
"Basta ang crucial sa amin ay yung every quarter ng game against La Salle, hindi yung La Salle lang, one game at a time kami," said Jarencio.
Jarencio sees no difference in the absence of Pumaren.
"Walang advantage kasi player naman maglalaro eh," he said. "Siyempre yung system nandoon na, yung will na lang ng players baka ganun pa din, alam mo naman si coach Franz hindi naman nagpabaya doon sa team niya kaya siguro walang bago."
Jarencio is looking for a big game from reigning Most Valuable Player Jervy Cruz, Dylan Ababou and Francis Allera.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Tams gore Archers, claim share of 2nd
By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - August 24, 2008
Who’s afraid of La Salle’s JV Casio? Certainly not Mark Barroca, the wily guard of Far Eastern University.
The sophomore outshone the La Salle ace yesterday to help lift the Tamaraws to a vengeful 83-75 win over the Archers in the 71st UAAP basketball tournament at the PhilSports Arena.
In what could be his finest game so far, Barroca exploded for 13 points in the final quarter, including six in a row at one point, to finish with a career-high 26 points as the Tamaraws improved their record to 8-3, the same win-loss slate of their victims.
"This is my second year as coach of FEU, hindi ko ine-expect na mag number two kami" said Capacio. "Nakakagulat so siyempre nandun na kami sa number two, susubukan namin makuha ang twice-to-beat."
Barroca, who hails from Zamboanga City, shot 11-of-14 from the floor while grabbing seven rebounds in 31 minutes of play to beat the more popular Casio in their backcourt duel.
He and back-up guard Jens Knuttel limited Casio to just 15 points, a far cry from his 29-point performance in the team’s victory over National University.
Knuttel, a second-year Fil-German standout out of FEU-FERN, came off the bench to tally 11 points, four rebounds, seven assists, and two steals in 32 minutes.
"Super nilaro nila ngayon," said Capacio of his backcourt crew. "We limited Casio to just 15 points last game naka-29 sila so defensively and offensively, maganda pinakita ng backcourt ko."
Benedict Fernandez hit 14 points before spending the rest of the game on the bench due to cramps while Reil Cervantes added 13 points and five rebounds in the victory.
The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for La Salle coach Franz Pumaren, who is leaving next week for Tehran, Iran. Pumaren is also the coach of the RP Youth team that will see action in the Asian Youth Championships.
FEU built a commanding 52-41 lead in the third quarter only for the Archers to snatch it away with a one-point lead off a three-pointer by Casio, 59-58, with 6:36 left.
But Barroca hit six consecutive points before Cervantes and Knuttel scored each off two DLSU turnovers to pad their lead to 10 with 2:38 remaining.
"Grabe yung poise na pinakita ng mga bata, were down by one nung hinabol kami yung composure ng mga bata nandun so yung inaasam ko na last year na lumabas at least ngayon nakikita ko na," Capacio said. "Ako na siguro yung pinakamasayang coach sa Pilipinas kasi nagbubunga na yung sipag ng team so hopefully sana tuloy tuloy."
Rico Maierhofer led La Salle with 18 points and 13 rebounds with James Mangahas making 14 points on 6-for-13 shooting from the field.
Allera, who suffered a knee injury at the start of the season, scored 11 points in the second half alone to finish with 14 while shooting 3-of-7 from the three-point area. Bautista scored all of his eight points in the third quarter.
"Medyo na pick-up na namin yung rhythm namin basta kuha lang namin yung timing medyo OK na kami,"said UST coach Pido Jarencio. "Alam niyo naman yung mga bata e nagsusumikap kaso we fell short every game dahil siguro may mga injury pero this time papalakas na yung mga bata, wala nang nararamdaman."
Aaron Galapon led the Bulldogs with 12 points and eight rebounds. Edwin Asoro also finished with 12 points and 10 boards but shot a miserable 4-of-14 from the floor and 3-of-10 from the foul line.
Allera hit a triple while Bautista connected on two consecutive treys that enabled UST to grab the lead for good, 43-39, with 3:52 left in the third.
Who’s afraid of La Salle’s JV Casio? Certainly not Mark Barroca, the wily guard of Far Eastern University.
The sophomore outshone the La Salle ace yesterday to help lift the Tamaraws to a vengeful 83-75 win over the Archers in the 71st UAAP basketball tournament at the PhilSports Arena.
In what could be his finest game so far, Barroca exploded for 13 points in the final quarter, including six in a row at one point, to finish with a career-high 26 points as the Tamaraws improved their record to 8-3, the same win-loss slate of their victims.
"This is my second year as coach of FEU, hindi ko ine-expect na mag number two kami" said Capacio. "Nakakagulat so siyempre nandun na kami sa number two, susubukan namin makuha ang twice-to-beat."
Barroca, who hails from Zamboanga City, shot 11-of-14 from the floor while grabbing seven rebounds in 31 minutes of play to beat the more popular Casio in their backcourt duel.
He and back-up guard Jens Knuttel limited Casio to just 15 points, a far cry from his 29-point performance in the team’s victory over National University.
Knuttel, a second-year Fil-German standout out of FEU-FERN, came off the bench to tally 11 points, four rebounds, seven assists, and two steals in 32 minutes.
"Super nilaro nila ngayon," said Capacio of his backcourt crew. "We limited Casio to just 15 points last game naka-29 sila so defensively and offensively, maganda pinakita ng backcourt ko."
Benedict Fernandez hit 14 points before spending the rest of the game on the bench due to cramps while Reil Cervantes added 13 points and five rebounds in the victory.
The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for La Salle coach Franz Pumaren, who is leaving next week for Tehran, Iran. Pumaren is also the coach of the RP Youth team that will see action in the Asian Youth Championships.
FEU built a commanding 52-41 lead in the third quarter only for the Archers to snatch it away with a one-point lead off a three-pointer by Casio, 59-58, with 6:36 left.
But Barroca hit six consecutive points before Cervantes and Knuttel scored each off two DLSU turnovers to pad their lead to 10 with 2:38 remaining.
"Grabe yung poise na pinakita ng mga bata, were down by one nung hinabol kami yung composure ng mga bata nandun so yung inaasam ko na last year na lumabas at least ngayon nakikita ko na," Capacio said. "Ako na siguro yung pinakamasayang coach sa Pilipinas kasi nagbubunga na yung sipag ng team so hopefully sana tuloy tuloy."
Rico Maierhofer led La Salle with 18 points and 13 rebounds with James Mangahas making 14 points on 6-for-13 shooting from the field.
Allera, who suffered a knee injury at the start of the season, scored 11 points in the second half alone to finish with 14 while shooting 3-of-7 from the three-point area. Bautista scored all of his eight points in the third quarter.
"Medyo na pick-up na namin yung rhythm namin basta kuha lang namin yung timing medyo OK na kami,"said UST coach Pido Jarencio. "Alam niyo naman yung mga bata e nagsusumikap kaso we fell short every game dahil siguro may mga injury pero this time papalakas na yung mga bata, wala nang nararamdaman."
Aaron Galapon led the Bulldogs with 12 points and eight rebounds. Edwin Asoro also finished with 12 points and 10 boards but shot a miserable 4-of-14 from the floor and 3-of-10 from the foul line.
Allera hit a triple while Bautista connected on two consecutive treys that enabled UST to grab the lead for good, 43-39, with 3:52 left in the third.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
DLSU, FEU clash for 2nd
By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - August 23, 2008
Title contenders La Salle and Far Eastern University clash today in what could be the preview of their Final Four showdown in the 71st UAAP basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena.
The Green Archers and Tamaraws need a victory in their scheduled 4 p.m. encounter in order to gain a better seeding as the elimination round winds down to its last two weeks.
Clashing in the first game at 2 p.m. are University of Santo Tomas and National University.
With an 8-2 record, La Salle is hoping to catch up with bitter rival Ateneo for the top spot in the standings.
The Eagles boosted their bid for the No. 1 seeding with a 61-57 overtime win over University of the East on Thursday, a victory that improved their record to 10-1.
The Tamaraws, the No. 3 team with a 7-3 card, could tie the Archers with a victory.
Just like the Tamaraws and Archers, the Tigers are in dire need of a win to stay in contention for a berth in the semis. They are 1½ games behind the Red Warriors for the fourth and last semis spot.
La Salle coach Franz Pumaren sees another exciting showdown with FEU just like the first time they clashed in the tournament.
The Glenn Capacio-mentored Tamaraws, however, are coming off a 74-69 win over University of Santo Tomas also on Thursday, so Pumaren expects them to be on a war mode.
"It’s going to be tough, I think they are playing well despite being undermanned," said Pumaren. "They are playing with a lot of emotion because of what happened to (Mac) Baracael, so it’s going to be an important for us."
"Kung ganito lang ang nilalaro ng team walang problema sa next game," said Capacio. "But against La Salle, dapat consistent kami sa depensa (press break) namin kasi kapag nagka-turnover ka magkakaroon sila ng momentum."
The Tamaraws are hoping to avenge their 73-62 setback in the first hand.
The Archers will rely once more on veterans JV Casio and Rico Maierhofer while role players Peejay Barua, James Mangahas and rookie point guard LA Revilla are expected to provide the much-needed help.
Title contenders La Salle and Far Eastern University clash today in what could be the preview of their Final Four showdown in the 71st UAAP basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena.
The Green Archers and Tamaraws need a victory in their scheduled 4 p.m. encounter in order to gain a better seeding as the elimination round winds down to its last two weeks.
Clashing in the first game at 2 p.m. are University of Santo Tomas and National University.
With an 8-2 record, La Salle is hoping to catch up with bitter rival Ateneo for the top spot in the standings.
The Eagles boosted their bid for the No. 1 seeding with a 61-57 overtime win over University of the East on Thursday, a victory that improved their record to 10-1.
The Tamaraws, the No. 3 team with a 7-3 card, could tie the Archers with a victory.
Just like the Tamaraws and Archers, the Tigers are in dire need of a win to stay in contention for a berth in the semis. They are 1½ games behind the Red Warriors for the fourth and last semis spot.
La Salle coach Franz Pumaren sees another exciting showdown with FEU just like the first time they clashed in the tournament.
The Glenn Capacio-mentored Tamaraws, however, are coming off a 74-69 win over University of Santo Tomas also on Thursday, so Pumaren expects them to be on a war mode.
"It’s going to be tough, I think they are playing well despite being undermanned," said Pumaren. "They are playing with a lot of emotion because of what happened to (Mac) Baracael, so it’s going to be an important for us."
"Kung ganito lang ang nilalaro ng team walang problema sa next game," said Capacio. "But against La Salle, dapat consistent kami sa depensa (press break) namin kasi kapag nagka-turnover ka magkakaroon sila ng momentum."
The Tamaraws are hoping to avenge their 73-62 setback in the first hand.
The Archers will rely once more on veterans JV Casio and Rico Maierhofer while role players Peejay Barua, James Mangahas and rookie point guard LA Revilla are expected to provide the much-needed help.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Game Result: FEU 74 vs UST 69 (2nd Round)
FEU Tamaraws
74 Points
42 Rebounds
17 Assists
_8 Steals
_7 Blocks
25/74 (33.78%) FG
_6/24 (25.00%) 3P FG
18/26 (69.23%) FT
UST Growling Tigers
69 Points
46 Rebounds
15 Assists
_3 Steals
_4 Blocks
22/62 (35.48%) FG
_6/19 (31.58%) 3P FG
19/29 (65.52%) FT
Quarters: 21-21, 31-39, 41-54, 60-60, 74-69
74 Points
42 Rebounds
17 Assists
_8 Steals
_7 Blocks
25/74 (33.78%) FG
_6/24 (25.00%) 3P FG
18/26 (69.23%) FT
UST Growling Tigers
69 Points
46 Rebounds
15 Assists
_3 Steals
_4 Blocks
22/62 (35.48%) FG
_6/19 (31.58%) 3P FG
19/29 (65.52%) FT
Quarters: 21-21, 31-39, 41-54, 60-60, 74-69
Friday, August 15, 2008
Game Result: ADMU 85 vs UST 76 (2nd Round)
ADMU Blue Eagles
85 Points
29 Rebounds
17 Assists
_5 Steals
_6 Blocks
29/59 (49.15%) FG
_7/17 (41.18%) 3P FG
UST Growling Tigers
76 Points
45 Rebounds
13 Assists
_3 Steals
_2 Blocks
26/67 (38.81%) FG
_5/19 (26.32%) 3P FG
Quarters: 20-11, 38-35, 63-55, 85-76
85 Points
29 Rebounds
17 Assists
_5 Steals
_6 Blocks
29/59 (49.15%) FG
_7/17 (41.18%) 3P FG
UST Growling Tigers
76 Points
45 Rebounds
13 Assists
_3 Steals
_2 Blocks
26/67 (38.81%) FG
_5/19 (26.32%) 3P FG
Quarters: 20-11, 38-35, 63-55, 85-76
Eagles claw Tigers anew
By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - August 15, 2008
Not even the thunderstorm could cool off Ateneo star Chris Tiu yesterday.
In what could be his finest game in a stellar collegiate career, Tiu sizzled for a career-high 29 points as Ateneo blew past University of Santo Tomas, 85-76, to boost its Final Four bid in the UAAP basketball tournament on a wet day at the Philsports Arena.
The 5-foot-11 Tiu highlighted his game-long brilliance with three triples aside from posting a near-perfect 14-of-15 shooting from the free throw area to help the Eagles notch their 8th win in 9 games.
In the first game, Far Eastern University snapped a two-game losing streak behind Marlon Adolfo’s second-half explosion to beat Adamson University, 70-62.
Adolfo scattered 15 of his 18 points in the last two quarters as the Tamaraws erected a 14-point lead en route to their 6th win in 9 starts.
For the second time, Rabeh Al-Hussaini outshone reigning MVP and UST counterpart Jervy Cruz as the 6-foot-6 center tallied 24 points and five rebounds.
"Our top two players really played well, they really made some crucial shots in the end," said Ateneo coach Norman Black. "UST still hurt us on the boards but we were able to shoot a high percentage from the floor which really helped us out."
Black, however, remained cautious about their efforts before the end of the season.
"The key is that we understand that we are the best team but we have to play our A game every time, it’s not time for us to be confident," said Black. "Our aim is to get into the Final Four and play our best game come September."
To underscore his strength down low, Al-Hussaini converted 10 consecutive points at one point as Ateneo eventually took a 63-55 lead in the third while Tiu had 11 in the final canto, most of them from the stripe as the the Blue Eagles took a 75-62 edge.
That run was aided by a triple from Eric Salamat with 2:21 left in the game.
Salamat, still hampered by a discolated jaw, made 14 points in 21 minutes off the bench.
Cruz, the reigning Most Valuable Player, finished with 23 points and 18 rebounds, 13 of which came in the first half. Dylan Ababou finished with 17 points but missed four shots from the three-point arc with rookie Clark Bautista nailing 12 markers.
Ateneo grabbed an early 24-11 lead in the second quarter but Cruz and Ababou to combine for 18 points in the second quarter to cut the margin to 38-35 at halftime.
Adolfo, also hauled down 10 rebounds in his 29 minutes of action.
"Natutuwa ako at nagstep-up siya (Adolfo) bilang big man dahil ang daming foul trouble ng mga big men ko," FEU coach Glenn Capacio said.
Benedict Fernandez chipped in 14 points –all in the second half – while pointguard Mark Barroca added 13 markers.
FEU led 32-30 at halftime behind Barroca’s 10 points, but Adolfo and Fernandez conspired for 23 points for a 59-45 advantage in the third.
Adamson fell into a three-way tie for last place with NU and University of the Philippines with similar 2-7 cards.
Mike Galinato led Adamson with 12 points while Colina finished with a double-double of 10 markers and 11 boards.
Not even the thunderstorm could cool off Ateneo star Chris Tiu yesterday.
In what could be his finest game in a stellar collegiate career, Tiu sizzled for a career-high 29 points as Ateneo blew past University of Santo Tomas, 85-76, to boost its Final Four bid in the UAAP basketball tournament on a wet day at the Philsports Arena.
The 5-foot-11 Tiu highlighted his game-long brilliance with three triples aside from posting a near-perfect 14-of-15 shooting from the free throw area to help the Eagles notch their 8th win in 9 games.
In the first game, Far Eastern University snapped a two-game losing streak behind Marlon Adolfo’s second-half explosion to beat Adamson University, 70-62.
Adolfo scattered 15 of his 18 points in the last two quarters as the Tamaraws erected a 14-point lead en route to their 6th win in 9 starts.
For the second time, Rabeh Al-Hussaini outshone reigning MVP and UST counterpart Jervy Cruz as the 6-foot-6 center tallied 24 points and five rebounds.
"Our top two players really played well, they really made some crucial shots in the end," said Ateneo coach Norman Black. "UST still hurt us on the boards but we were able to shoot a high percentage from the floor which really helped us out."
Black, however, remained cautious about their efforts before the end of the season.
"The key is that we understand that we are the best team but we have to play our A game every time, it’s not time for us to be confident," said Black. "Our aim is to get into the Final Four and play our best game come September."
To underscore his strength down low, Al-Hussaini converted 10 consecutive points at one point as Ateneo eventually took a 63-55 lead in the third while Tiu had 11 in the final canto, most of them from the stripe as the the Blue Eagles took a 75-62 edge.
That run was aided by a triple from Eric Salamat with 2:21 left in the game.
Salamat, still hampered by a discolated jaw, made 14 points in 21 minutes off the bench.
Cruz, the reigning Most Valuable Player, finished with 23 points and 18 rebounds, 13 of which came in the first half. Dylan Ababou finished with 17 points but missed four shots from the three-point arc with rookie Clark Bautista nailing 12 markers.
Ateneo grabbed an early 24-11 lead in the second quarter but Cruz and Ababou to combine for 18 points in the second quarter to cut the margin to 38-35 at halftime.
Adolfo, also hauled down 10 rebounds in his 29 minutes of action.
"Natutuwa ako at nagstep-up siya (Adolfo) bilang big man dahil ang daming foul trouble ng mga big men ko," FEU coach Glenn Capacio said.
Benedict Fernandez chipped in 14 points –all in the second half – while pointguard Mark Barroca added 13 markers.
FEU led 32-30 at halftime behind Barroca’s 10 points, but Adolfo and Fernandez conspired for 23 points for a 59-45 advantage in the third.
Adamson fell into a three-way tie for last place with NU and University of the Philippines with similar 2-7 cards.
Mike Galinato led Adamson with 12 points while Colina finished with a double-double of 10 markers and 11 boards.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Ateneo eyes win No. 8
By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - August 14, 2008
Ateneo tries to boost its Final Four bid when it battles University of Santo Tomas even as Far Eastern University hopes to get back into the winning track today in the 71st UAAP basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena.
The Blue Eagles improved their record to 7-1 after getting back at the Tamaraws, 78-74, last Sunday, in a performance that would serve them well when they clash with the Tigers at 4 p.m.
"I’m expecting that we probably play a lot better," Black said. "We don’t seem to play very well when we have a one week break which we just had so it’s just nice to be able to have a game after last Sunday."
Clashing in the opening game at 2 p.m. are the Tamaraws and the Adamson Falcons with the Morayta-based squad aching to end a two-game slump after winning five of their first six games.
Black expects another tough and exciting battle with the Tigers whom they beat 64-57 in the first round.
Team captain Chris Tiu and reserve guard Eric Salamat are expected to show their stuff anew together with Rookie of the Year favorite Ryan Buenafe.
On the other side, UST mentor Pido Jarencio is hoping that his team can pull off an upset this time against the Eagles.
"Sana maka-tsamba," said Jarencio. "Alam naman natin ang Ateneo malakas this year."
With point guard Japs Cuan back in harness after suffering a torn meniscus, UST will have a complete lineup against the Eagles this time.
Dylan Ababou is out to redeem himself from a miserable shooting performance in their first meeting while Francis Allera and Khasim Mirza are aching to have stellar roles anew.
Expected to provide a subplot is the showdown between reigning MVP Jervy Cruz of UST and Rabeh Al-Hussaini of Ateneo in the shaded area.
Just like the 6-foot-4 Ababou, Cruz is also expected to go all-out after being held to just eight points and 15 boards in their first-round encounter. Cruz was brilliant in the team’s 97-83 win over the Falcons last Sunday as he tallied 29 points and 15 rebounds.
"He’s the MVP, he’s unstoppable, last time we were able to stop him and we just imagine that he has a lot of revenge coming into his mind," Black said of Cruz.
Ateneo tries to boost its Final Four bid when it battles University of Santo Tomas even as Far Eastern University hopes to get back into the winning track today in the 71st UAAP basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena.
The Blue Eagles improved their record to 7-1 after getting back at the Tamaraws, 78-74, last Sunday, in a performance that would serve them well when they clash with the Tigers at 4 p.m.
"I’m expecting that we probably play a lot better," Black said. "We don’t seem to play very well when we have a one week break which we just had so it’s just nice to be able to have a game after last Sunday."
Clashing in the opening game at 2 p.m. are the Tamaraws and the Adamson Falcons with the Morayta-based squad aching to end a two-game slump after winning five of their first six games.
Black expects another tough and exciting battle with the Tigers whom they beat 64-57 in the first round.
Team captain Chris Tiu and reserve guard Eric Salamat are expected to show their stuff anew together with Rookie of the Year favorite Ryan Buenafe.
On the other side, UST mentor Pido Jarencio is hoping that his team can pull off an upset this time against the Eagles.
"Sana maka-tsamba," said Jarencio. "Alam naman natin ang Ateneo malakas this year."
With point guard Japs Cuan back in harness after suffering a torn meniscus, UST will have a complete lineup against the Eagles this time.
Dylan Ababou is out to redeem himself from a miserable shooting performance in their first meeting while Francis Allera and Khasim Mirza are aching to have stellar roles anew.
Expected to provide a subplot is the showdown between reigning MVP Jervy Cruz of UST and Rabeh Al-Hussaini of Ateneo in the shaded area.
Just like the 6-foot-4 Ababou, Cruz is also expected to go all-out after being held to just eight points and 15 boards in their first-round encounter. Cruz was brilliant in the team’s 97-83 win over the Falcons last Sunday as he tallied 29 points and 15 rebounds.
"He’s the MVP, he’s unstoppable, last time we were able to stop him and we just imagine that he has a lot of revenge coming into his mind," Black said of Cruz.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Sweet revenge for Blue Eagles
By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - August 10, 2008
Ateneo survived a late rally by Far Eastern University to eke out a vengeful 78-74 win and remain on top in the 71st UAAP basketball tournament at the PhilSports Arena.
The Blue Eagles pulled away in the second half with a huge 15-point cushion before warding off a late rally by the Tamaraws down the stretch to improve their win-loss record to 7-1.
"We really concentrated on our defensive rebounds because we gave FEU a lot of offensive rebounds," said Ateneo coach Norman Black. "They made a rally but luckily we have enough energy to hang on and get the win."
In the first game, University of Santo Tomas rode on the heroics of Jervy Cruz to open its second round assignments with a 97-83 victory over the struggling Adamson University.
Cruz, the reigning Most Valuable Player and the top player in the statistical points race after the first round, scored 29 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as he led four Tigers in double figures.
Eric Salamat, who dislocated his jaw in their victory against UST last Sunday, had a strong game off the bench for Ateneo with 18 points as he hit of 4-of-5 from way beyond the arc.
Chris Tiu and Rabeh Al-Hussaini contributed 16 points each while rookie sensation Ryan Buenafe chipped in 10 markers.
Salamat, a former San Sebastian Staglet, hit 10 points in a huge 15-3 blast bridging the third and fourth periods as Ateneo grabbed a commanding 67-52 lead with 8:10 left in the game.
But FEU made a huge run towards the end as Benedict Fernandez and Mark Barroca joined forces to cut Ateneo’s lead down to just two, 76-74, with 1:03 remaining.
However, Al-Hussaini scored off Riel Cervantes at the post with 51.9 ticks to go to seal the final score.
Cervantes led the Tamaraws with 14 points and six rebounds as they dropped their second straight game to fall to 5-3. Paul Sanga and Fernandez made 13 and 11 points apiece.
Ateneo erased a 27-19 deficit to take a 36-33 halftime margin off a triple by Jai Reyes at the buzzer.
The victory allowed UST to tie University of the East in the fourth spot with similar 4-4 win-loss record.
Mark Canlas chipped in 13 points and 10 rebounds while Clark Bautista had another sterling performance with 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting from the three-point area.
"Dalawa lang naman sinabi ko sa mga bata, desire tapos yung commitment. Talagang dapat every game ibigay nila lahat, kapag meron yung tingin ko matibay kami kaya from the start pa lang aggressive kami," UST mentor Pido Jarencio said .
Meanwhile, defending champion De La Salle-Zobel stretched its unbeaten streak in juniors hostilities by defeating UST, 65-56, at the Blue Eagle gym.
Nico Elorde and Luis dela Paz led the Bengals with 14 and 13 points, respectively, while Matthew Capacio tallied 12 points and eight rebounds as DLSZ extended its win run to 8.
In the other juniors’ contest, National University defeated winless UPIS, 75-69, to improve to a 3-5 slate while handing the Pages their eighth straight setback.
UST took its biggest lead of the game at 20 points, 32-12, during the second quarter.
Cruz hit 12 markers in the first half to help the Tigers grab the comfortable 44-29 halftime lead.
But the Falcons slowly trimmed down the lead to five, 49-44, as Jerick Canada hit a fastbreak layup with 6:14 to go in the third frame.
The Espana-based dribblers, however, countered with an 11-3 run which was capped by Bautista’s triple to push the Falcons back in a shouting distance, 60-47, with 3:52 left.
While Adamson pulled closer at the end of the third, 70-61, the Tigers sealed the win as Cruz scored 11 points while Canlas tallied six markers in that final canto.
Big man Jan Colina and Paul Gonzalgo led the chare with 20 points apiece while Canada produced 15 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists for the Falcons who dropped to 2-4 to join host University of the Philippines and National University at the cellar.
UST point guard Japs Cuan played his first game since suffering a torn meniscus and made two points in eight minutes.
Ateneo survived a late rally by Far Eastern University to eke out a vengeful 78-74 win and remain on top in the 71st UAAP basketball tournament at the PhilSports Arena.
The Blue Eagles pulled away in the second half with a huge 15-point cushion before warding off a late rally by the Tamaraws down the stretch to improve their win-loss record to 7-1.
"We really concentrated on our defensive rebounds because we gave FEU a lot of offensive rebounds," said Ateneo coach Norman Black. "They made a rally but luckily we have enough energy to hang on and get the win."
In the first game, University of Santo Tomas rode on the heroics of Jervy Cruz to open its second round assignments with a 97-83 victory over the struggling Adamson University.
Cruz, the reigning Most Valuable Player and the top player in the statistical points race after the first round, scored 29 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as he led four Tigers in double figures.
Eric Salamat, who dislocated his jaw in their victory against UST last Sunday, had a strong game off the bench for Ateneo with 18 points as he hit of 4-of-5 from way beyond the arc.
Chris Tiu and Rabeh Al-Hussaini contributed 16 points each while rookie sensation Ryan Buenafe chipped in 10 markers.
Salamat, a former San Sebastian Staglet, hit 10 points in a huge 15-3 blast bridging the third and fourth periods as Ateneo grabbed a commanding 67-52 lead with 8:10 left in the game.
But FEU made a huge run towards the end as Benedict Fernandez and Mark Barroca joined forces to cut Ateneo’s lead down to just two, 76-74, with 1:03 remaining.
However, Al-Hussaini scored off Riel Cervantes at the post with 51.9 ticks to go to seal the final score.
Cervantes led the Tamaraws with 14 points and six rebounds as they dropped their second straight game to fall to 5-3. Paul Sanga and Fernandez made 13 and 11 points apiece.
Ateneo erased a 27-19 deficit to take a 36-33 halftime margin off a triple by Jai Reyes at the buzzer.
The victory allowed UST to tie University of the East in the fourth spot with similar 4-4 win-loss record.
Mark Canlas chipped in 13 points and 10 rebounds while Clark Bautista had another sterling performance with 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting from the three-point area.
"Dalawa lang naman sinabi ko sa mga bata, desire tapos yung commitment. Talagang dapat every game ibigay nila lahat, kapag meron yung tingin ko matibay kami kaya from the start pa lang aggressive kami," UST mentor Pido Jarencio said .
Meanwhile, defending champion De La Salle-Zobel stretched its unbeaten streak in juniors hostilities by defeating UST, 65-56, at the Blue Eagle gym.
Nico Elorde and Luis dela Paz led the Bengals with 14 and 13 points, respectively, while Matthew Capacio tallied 12 points and eight rebounds as DLSZ extended its win run to 8.
In the other juniors’ contest, National University defeated winless UPIS, 75-69, to improve to a 3-5 slate while handing the Pages their eighth straight setback.
UST took its biggest lead of the game at 20 points, 32-12, during the second quarter.
Cruz hit 12 markers in the first half to help the Tigers grab the comfortable 44-29 halftime lead.
But the Falcons slowly trimmed down the lead to five, 49-44, as Jerick Canada hit a fastbreak layup with 6:14 to go in the third frame.
The Espana-based dribblers, however, countered with an 11-3 run which was capped by Bautista’s triple to push the Falcons back in a shouting distance, 60-47, with 3:52 left.
While Adamson pulled closer at the end of the third, 70-61, the Tigers sealed the win as Cruz scored 11 points while Canlas tallied six markers in that final canto.
Big man Jan Colina and Paul Gonzalgo led the chare with 20 points apiece while Canada produced 15 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists for the Falcons who dropped to 2-4 to join host University of the Philippines and National University at the cellar.
UST point guard Japs Cuan played his first game since suffering a torn meniscus and made two points in eight minutes.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Eagles try to get back at Tamaraws
By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - August 9, 2008
Last Thursday, defending champion La Salle and National University got back at their first round tormentors.
League-leading Ateneo hopes to do the same today against Far Eastern University as the Eagles seek to boost their Final Four bid in the UAAP basketball tournament at the PhilSports Arena.
The Blue Eagles were denied of a first-round sweep after losing to the Tamaraws, 72-66, last July 31. But they hope to erase that stigma when they clash with the Tamaraws at 4 p.m.
The Archers beat the University of the East Warriors, 70-62, while the Bulldogs ripped the University of the Philippines Maroons, 72-59.
Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas hopes to start its second round campaign on a winning note when it tangles with Adamson University in the 2 p.m. opener.
In FEU’s win over Ateneo, coach Glenn Capacio leaned on big men Riel Cervantes, Aldrech Ramos and Benedict Fernandez who came through with clutch plays to frustrate the Eagles’ sweep bid.
It also negated the monster game of Rabeh Al-Hussaini, who finished with 33 points and 22 rebounds.
Coach Norman Black is expected to make key adjustments to exact sweet revenge.
"We just lost to them, it’s quite fresh in our minds so after the first round we started preparing for this game," Black said.
Aside from Al-Hussaini, who was running second in the statistical points race after the first round, Ateneo will also rely on Chris Tiu, Noy Baclao, and Eric Salamat.
FEU, for its part, hopes to bounce back from a stinging loss to erstwhile winless National University, 69-61.
Meantime, the Tigers relied on leading scorer Dylan Ababou and rookie Clark Bautista to score an 86-80 overtime win over the Falcons.
Despite getting a good review before the start of the tournament, the Tigers could only post a 3-4 record at the end of the first round. They are coming off a 64-57 defeat to Ateneo last Sunday.
Aside from Ababou, Jervy Cruz, last year’s MVP and Francis Allera have to play hard and connect to beat the Falcons again.
Adamson, meanwhile, has dropped its last three games to end the first round with a 2-5 card but coach Leo Austria is hoping that Marc Agustin, Mike Galinato, and Jerick Canada could recover from a scoring slump to reverse their floundering fortunes.
Last Thursday, defending champion La Salle and National University got back at their first round tormentors.
League-leading Ateneo hopes to do the same today against Far Eastern University as the Eagles seek to boost their Final Four bid in the UAAP basketball tournament at the PhilSports Arena.
The Blue Eagles were denied of a first-round sweep after losing to the Tamaraws, 72-66, last July 31. But they hope to erase that stigma when they clash with the Tamaraws at 4 p.m.
The Archers beat the University of the East Warriors, 70-62, while the Bulldogs ripped the University of the Philippines Maroons, 72-59.
Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas hopes to start its second round campaign on a winning note when it tangles with Adamson University in the 2 p.m. opener.
In FEU’s win over Ateneo, coach Glenn Capacio leaned on big men Riel Cervantes, Aldrech Ramos and Benedict Fernandez who came through with clutch plays to frustrate the Eagles’ sweep bid.
It also negated the monster game of Rabeh Al-Hussaini, who finished with 33 points and 22 rebounds.
Coach Norman Black is expected to make key adjustments to exact sweet revenge.
"We just lost to them, it’s quite fresh in our minds so after the first round we started preparing for this game," Black said.
Aside from Al-Hussaini, who was running second in the statistical points race after the first round, Ateneo will also rely on Chris Tiu, Noy Baclao, and Eric Salamat.
FEU, for its part, hopes to bounce back from a stinging loss to erstwhile winless National University, 69-61.
Meantime, the Tigers relied on leading scorer Dylan Ababou and rookie Clark Bautista to score an 86-80 overtime win over the Falcons.
Despite getting a good review before the start of the tournament, the Tigers could only post a 3-4 record at the end of the first round. They are coming off a 64-57 defeat to Ateneo last Sunday.
Aside from Ababou, Jervy Cruz, last year’s MVP and Francis Allera have to play hard and connect to beat the Falcons again.
Adamson, meanwhile, has dropped its last three games to end the first round with a 2-5 card but coach Leo Austria is hoping that Marc Agustin, Mike Galinato, and Jerick Canada could recover from a scoring slump to reverse their floundering fortunes.
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