What a way to open the best-of-three title clash. Ateneo de Manila University leaned on its poise and experience in crunch time to escape the never-say-die University of Santo Tomas (UST) last Saturday and draw first blood in their heated affair. Of course, it ain’t a UAAP Finals without some controversy. Irked by the allegedly biased officiating, UST fiery mentor Pido Jarencio unleashed a stinging tirade against the league and not-so-subtle jabs at Ateneo head coach Norman Black. So to cool things off a bit, here are some numbers to chew on from Game 1.
77.8%
The percentage of Game 1 winners that went on to claim the title since the Final Four format was instituted in 1994. In the 18 finals series, 14 teams that took the opener of the best-of-three duel trooped all the way to the Promised Land. Ateneo has done it in its last four championship stints. The Blue Eagles, however, are also the last squad to drop the crown despite winning Game 1, losing to, incidentally, UST in 2006. The Growling Tigers have accomplished the rarer feat thrice.
30
The number of points scored by Nico Salva in Game 1 of the Finals—his career-high. The graduating forward couldn’t have picked a better day to pour in his personal best in the UAAP as he carried Ateneo in the close victory over UST. The reigning Finals MVP set the tone early for the Blue Eagles as he scattered 11 points in the first quarter. He continued his scoring onslaught throughout the game with his assortment of moves inside and of course, his automatic midrange jumper.
17-0
The scoring run made by Ateneo in the opening half of the third quarter. The Blue Eagles simply annihilated UST in the opening minutes of the period as they turned a 38-31 halftime deficit into a 48-38 lead. The hoop was wider the Grand Canyon for the boys from Loyola as they sank shot after shot after shot, while holding the dumb-founded Growling Tigers scoreless for over six minutes. They really know when to turn on the cylinders. They’re not four-time reigning champs for nothing.
10
The rebounding difference between Ateneo and UST in Game 1. In a tightly contested game, crashing the boards played the deciding factor. The Blue Eagles grabbed 45, while the Growling Tigers only managed 35, nine below their 44.2 average, which is third best in the league. The Men in Blue capitalized on their offensive rebounding edge, scoring 10 second chance points. The España boys, on the other hand, tallied a jaw-dropping total of zero. That’s the swing stat right there.
9
The number of points scored by Karim Abdul in Game of the Finals—his season low. In stark contrast to Salva, the sophomore UST center couldn’t have picked a worse time to register his first single digit output since August 2011. The Cameroonian just looked lost out there as he lacked the aggressiveness and grittiness he has shown all season long. He also grabbed six lowly rebounds, a far cry from his 12.2 average, which is tops in the league. Could it be the finals jitters?
That quick, like a bullet pass on the break, the Final Four is over. What seemed like a long wait for the semifinals ended in just a little over four hours, and you have most of the guys on the list to blame. Or thank if you study in Katipunan or España. Except for one phenomenal guard, majority of the stars who were expected to shine last week didn’t. Luckily, several players stepped up to the plate and made a good account of themselves in the crucial stage of the tournament.
1. Kiefer Ravena - Ateneo
Win vs. La Salle: 28 Pts, 12 Rebs, 7 Asts
Returnee
As mentioned here before, Ray Parks and Terrence Romeo could gobble up the glitzy headlines all season long, but when the game that counts the most arrives, expect “The Phenom” to rise. His desire and competitiveness are just cut from a different cloth. He single-handedly carried Ateneo out of the doldrums against La Salle, spearheading a searing 17-4 run in the final salvo to pull off a come-from-behind win and enter the finals. It’s a sin to count out any team Ravena is part of.
2. Kevin Ferrer – UST
Win vs. NU: 17 Pts, 3 3FGs, 4 Rebs
Newcomer
What a way for Ferrer to announce his first inclusion to the Power Rankings this season. The gazelle-like forward set the pace for UST last Saturday as he poured in 15 of his game-high and season-high 17 points in the first half, including an acrobatic no-look lay-up in the second quarter. But more importantly, the former UAAP Juniors MVP put the cuffs on Parks, who bled for 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting. The Growling Tigers will be even more dangerous when this kid clicks.
3. Karim Abdul – UST
Win vs. NU: 15 Pts, 8 Rebs, 2 Stls
Last week: No. 5
Once again, like what he has done all season long, Abdul served as UST’s stabilizing factor in its Final Four face-off versus NU. Whenever the Growling Tigers needed a basket, they simply dumped the ball inside to the Cameroonian and he delivered. Oh, he also made a three-pointer. But what went unnoticed was his terrific defense on compatriot Emmanuel Mbe, who only had four points. Parks may have topped the MVP race, but this guy has led his team to the ultimate round.
4. Yutien Andrada – La Salle
Loss vs. Ateneo: 17 Pts, 6 Rebs, 3 Blks
Newcomer
One has to really feel for Andrada, who played his heart out in a breakout performance in a do-or-die game. The former San Sebastian Staglet finished with his career-high in points, while doing the other intangibles. He even outplayed Greg Slaughter despite giving up a few inches. He deflected the Ateneo giant’s shots and scored against him with reverse lay-ins. While earning a spot on the list is hardly consolation, proper recognition is due for this hardworking La Salle slotman.
5. Jeoffrey Javillonar – NU
Loss vs. UST: 15 Pts, 11 Rebs, 2 Asts
Returnee
Javillonar also played one heck of a game in a losing effort, tallying his first ever double-double. He also had the willingness to attempt a crucial three in the clutch. Even though he missed, it’s those kinds of failures that will only make him a better player. The former RP Youth player played with a purpose against UST and it showed in his grittiness on the floor. Now that he has Final Four experience, expect him and the rest of the Bulldogs to exude more confidence next season.
With their flickering hopes dying down, it was a Bear that carried the Green Archers out of the woods.
De La Salle University leaned on an astounding fourth-quarter blitz led by Norbert Torres to fire past Far Eastern University, 69-66, in the 75th UAAP men's basketball tournament Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Archers toiled through three quarters of seemingly uninspired basketball before a 17-0 charge in the last period shoved them into the Final Four that starts on Saturday.
Torres, the burly forward-center raised in Canada, scored 10 of his points in the blistering run that turned a 60-50 deficit to a 67-60 bubble with less than a minute remaining.
La Salle then withstood back-to-back triples by Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia to arrange a blockbuster semifinals showdown with archrival and top-seeded Ateneo de Manila University.
"It all boiled down to defense," rookie coach Gee Abanilla said. "The fourth quarter was really crucial for us."
Torres wounded up with 21 markers and 13 boards while presumptive Rookie of the Year Jeron Teng had 15 points to help the Taft-based squad return to the playoffs after a one-year absence.
On the other hand, Romeo endured a horrid shooting night and finished with 13 points while graduating forward Mark Bringas had 12 markers in his final game for FEU.
Former MVP Garcia, rumored to be leaving the Tamaraws' lair after this season, only had five points before his last-ditch triple and Arvie Bringas, back from a two-game suspension, only had two points.
The scores:
DLSU (69) - N. Torres 21, Teng 15, Vosotros 9, Van Opstal 8, T. Torres 7, Mendoza 7, Andrada 2, Webb 0, Manguera 0, Tampus 0, Revilla 0
FEU (66) - Romeo 13, M. Bringas 12, Garcia 8, Hargrove 7, Mendoza 7, Pogoy 6, Belo 5, Escoto 4, A. Bringas 2, Tolomia 2, Sentcheu 0, Foronda 0, Cruz 0
Quarters: 13-19, 28-35, 46-52, 69-66
De La Salle University leaned on an astounding fourth-quarter blitz led by Norbert Torres to fire past Far Eastern University, 69-66, in the 75th UAAP men's basketball tournament Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Archers toiled through three quarters of seemingly uninspired basketball before a 17-0 charge in the last period shoved them into the Final Four that starts on Saturday.
Torres, the burly forward-center raised in Canada, scored 10 of his points in the blistering run that turned a 60-50 deficit to a 67-60 bubble with less than a minute remaining.
La Salle then withstood back-to-back triples by Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia to arrange a blockbuster semifinals showdown with archrival and top-seeded Ateneo de Manila University.
"It all boiled down to defense," rookie coach Gee Abanilla said. "The fourth quarter was really crucial for us."
Torres wounded up with 21 markers and 13 boards while presumptive Rookie of the Year Jeron Teng had 15 points to help the Taft-based squad return to the playoffs after a one-year absence.
On the other hand, Romeo endured a horrid shooting night and finished with 13 points while graduating forward Mark Bringas had 12 markers in his final game for FEU.
Former MVP Garcia, rumored to be leaving the Tamaraws' lair after this season, only had five points before his last-ditch triple and Arvie Bringas, back from a two-game suspension, only had two points.
The scores:
DLSU (69) - N. Torres 21, Teng 15, Vosotros 9, Van Opstal 8, T. Torres 7, Mendoza 7, Andrada 2, Webb 0, Manguera 0, Tampus 0, Revilla 0
FEU (66) - Romeo 13, M. Bringas 12, Garcia 8, Hargrove 7, Mendoza 7, Pogoy 6, Belo 5, Escoto 4, A. Bringas 2, Tolomia 2, Sentcheu 0, Foronda 0, Cruz 0
Quarters: 13-19, 28-35, 46-52, 69-66
Gritty Bulldogs outlast Tams, gain Final 4
After 14 games full of side stories that can make up a book, National University is officially in the Final Four.
The Bulldogs broke a decade-long spell, scraping past Far Eastern University, 84-81, in a pulsating overtime thriller in the 75th UAAP men's basketball tournament Sunday at a packed Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Reigning MVP Bobby Ray Parks scored five of his game-high 27 points in the last 31.4 seconds to help NU come back from a six-point deficit in the extra period and essay just their second entry into the playoffs since 1994.
"This is where we wanna be from the very start of the season," said a visibly relieved Coach Eric Altamirano. "There were a lot of setbacks but I kept reminding the boys that God has a plan for us."
The win sent the Sampaloc-based squad into a triple tie with their victims and De La Salle University at 9-5 but gets into the Final Four with a superior quotient.
"This win is very significant for the NU community," Altamirano added.
After Gryann Mendoza missed a trey that could have won it for the Tamaraws in regulation, Terrence Romeo strung up four straight points as FEU took a 79-73 advantage in overtime.
Emmanuel Mbe, though, started the Bulldogs' fightback, sinking a free throw and putting in a basket that trimmed the lead to three, 79-76.
After NU missed five consecutive attempts from rainbow territory, Mark De Guzman finally drained one to tie it before Parks rifled in another trifecta that rocked the Big Dome and put them up, 82-79.
Ryan Roose Garcia sank two free throws in the ensuing play but Parks iced the game with a couple of freebies of his own with 16.7 ticks remaining.
"Those things (setbacks) happen for a reason," Altamirano shared. "Siguro yung reason is to make us tougher. We never gave up. We just kept coming."
Parks finished with 27 points and nine rebounds while Mbe piled up a sterling performance with 25 markers and 13 boards for the Bulldogs, which shot 57.1% from within the arc.
On the other hand, Romeo wounded up with 25 points on seven-of-19 shooting even as Garcia also posted 13 points and nine boards.
The Tamaraws will face the Green Archers in a playoff for the last Final Four berth on Wednesday, 3:30pm at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
NU, meanwhile, prepares for its much-awaited semifinals showdown with University of Santo Tomas next weekend.
The scores:
NU (84) - Parks 27, Mbe 25, Neypes 7, Alolino 7, Javillonar 6, De Guzman 5, Betayene 5, Singh 2, Villamor 0, Rono 0, Khobuntin 0
FEU (81) - Romeo 25, Garcia 13, Tolomia 10, Hargrove 7, Pogoy 6, Mendoza 5, Escoto 5, Belo 4, Foronda 3, Bringas 3, Cruz 0
Quarters: 23-20, 37-42, 60-55, 73-73, 84-81
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