The 2012 Filoil Flying V Preseason Hanes Cup: Opening Day Notes, Scores and Photos

The collegiate wars have begun!!!

*All images are by Carl Sta. Ana/Filoil Flying V Sports

Notes:

- The Ateneo Blue Eagles performed below lofty expectations, but it was still enough to get by a depleted Letran Knights squad. Greg Slaughter was just okay on offense in this game, considering how Letran big man Raymond Almazan didn’t play. I had expected Greg to dominate more, but I guess the smaller, but quicker, bigs of the Knights hounded him no end. He did impress with 15 rebounds and 3 blocks, though.

- Kiefer Ravena, I think, was the main reason Ateneo won. He shot poorly from the field overall (just 30%), but he did hit half his treys and made all but one of his freebies. He also churned out 7 boards, 4 dimes and 3 thefts to emphasize his all-around game.

- Ryan Buenafe was underwhelming, too. He chose to be more of a facilitator rather than a scorer. As a result, he got 3 assists. Perhaps he’s still trying to get his feel for the game.

- Juami Tiongson struggled against Letran’s guards, which isn’t really a big problem right now. This is going to be his first season as the first-tier PG for Ateneo, and there will be a period of adjustment. I just hope he’ll be able to adjust faster than expected.

- Props to Letran for really taking it to Ateneo. Even without Almazan and Franz Dysam, and with star shooter Kevin Alas playing sparingly, they gave the UAAP champs a big scare. Jam Cortes, Kevin Racal, and Mark Cruz all finished in twin digits to serve notice that they will be a force in the coming NCAA season.

- Boy, those Lions are still mighty dangerous. Even without many of last season’s stars and Frankie Lim, they will still be the clear favorites in the NCAA. Julius Armon will be awesome this season. Ola Adeogun, too, but we already knew that didn’t we? The key, I think, will be the backcourt. Of the guys left, I think both Anjo Caram and Baser Amer have to really step up to fill in the void left by Garvo Lanete.

- DLSU still seemed like a work-in-progress, but they did show flashes of brilliance. Norbert Torres played well, ending with a nice double-double (12 points & 10 boards), but it was Jovet Mendoza who really impressed me. I think it’d be better to start him alongside Torres and just have AVO sub in. As a whole, no matter what system is used, La Salle still has to solve one big problem – anemic shooting. They shot just 32% from the field. Against the really tough teams (and that means almost every team in the UAAP), that just won’t do.

- Man, NU looked sharp against the Bombers. Emmanue Mbe had a monstrous double-double (22 and 13), while Ray Parks was his usual awesome all-around self. If they can find some consistency, then these Bulldogs might be looking at a banner year.

- As a sidenote, I’m hoping and praying that the Filoil organizers will find a way to post the game stats online. They did it so well last year, so I don’t see any reason why it would be such a hard thing to do this time around.

Scores and Images after the JUMP!

ADMU Blue Eagles over CSJL Knights, 55-51

ADMU 55 – Slaughter 14, Ravena 13, Gonzaga 7, Tiongson 4, Chua 4, Elorde 2, Erram 2, Salva 2, Capacio 2, Porter 2, Golla 1, Sumalinog 1, Buenafe 1, Pessumal 0, Babilonia 0

CSJL 51 – Cortes 15, Racal 10, Cruz 10, Lituania 8, Gabriel 6, Gabawan 2, Belorio 0, Alas J 0, Pantin 0, Luib 0, Alas K 0, Cudal 0

QS: 16-12, 31-21, 45-42, 55-51

Greg Slaughter was hounded and hampered by
the smaller Letran frontline.

Joel Gabriel scoots in for an easy deuce!

Tonio Gonzaga rifles one from the elbow!

SBC Red Lions over DLSU Green Archers, 69-63

SBC 69 – Caram 15, Armon 11, Adeogun 10, Koga 8, Dela Rosa 7, Dela Cruz 5, Lim 5, Pascual J 4, Pascual K 2, Ludovice 2, Amer 0, Mendoza 0, Moralde 0

DLSU 63 – Torres N 12, Teng 8, Mendoza 8, De la Paz 6, Webb 6, Andrada 6, Revilla 5, Paredes 4, Vosotros 3, Tallo 3, Tampus 2, Gotladera 0, Torres T 0, Reyes 0

QS: 13-6, 31-22, 49-34, 69-63

Julius Armon gave a good account of himself
against the Archers.

Jeron Teng scored 8 points in his collegiate debut!

Ola Adeogun gets challenged by DLSU's
Jovet Mendoza.

NU Bulldogs over JRU Heavy Bombers, 99-48

NU 99 – Mbe 22, Parks 17, Neypes 12, De Guzman 9, Villamor 9, Javillonar 7, Celda 7, Alolino 6, Betayene 3, Singh 3, Labing-isa 2, Roño 2, Ignacio 0

DLSU 63 – Matute 11, Lopez 8, Carampil 6, Camasura 4, Monserat 4, Dela Paz 4, Mabulac 3, Rebugio 3, Mendoza 3, Villarias 2, Maconconido 0, Paniamogan 0, Munez 0, Salaveria 0, Guiang 0, Dizon 0

QS: 35-18, 53-29, 83-36, 99-48