This is a wonderful time to be a fan of UAAP
basketball (if you’re a fan of Ateneo basketball, maybe not so much).
As of this writing, only one team – the seemingly
overachieving FEU Tamaraws – is undefeated at 4-0. UST follows them closely at
3-1, while NU and Adamson are tied for third with 2-1 slates. DLSU is next at
2-2, with UE, the preseason Filoil champs, at 1-3. Ateneo, a perennial Final
Four team, is bringing up the rear alongside UP at 0-3.
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| Jeron Teng turned the ball over at a key moment and that allowed FEU to force overtime. |
In terms of wins, there are certain teams ahead of
the pack, but if one looks at how majority of the games have been played, it’s
pretty clear that the level of parity in this season is something to marvel at.
UE and Ateneo, in particular, despite what their standings might suggest,
nearly won a couple of their own assignments. FEU, despite being undefeated,
could have folded against Ateneo last week and against La Salle yesterday, but
they didn’t. In terms of depth, the Tams aren’t the most imposing team around,
but their performance has really been quite impressive.
The Bulldogs and Soaring Falcons are both favored to
win their assignments today, and should they stay true to form, there will be a
triple-tie for second place – UST, NU, and Adamson. And three relatively deep
teams – DLSU, UE, and Ateneo – will be outside looking in. UE actually should
have had a better chance to win yesterday, of course, had Charles Mammie played
(but we all know what happened, don’t we?).
In short, this has been a heck of an amazing start to
Season 76. The defending champs are at the bottom of the standings, while six
other Final Four-worthy rosters are fighting in the trenches. It will be very
interesting to see how things wind up in the first round, and how things pan
out in the second.
Who will be the team to hand FEU and coach Nash
Racela their first loss of the season, or will they even lose at all?
Will Ray Parks win another MVP and finally lead the
Bulldogs to their first championship in eons?
Will UE live up to the hype created by its preseason
romp?
Will UST exorcise the Championship demons of last
season and secure another crown for coach Pido?
Will Adamson be able to sustain its hot shooting and
grant coach Leo Austria an elusive Final Four berth?
Will the Archers return to the Final Four despite the
whirlwind of changes they have had to go through this year?
Will Ateneo find a way to get into the thick of
things despite all of the early setbacks they’ve absorbed?
Will UP… umm… win even once?
Will Kyles Lao bag the Rookie of the Year plum? I
mean, who else is there?
And, finally, what will happen when Jeric Teng (or
Jeron) meets Jeoff Javillonar in the second round? Or, why wait, what will
happen if any of the Tengs bump into him in the same arena?
Despite my Eagles flying low, I am loving Season 76
because, hey, it is definitely anybody’s year.
AdU
SOARING FALCONS over UE RED WARRIORS, 78-71
ADU 78- Cabrera 19, Sewa 15, Cruz 10, Julikpli 6, Brondial 6,
Inigo 5, Rios 4, Petilos 4, Agustin 4, Abrigo 4, Monteclaro 1, Trollano 0
UE 71- Sumang 26, Casajeros 14, Mammie 9, Sumido 6, Santos
4, Javier 4, Olivarez 2, Noble 2, Jumao-as 2, Alberto 2, Pujante 0, Hernandez
0, Galanza 0, Flores 0
QS: 27-14,
50-25, 68-45, 78-71
Key
Performances:
Roider Cabrera (Adu) – 19pts, 5 triples
Ingrid Sewa (AdU) – 15pts, 11rebs, 2blks, 1stl
Roi Sumang (UE) – 26pts, 3asts, 2stls, 4 triples
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| Roider Cabrera was on fire in the first half of Adamson's game against UE. |
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| Charles Mammie collars the rebound. |
NU
BULLDOGS over UST GROWLING TIGERS,
NU 71- Parks 20, Mbe 17, Rosario 12, Alolino 8, Villamor 5,
Javillonar 3, Rono 2, Porter 2, Khobuntin 2, De Guzman 0, Alejandro 0
UST 67- Ferrer 20, Daquioag 13, Bautista 9, Teng 7, Mariano
7, Abdul 6, Lo 3, Pe 2, So 0, Hainga 0
QS: 22-15,
37-31, 54-44, 71-67
Key
Performances:
Ray Parks (NU) – 20pts, 6rebs, 6asts, 2stls, 2blks
Emmanuel Mbe (NU) – 17pts, 11rebs, 1stl
Kevin Ferrer (UST) – 20pts, 7rebs, 1ast, 1stl
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| Karim Abdul drives on Emmanuel Mbe. |
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| Ray Parks tries to rise over Karim Abdul. |
UST
GROWLING TIGERS over UE RED WARRIORS, 88-77
UST 88– Abdul 25, Mariano 24, Daquioag 19, Ferrer 9, Bautista
8, So 3, Pe 0, Marata 0, Tan 0, Lo 0
UE 77– Sumang 21, Olivarez 15, Javier 10, Casajeros 9,
Santos 6, Sumido 3, Jumao-as 3, Hernandez 3, Alberto 3, Noble 2, Flores 2,
Galanza 0
QS: 16-10, 34-34, 63-56, 88-77
Key
Performances:
Karim Abdul (UST) – 25pts, 13rebs, 4asts, 2stls, 1blk
Aljon Mariano (UST) – 24pts, 11rebs, 3asts, 1blk
Roi Sumang (UE) – 21pts, 8rebs, 6asts, 4 triples
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| Roi Sumang tries to split the defense of UST. |
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| Clark Bautista looks for a teammate. |
FEU
TAMARAWS over DLSU GREEN ARCHERS,
FEU 83- Romeo 25, Garcia 19, Belo 10, Tolomia 9, Pogoy 9,
Hargrove 4, Cruz 4, Mendoza 2, Jose 1, Sentcheu 0.
La Salle
79- Teng 25, Van Opstal 20, Perkins
10, Dela Paz 9, Vosotros 8, T. Torres 4, Revilla 3, N. Torres 0, Tampus 0,
Reyes 0, Montalbo 0.
QS: 17-21,
35-34, 54-58, 75-75, 83-79
Key
Performances:
Terrence Romeo (FEU) – 25pts, 4rebs, 5asts, 2stls
RR Garcia (FEU) – 19pts, 5rebs, 3asts, 2stls, 2blks
Jeron Teng (DLSU) – 25pts, 15rebs, 4asts
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| Norbert Torres loses the handle. |
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| Terrence Romeo has been terrific for the Tamaraws. |
All images by Jan Dizon/Inboundpass.com.
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