In the first overtime game of season 71, the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers outlasted the resilient Adamson University Soaring Falcons 86 - 80 yesterday at the Philsport Arena.

Dylan Ababou and Jervy Cruz carried the fight for the Tigers to finally put away the pesky Falcons in the overtime period.

The Tigers were ahead by 70 - 63 with just 2:14 left in the game. But the Falcons never surrendered, coming up with 10 - 0 attack lead by Paul Gonzalgo, who came up with a steal, a fastbreak lay-up and the go ahead trey to push the Falcons into a 71 - 70 lead.

The Tigers seemed in the brink of defeat after losing the lead. After two free throws by Caniada with 13.7 seconds to go, the game was sent into extra period by a cold-blooded step back trey from Bautista.

In the OT period, Ababou scored nine points to finally took the fight out of the Falcons. The Falcons lost Caniada due to cramps.

The win improved the Tigers to 2-3 while the loss relegated the Falcons to 2 -4.

*****

In the first game, the Ateneo De Manila University continued the woes of the hapless National University 74 - 62.

The Blue Eagles are still undefeated while the Bulldogs has yet to win one.

Read More...

The Far Eastern University Tamaraws showed their title-contention form as they trounced their university belt neighbor, University of the East Warrriors 71 - 69 in the ongoing UAAP Season 71 Men's Senior Basketball competition at the Philsports Arena.

The Tamaraws are missing their second best gunner, Mac Baracael who was shot last Thursday by a yet unidentified gunman but is said to be in stable condition. Despite his absence, the Tams were able to keep instep with the Warriors due to the stellar play of veteran Benedict Fernandez.

The first two quarters saw two treys at the buzzer from both squad. In the first, JR Cawaling nailed a trey to give FEU a 16 - 15 lead. In the second canto, it was Marcy Arellano's rainbow heave from a well-executed play that turned the favor for UE, 33 - 31.

A bliztering start by the Warriors in the second half, propelled them to a big ten-point lead, 43 - 33. But Fernandez scored ten straight points of his own to level the count. The third canto ended with UE still up by two, 55-53.

The pay-off quarter saw two teams battle toe-toe. An Elmer Espiritu offensive rebound and power lay-in knotted the count at 66 all with 52.4 seconds left in the game. In the ensuing play, Barroca found the lane open for an uncontested lay-in putting FEU ahead, 68-66.

UE has actually two chances to tie the game but was thwarted by good inside defense from the Tams. Aldrech Ramos was fouled after getting the defensive rebound and converted two free throws, 70 - 66 with only 9.4 seconds to go.

Thiele's surprised three point basket off the glass helped UE threaten for the last time, 70 - 69.

Mark Barroca was immediately fouled in the next possesion. He made the first free-throw, missed the second but recovered his own miss as the Tamaraws escaped with the win and a 4 - 1 slate.

UE fell to an even 3-3 slate.


*****
In the first game, the De La Salle University Green Archers cruised to its fifth straight win as they crushed the University of the Philippines 82 - 60.

The Archers bench scoring proved to be enough to lead the Archers to another victory and dealt the reeling Maroons to another lopsided loss.


SOME DIVOTS:

I was surprised and moved a bit by the joint entrance of FEU and UE cheering squads in their halftime performance. Its the first time I witnessed a show of unity. I hope other teams will follow.

Coach Glenn Capacio, who I don't personally like because of his past tormenting of my favorite Allan Caidic in their hoop clashes in the past, earned my admiration by two endgame decisions. I hope he can be as successful as Coach Franz Pumaren.

It is interesting that UE has plays named Sacramento and Double Fists. Or I just heard it wrong?

I hope Baracael recovers asap for FEU's sake and the perpetrators of that ghastly shooting be apprehended immediately.

Read More...

2008 UAAP Result: DLSU, UE wins

Posted by doms | Friday, July 25, 2008 | | 0 comments »

The De La Salle Green Archers, perhaps took a page from the Adamson University's win over UE, handled the Falcons seriously in the early goings of the game to notch their fourth win in UAAP Season 71 Men's Senior Basketball yesterday on the Philsports Arena.

The Archer's defense forced the Falcons into numerous turnovers, limited the Falcons' main gunners and cruised to a relatively easy win 76 -71.

JV Casio once again spearheaded the Archers in the win.

*****

The University of East Warriors, meanwhile, vented their ire on host University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons 87 - 58 to bounce back from their upset defeat at the hands of the Falcons.

Hans Thiele scored 15 markers to lead the Warriors in trouncing this year's host. The lead even ballooned to forty points 81 - 41 as the Maroons suffered another setback after winning over NU.

Read More...

A Perfect Game

Posted by doms | Tuesday, July 22, 2008 | | 0 comments »

I just blogged about my first ever perfect game in my primary blog. As a fan, I have yet to witness one.

Bowling, perhaps, is the easiest among sports to accomplish a perfect game. A perfect game in bowling is striking out ten straight times and garnering a score of 300. Even so, it isn't everyday that I hear or read about it.

I know there is also one in baseball. A pitcher is credited a perfect game when no batter reaches base either via a hit or a walk. This is what I am dying to see in an actual game. I saw one in a movie, For the Love of the Game, which starred Kevin Costner as Billy Chapel, on the verge of retirement, accomplishing a perfect game in his last time at the mound.

If all breaks in 9-ball competition turned to a golden break, maybe that will also amount to a perfect game.

I don't know of other perfect game in other sports.

All I pray is that I see one in my lifetime.

Read More...

Adamson soars over UE

The Adamson Univeristy Falcons scored the first upset of the UAAP Season 71 by beating the University of the East Warriors at the Philsports Arena 66 - 64.

Bringing a new-found confidence following their breakthrough win over NU, the Falcons played their advantage inside the paint to the hilt to frustrate the Warriors offense. Ian Colina and Michael Galinato manned the interior effectively for the Falcons as they dealt the Warriors a rare back-to-back loss. The win also gave them a winning streak of their own and tied their victims in the team standings at an even 2-2 slate.

For the second straight game, the Warriors had problems in facing a bigger frontline and was held below 70 points.

After falling behind for the most part, the Warriors made a run in the pay-off period. Martinez made two three pointers early in the fourth quarter after missing his first four shots. Elmer Espiritu gave the Warriors their last taste of the lead at 64 - 63.

But Paul Gonzalgo made a game-winning three-point basket to put the Falcons ahead 66 - 64 with only 1.6 seconds left on the game clock. Marcy Arellano's missed three-point attempt at the buzzer signaled the celebration of players and fans for the major upset.

FEU tame UST

The Far Eastern University Tamaraws rode on the hot hands of Benedict Fernandez to tame the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers 70 - 65 in the ongoing UAAP Season 71 Men's Basketball.

Fernandez finished with 24 points, 15 coming from the rainbow arc. His timely sniping kept the Tamaraws in the second half. The last one pushing the Tams lead to to seven 60 - 53 with six minutes and a half left in the game.

Francis Allera actually matched Fernandez's effort with a season high but was lost to cramps in the third quarter and never returned in the game.

The Tigers countered back with a 12 - 7 run to threaten at 65 - 67 with 1:50 left. The loss of Japs Cuan due to injury for the game became more evident in the endgame as the Tigers failed to execute in their final two possessions.

Mac Baracael's steady free throw shooting sealed the game for the Tamaraws, 70 - 65.

The Tamaraws were able to neutralize UST's main man Jervy Cruz, who fouled out in the ballgame with just 11 points and 3 boards.

The win kept FEU close to the leaders ADMU and DLSU with a 3 -1 standing while UST fell to 1-3.

Read More...

FEU blasts UP

Far Eastern University cruises to an easy win over host University of the Philippines in the first game of a doubleheader in the Philsport Arena in the ongoing 2008 UAAP Season 71 Men's Basketball.

The Tamaraws controlled the game early and never looked back as they get their second win of the season at the expense of the Fighting Maroons. The Maroons face a twenty point deficit in the first half. At the start of the third quarter, UP tightened its defense, and was able to trim down the lead to nine points.

They were still very much in the game, 69 - 59 with 6:28 to go when the Tamarraws unleashed a 12-0 run highlighted by guard Knuttel. He had two baskets and a pair of taps leading to a steal in that game-ending surge.

Veteran guard Benedict Fernandez lead the Tamaraws with 16 points. The final score was 88 - 62.

DLSU prevails over UST

In the main game featuring champs of the past two seasons, the De La Salle Green Archers prevailed over the resilient University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 85 - 84.

The Defending Champion Archers proved to be tougher in the endgame as they picked up their second consecutive win and dealing the 2006 Champs Tigers their second defeat.

The game demonstrated offensive efficiency between two teams as they battle toe to toe from start to finish. There were at least 13 lead changes and seven deadlocks. The Archers attack were lead by Casio, Mangahas and Malabes. UST has a much balanced attack comprised of Cruz, Ababou, Allera and Canlas.

From a 58 - 63 count after three quarters, the two teams displayed excellent offensive exchanges. Rookie guard Fortuna tied the count with an and-one completion, 66-66 with 8:23 left in the game. DlLSU regained the lead with baskets coming from Mangahas and Revilla. UST battled back to a 75 - 72 lead highlighted by alley-oop play of Ababou with four minutes and a half to go.

A Walsham putback and Maierhoffer's own three-point play completion gave the lead back to DLSU 77-75 time with 3:23 to go. Jervy Cruz tied the game for the final time with two free throws, 77-77.

Malabes's fourth trey of game broke the tie, 80 - 77. UST tasted the lead again on Ababou's put back basket 81-80, but a hang-time move from Mangahas gave the lead for good to the Archers.

The Archers defense on the Tigers' main men lead to two-three point misses from Fortuna that practically snapped the game out of the Tigers' clutches.

Ababou made a buzzer-beater three to round up the final score to 84-85 in favor of the DLSU.

Read More...

Ateneo de Manila University beats University of the East

The Ateneo De Manila University streaked to a 3-0 start in UAAP Season 71 after repulsing the University of the East Red Wariors 64-58 yesterday at the Philsport Arena.

The Eagles frontline of Al Hussaini, Baclao and Buenafe powered their way in an action-packed tussle between two previously unbeaten teams. The trio's inside play, rebounds and interior defense proved to be the difference in dealing the Warrior's their first defeat of the season.

Superb defense from both teams produced a low-scoring first quarter, 12-10 in favor of the Eagles. A 14-9 run by the Warriors helped them take 27 - 26 half-time lead. The third canto saw the game turn to an exciting back and forth affair ending with a 47-47 deadlock.

Hussaini, Buenafe and Baclao's inside incursions paved for an eleven point Eagles lead 63 - 52 in the fourth quarter with a little over three minutes to go.

UE's three-point shooting kept them in the highly competitive game. The last coming from Bandaying to cut the Eagles lead to six, 57-63 time down to 1:46 of the game.

But the Warriors only managed a free throw from Martinez the rest of the way to suffer their first defeat of the season.

*****
Adamson University Handles National University

In the first game, the Adamson University Falcons kept the National University Bulldogs winless and earned their first this season.

The Falcons banked on the stellar all-game performance of Mark Agustin, son of former PBA great Ato Agustin to continue the Bulldogs woes.

Bulldogs main man, Edwin Asoro had his best game of the season yet but lacked support from his teammates.

*****
I hope the UAAP people can do something about the drums during the game. I am watching the game only in TV and I think it is too loud. I wonder if people attending come out a little deaf after the games.

Read More...

The De La Salle University notched its first win of the UAAP Season 71 by beating Far Easter University 73-62.

The Archers rode on a hot outside-shooting second half to wrest control of the game from the Tamarraws. JV Casio started the shooting spree with two treys in the third quarter as La Salle led 50 - 47 heading into the last quarter.

A Malabes trey pushed the Archers to a 60 - 54 lead time down to 5:07. After a time-out, the Tams answered back with a Fernandez undergoal stab and a Ramos tip in to close the gap, 60-58.

An unsportsmanlike foul by Barroca led to two charities made by Casio, giving the Archers more breathing room 66-59 time down to 2:32. But after threatening at 67 - 62 with a minute and a half to go, the Tams imploded in the endgame allowing the Archers to run away with win.

JV Casio led the Archers with a tremendous performance, finishing with 29 points, 8 boards and 2 steals.

*****

Divots:

Franz Pumaren maintained his career record of back-to-back setbacks to just one. Amusingly, the DLSU supporters chanted, ID! ID! ID! after the ballgame.

Read More...

2008 Wimbledon: Federer-Nadal Trilogy

Posted by doms | Saturday, July 05, 2008 | | 0 comments »

The 2008 Wimbledon Men's Tennis Championships is finally down to one match. And for the third year in a row, tennis fans will be treated to another showdown between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

On one side, there is five-time defending champion swiss Roger Federer. Federer is seeking immortality in grass courts as he seeks to win Wimbledon six straight times. A feat done more than a century ago. Not to mention, Federer's sterling win streak in grass.

I think the primary motivation will be to get back on Nadal who demolished him in the last French Open final. That would also put to rest talks of his assumed decline. There is a noticeable difference in the way I see him serve. There seem to be an additional force he exerts in his serve.

On the other side is the undisputed king of clay, and many pundits and former players think will win, Rafael Nadal. Last year, he made Federer work for the championship by extending him to a five set tie-break. With his recent demolition of Federer, Nadal certainly has the psychological edge in this one. His recent title in grass has convinced many that he is now capable of dethroning Federer in wimbledon and capturing the number 1 world ranking as well.

Nadal has proven that he is the king of clay. It is now Federer's turn to return the favor in the surface that he loves best.

I am gonna root for Federer. And I promised not to jinxed it by not watching like I did in the French Open.

Read More...