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.


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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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