UE fought like true Warriors, hands La Salle first loss
The race towards the quarterfinals of the Fil Oil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup is certainly heating up with contenders from both brackets seek to climb up in the team rankings. The top four teams in both groups will figure in the crossover quarters next week. Three crucial games were played on Saturday that have made the current team standings even more interesting.
But the biggest winners were the University of the East Warriors that upended the erstwhile-unbeaten De La Salle Green Archers, 60-53, and improved their record to 6-2. Charles Mammie was the biggest thorn on the side of the Archers as he dominated the paint in the fourth quarter, and also came up with a tough defensive stance against the frontline of La Salle. He tallied 13 points, nine rebounds and one block. But it was the concerted hustle and energy of the other Warriors that truly impressed me. They were relentless on defense, aggressive in rebounding, pushing the ball in transition, and fighting for loose balls. They trailed for the most part of the game but never doubted their chance of scoring an upset. UE got the taste of the lead only in the payoff period. The Archers tried to make a strong comeback, but the Warriors’ defense stood strong in endgame. The balance in offense is evident with the sensational guard Roy Sumang collecting 12 markers, while Jay-ar Sumido, Ralf Olivares and Chris Javier chipped in nine, eight and seven points respectively.
But La Salle was partly to blame. Unlike in their first five games, all of which they won, the Archers looked listless in this game, committing a whopping 28 turnovers. UE scored 26 points off these turnovers. The Warriors also snared 17 offensive boards that produced 13 second-chance points.
Norbert Torres topscored for DLSU with 12 points on top of six rebounds, while Jeron Teng added eight points, five caroms and three assists.
In the other featured match-up, San Beda needed a big surge in the fourth quarter to escape from a hard-fighting University of Perpetual Help System Dalta side, 82-75, and improve its record to 4-2. The Altas fell to 1-5.
It was such a relief for the Red Lions to secure the win after falling behind by six points, 53-59, going into the last period. Last Wednesday, the three-time defending NCAA champions bowed to Arellano University, and for a moment in the third quarter they looked like they were going to fall a second straight time. But SBC found an unlikely hero in sophomore player Francis Abarcar, who scattered 14 of his 22 points in the last ten minutes of play. Abarcar was the Finals MVP of the 2011 NCAA Juniors Division finals that the Red Cubs won. Prolific playmaker Baser Amer also had a strong fourth quarter game as he converted two treys that ignited the Lions’ big comeback. He finished with 15 markers, 10 rebounds and six assists. Nigerian giant Olaide Adeogun posted a double-double performance of 13 points and 11 boards. Team captain Rome Dela Rosa added 12 points. The Lions also outrebounded the Altas, 47-34.
Nosa Omorogbe was almost a one-man gang for Perpetual Help as he evaded multiple defenders to finish with 17 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. But it was Juneric Baloria that surprised everyone as he exploded for 22 points on an amazing 62% from the field. Justine Allano and Harold Arboleda added 10 and nine markers respectively.
The Altas seized control of the game in the third period with their hot outside sniping. They unloaded a total of 10 triples in the game. But they failed to derail the tandem of Abarcar and Amer in the fourth period.
After San Beda’s last two games, it appears that Arellano and Perpetual Help can be serious threats to the Red Lions’ 2013 NCAA campaign, which kicks off on June 22 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Meanwhile, the Arellano Chiefs followed up their huge win over the Red Lions with an emphatic 83-67 triumph over Jose Rizal University. The trio of James Forrester, Nard Pinto and Gio Jalalon delivered again for AU as they garnered 21, 16, and 10 points respectively. The Chiefs also won the battle of the boards, 49-37, and forced the Heavy Bombers into 25 turnovers, which they converted into 34 points.
Marco Balagtas, Philip Paniamogan and Philip Mabulac combined for 43 points for JRU.
Arellano is in a very good position to qualify into the quarterfinals with a 6-2 slate. The Chiefs now have much more firepower than in previous years. And they are hungry for respect.
This coming week’s games will determine the last eight teams standing in this pre-season summer tournament. The quarterfinal pairings should be exciting to see.
