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The Week That Was: Bulldogs clinch top spot, Perasol suspended anew

Crucial matches during the week set the stage for two important playoff games to decide the final rankings for the Final Four. But aside from the games, this week won’t be spared from more drama that has given the current UAAP season a lot more color.

NU nips Ateneo to get the No. 1 spot

Bobby Ray Parks played big for NU’s last elimination game as he towed the Bulldogs to a 70-65 upending of five-peat champions Ateneo Blue Eagles on Wednesday, and the No. 1 spot going into the semis. Although tied with FEU and DLSU with identical 10-4 win-loss cards, NU gained first place due to a superior quotient. The Bulldogs gained a twice-to-beat advantage over the winner of the Ateneo-UST tussle on September 18.

The Bulldogs led most of the game despite a good fight from the embattled Eagles. Although Parks led all scorers with 24 points, it was Dennice Villamor who hit the big shots in end game to seal the W for NU. With the Bulldogs just up by two at 65-63 going into the final 20 seconds of the game, Villamor unloaded a triple from the left corner to make it a two-possession lead for NU. He scored a total of seven points in the fourth quarter, all inside the last few minutes of the game when the Eagles threatened to wrest the lead. Chris Newsome made good two charities to slice the deficit to three. But Juami Tiongson’s desperation trey was short that would have tied the game.

Ateneo top gunners Kiefer Ravena and Ryan Buenafe struggled with their offense the entire game with both just combining for ten points. Actually, the entire team shot poorly in the game as it only managed to sink two out of 17 tries from beyond the arc for an atrocious 11.8%.

Emmanuel Mbe added 17 points and 12 rebounds for NU. Newsome led ADMU with 17 markers and 11 boards, while JP Erram finished with 11 points, six rebounds and two blocks.

Tams gain playoff for twice-to-beat edge, Maroons still winless

FEU finished the elims with a victory after absorbing heartbreaking defeats in the second round, and gained at least a playoff for the No. 2 spot, at the expense of the UP Fighting Maroons, 87-69. The Tamaraws started strong against the Maroons, posting a 20-8 advantage in the first ten minutes of play. A shootout ensued in the second period but with the Tams still outscoring UP, 26-20, to end the first half ahead, 67-49.

In the second half, both teams scored an even 21-all in the third canto, and 20-all in the payoff period as FEU preserved the win. But it was the transition baskets that became the biggest advantage of the Tams in the game, scorching the Maroons, 25-9, in fast break and turnover points.

Man of the Week: Leading MVP contender Terrence Romeo set a new season-high in this game, erupting for 33 points on top of nine boards, five assists and two steals. This performance could secure for him the season MVP honor.

Mike Tolomia added 15 points for FEU, while Joseph Marata led UP with 23 markers. Raul Soyud had another prolific game with 18 rebounds and 14 points.

Ateneo gets off the hook but Perasol still suspended

The UAAP Board met on Thursday upon the request of UE for a review of the rules after Ateneo head coach Bo Perasol was seen at the MOA Arena during the UE-ADMU match where he was supposed to be suspended. But the Board ruled out the forfeiture of the Blue Eagles’ win over the Red Warriors although it decided to suspend Perasol again for another game. This means that assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga will once more call the shots for Ateneo when it battles UST in the knockout game for the fourth and last semis ticket on September 18.

It was also reported that during the same Board meeting, a heated argument ensued between Ateneo representative Ricky Palou and De La Salle’s Henry Atayde and Edwin Reyes over the Perasol issue. The DLSU reps were said to be in favor of forfeiting the Eagles’ win over the Warriors, as Perasol’s presence during the game was a violation of league rules. Palou later stated in an interview that both Atayde and Reyes are not qualified to be in the UAAP Board as they are neither athletic directors nor school administration officials.

UE routs Adamson even without Sumang

High scoring guard Roi Sumang did not see action for UE versus the Adamson Falcons due to a strained knee but the Warriors still pulled off an easy win on Saturday, 77-60. The game was actually tight in the first three quarters, with UE just up by seven points entering the final canto. But the Warriors held the Falcons to just five points in the last ten minutes of play to end their season on a winning note.

Charles Mammie had another monster game, sizzling with 24 points and 24 rebounds, while Bong Galanza had a breakout game for UE, chipping in 17 markers on 3-of-8 shooting from three-point land. Celedonio Trollano came out big for Adamson with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Ryan Monteclaro added 10 markers.

Both UE (6-7) and Adamson (4-10) played their last game of the season. It was also most likely the last game of coach Leo Austria for the Falcons.

Top Game of the Week: La Salle shades UST, keeps Ateneo’s chances alive

The entire Ateneo community rallied behind La Salle on Saturday against UST as the Blue Eagles’ fate depended on the outcome of that game. After Ateneo’s defeat to NU on Wednesday, its only chance to make it to the Final Four was if UST also lost to DLSU in order to force a rubber match with the Tigers for the fourth slot.

Fortunately for the Ateneans, the Green Archers were also out to secure at least a playoff for the No. 2 spot with a victory over UST.

The game was fierce all throughout. It had four deadlocks and eight lead changes. But La Salle was steadier, leading for the most part of the game, even by as many as 14 points at one point.

But the Tigers kept crawling back in the game, making the last few minutes still anybody’s game. The Archers however staged another 7-2 blast in the final minute, en route to the important victory, and a sweep of the second round.

This win earned for La Salle the right to face FEU in a playoff game for the No. 2 spot on September 21. This will virtually put the Tams and Archers in a best-of-three series for a finals berth.

Jeron Teng topscored for the Archers with 19 points, including eight in the payoff period, plus 11 boards. Norbert Torres was a dominant figure in the shaded area with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Karim Abdul had 18 points and 12 boards for UST, while Aljon Mariano and Jeric Teng added 16 and 10 points respectively.

DLSU had a huge 21-2 second-chance points advantage.

Who’s Hot: Tolomia vs UP (15 points, 5 assists), Marata vs FEU (23 points, 4/9 3-point FG), Soyud vs FEU (18 rebounds, 14 points), Parks vs Ateneo (24 points, 7 rebounds), Mbe vs Ateneo (17 points, 12 rebounds), Newsome vs NU (17 points, 11 rebounds), Erram vs NU (11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks), Teng vs UST (19 points, 11 rebounds), Norbert Torres vs UST (14 points, 13 rebounds), Abdul vs La Salle (18 points, 12 rebounds), Mariano vs La Salle (16 points).

Who’s Not: Joshua Alolino vs Ateneo (4 points, 2 assists in 27 minutes), Ravena vs NU (3 points in 24 minutes), Buenafe vs NU (7 points in 30 minutes), Rodney Brondial vs UE (6 points in 29 minutes), Kevin Ferrer vs La Salle (5 points in 27 minutes, although he had 12 boards).