Olympians lose twice

Storm slips but stays gets up

The STI College Olympians Team A had two key players missing in their line-up, Center Elmer Labis who has pneumonia and Swingman Abby Chavez who left early for the Christmas season. Left with nine players to rotate, that did not bother the Olympians as they battled tooth and nail but lost steam in the end game losing to Emilio Aguinaldo College in overtime 78 - 80. The Olympians battled back to several deficits with the most at 10 as they shut down the Generals with their vaunted pressure defense and even had a chance to win until forward Jasper Melano missed a game winner in regulation.

A Kobe play alike move

The Olympians were led by the heads up play of their two big men Cedric Ablaza and Ivan Moreno. The two conspired for most of the inside points of the Olympians and shared time to thwart all efforts of the Generals to score inside. After the half the Olympians were on top by three 35 – 32. Unfortunately the Generals found the chink in the Olympians armor as they pummeled the STI big men with their stifling defense and converted at will on offense. After the third quarter the Generals were in control of the game.

Ablaza scored heavily

STI forward Cedric Ablaza was on a roll scoring inside the paint but was later sent to the bench for good as he was whistled for his fifth foul in regulation with still a lot of time on the clock. The Olympians then went to veteran playmaker Oscar Crisostomo, point guard Storm Riva, forward Jasper Melano and Moreno to defend their turf and eventually take the lead 65 – 64 with a minute left in the game.

Jasper Melano was adequate in defense
but relentless on offense

In overtime, Melano missed two free throws with 20 seconds left and the Generals ahead by five. Eric Sanchez drained a three pointer to put the Olympians within two 78 – 80 with six seconds left but that proved to be the final stand of the Olympians. With two vital cogs of the team not playing and the leading scorer fouled out, the Olympians showed that a loss like this can also be a victory in terms of what they have discovered and accomplished.

The Mac Attack scores

In the other game of the Olympians, the efforts of Jerald Bautista and Rama Krisna Morales were not enough to give the Olympians headway as the National University Bulldogs beat the Olympians 76-52. The team was complete and the veterans were raring to go.

Former Olympians Emmanuel Mbe plays against STI

Former Olympian Emmanuel Mbe suited up for the Bulldogs and made his imposing presence in the paint matter as the 6-7 behemoth grabbed rebounds, scored points through put backs and was an imposing defender. The Olympians led early 11 -7 but Mbe asserted his might and the rest of the Bulldogs followed suit. By the fourth quarter the Olympians were outran and were out hustled by the game Bulldogs. In the end the Olympians garnered valuable experience from the game.

This is quite exciting. The veterans showed that they can compete while the second team also showed that they have what it takes to relieve the veterans and sustain the run of the main men. Both teams take a breather for the Christmas vacation and FMC 3 resumes on January 8, 2011.

RK's heady plays were not enough