Blogging Rights: September 2012

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Blue Eagles drive for five still alive

Kiefer being guarded tightly

In this year’s 75th season of the UAAP, former National Youth players had their way in scoring with Bobby Ray Parks of National University leading the way with a couple of 30 points games, Jeron Teng of DLSU followed suit and so did Terrence Romeo of FEU. Amidst all of those former youth campaigners, the most highly touted is the Phenom from the Ateneo. Content with sharing the scoring chores with the Blue Eagle veterans, Kiefer Ravena showed today what he can do when tasked to take most of the scoring load. Ravena scored 28 points, pulled down 12 rebounds and issued 7 assists in an all around game to lift the Ateneo Blue Eagles over the hard fighting De La Salle Green Archers 66 – 63 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum to give the Blue Eagles the chance to defend their title for a fourth consecutive time.

It's Ryantime

The De La Salle Green Archers were peaking at the right time and were on the rise as the new King Archer, Jeron Teng was more than everyone expected and finally the Green Archers were jelling as a team which gave them a final four date with the defending champs after squeaking past the FEU Tamaraws just last Wednesday. The Green Archers studied their archrivals well as Greg Slaughter,who topscored in their first round encounter, was kept at bay and was never a factor in the game. Ryan Buenafe, who topscored in their second encounter, was only given three pointers and everytime he drove inside he was met with stiff opposition. ON the other hand, the Green Archers torched the Blue Eagles with drop passes that resulted to points as Yutien Andrada was unstoppable around the hoop. Andrada went 7 for 8 on the field enroute to 17 points 6 rebounds and 3 block shots. His scoring helped the Green Archers erect an 11 point lead 49 – 38 with 9:38 to go in the game.

Dagger three over Webb

Sensing that he has the hot hand and that the Ateneo veterans were being covered well by the Green Archers, Ravena took matters into his own hands as he presided over a killer 17 – 6 run in the next five minutes as the Blue Eagles tied the score 55 – all with four minutes and 26 seconds left in the game. Ravena sank two three pointers and three free throws in that span while the Green Archers began to fire blanks. The Blue Eagles then opened a four point lead 61 – 57 with Slaughter scoring off a foul by the Green Archers as the jubilant Ateneo crowd began to celebrate. Unfortunately for the Blue Eagles, the comebacking Green Archers pushed them to the limit once more as Almond Vosotros scored five straight points to put the Archers on top 62 -61 with less than a minute to go.

Greg scores

At this point, it was time for Ryan Buenafe to take over. In the ensuing play, the Green Archers covered Ravena well who eventually saw Ryan in the corner. Buenafe was left alone at the corner of the court and liesurely sank a dagger three pointer to put the Blue Eagles on top 64 -62. Controversy almost got the better of the two teams as Kiefer Ravena was called an unsportsmanlike foul on buddy Jeron Teng in the waning seconds of the game. In contrast to the heroics of Ravena, Teng missed his second free throw and lost the ball when he drove to the hoop with three seconds left in the game. Buenafe was fouled in the inbound and he sealed the win with two free throws.

It was an all Keifer show

This marks the fifth consecutive time the Blue Eagles are in the finals and their opponent will be the UST Growling Tigers whom they are aching to get back at. Although most of the more high profile High School stars come from the NCAA juinors, Keifer Ravena showed that UAAP Juniors products are a cut above the rest. The Keifer Ravena era has just began, unleash the Phenom.

ATENEO (66)
Ravena 28, Salva 12, Buenafe 10, Tiongson 5, Slaughter 4, Chua 4, Sumalinog 3, Pessumal 0, Golla 0, Gonzaga 0, Elorde 0

LA SALLE (66)

Andrada 17, Vosotros 14, Teng 12, Torres N. 6, Torres T. 5, Van Opstal 3, Mendoza 2, Tampus 0, Webb 0

Quarterscores

14 - 12, 31 – 26, 38 - 47, 66 - 63

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Junior Olympians gain NAASCU Finals

Arvin Detubio on a difficult shot

There is something that coaches cannot teach in basketball – that is to have a big heart! The STI College Junior Olympians just showed that as their big heart gave them the needed boost to erase an insurmountable thirteen point lead to escape with a 78 – 75 hard earned victory against the hard fighting Our Lady of Fatima Junior Phoenix to give the Junior Olympians their first finals stint in the Juniors division of the 12^th National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities. The Junior Phoenix have earlier forced a deciding game as the third seeded Fatima squad beat the twice to beat second seeded Junior Olympians 24 hours earlier 68 – 66. The Junior Olympians now face the undefeated CEU Baby Scorpions which automatically got seeded to the finals after sweeping the two rounds of the Juniors tournament.

Erven Silverie is fouled

The Junior Phoenix controlled the game early and had the Junior Olympians was could not shake off the pesky defense of the Junior Phoenix. Hotshot Erven Silverie could not find his range, Arjay Napeñas and Patrick Aquino had a hard time driving to the lane while Arvin Detubio was always challenged. The whole offensive arsenal of the Junior Olympians were silenced by the men in green. When the Junior Olympians would pound the ball inside or elude their defenders, the Junior Phoenix would foul them and let them earn their points from the stripe. That ploy by the Fatima Juniors proved to be a good gamble as the Junior Olympians would miss their free throws time and again.

Early in the third quarter, the Junior Phoenix waxed hot as Jowell Termullo and Ronell Panagodia gave the Antipolo based Junior Phoenix squad a 44 – 35 lead which the Junior Olympians quickly erased through the efforts of Arvin Detubio who cut the lead to one 45-44. Unfortunately for the Taguig based Junior Olympians, Matignas would catch fire once more to give the men in green another double digit lead 57 – 44 as the quarter eventually ended with the Junior Phoenix ahead by ten points 59 - 49.

Nino Romano sizzles

With Silverie firing blanks and the other Junior Olympians blowing hot and cold, an unlikely hero came out to spark the Olympians comeback. Shifty point guard Niño Romano’s heroics came in the nick of time as he ignited the sagging hopes of the Junior Olympians by presiding over a crippling 13 - 2 run highlighted by his drive on a fast break to push the Junior Olympians ahead 62 – 61 with 6:45 left in the game. The Junior Olympians suddenly came alive and their signature defense worked wonders as the Junior Phoenix were suddenly plagued with numerous turnovers and botched plays as the Olympians threatened to pull away with a five point lead 68 -63. The Junior Phoenix eventually settled down and came back courtesy of Termulo and Ronell Panogadia who combined to give the Junior Phoenix back the lead 72-71 with 1:47 left in the game which made the Juniors call time out.

Patrick Aquino rises up to the occassion

Hounded all game, Erven Silverie finally found a crease in the Junior Phoenix defense as he let go of a back breaking three pointer to give back the to the Junior Olympians a 74 – 72 lead and more importantly the momentum going into the last minute of the game. After a muffed offensive by the Men in Green Patrick Aquino finished the game with four straight points to give the Olympians a commanding 78 -72 lead with less than ten seconds left in the game. The Junior Phoenix showed their nerves of steel as they scored on a long three pointer by Dave Del Rosario to cut the Junior Olympians lead to three 78 -75. The men in green had one final attempt to secure overtime as Nino Romano and Arvin Detubio failed to ice the game with successive free throw misses. The half court heave by the Termullo came out short thus sending the Junior Olympians to their first finals appearance. Although Patrick Aquino topscored for the Junior Olympians it was a concerted effort by each team member as STI lives to fight another day.

Arjay Napeñas in traffic

STI COLLEGE (78 )

Aquino 17, Detubio 16, Napenas 13, Romano 11, Silverie 9, Raymundo 5, Ngolong 4, Parinas 3, Abuy 0, Justiniani 0, Jimenez 0.

OLFU (75)

Termulo 22, Matignas 14, Del rosario 12, Panogadia 12, Cabrera 4, Mejia 3, Nunez 2, Bargola 2, Bacay 2, Jarina 2.

Quarterscores: 13 - 19, 31 - 36, 49 - 59, 78 - 75.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Call me Mhel Gee

Ever since the Call Me Maybe craze came out I have always wanted to create a video myself. Unfortunately, my busy schedule prevented me from doing one. Luckily, because of an STI event I was able to do one. Just wanted to have fun in this video and hope you guys like it.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Olympians play exhibition match

STI College and ACB

The STI College Olympians are gracious hosts but will always give you a cold reception when it comes to basketball games. The Olympians gave the visiting Australian College of Basketball 18 and under National Team a lesson or two in Philippine basketball as the Olympians beat the Aussie teeners 84 -66 at the STI Gym in the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City. Seldom used forward Helino Francisco led the Olympians onslaught as the man dubbed as the Olympian’s secret weapon showed the teeners from down under how basketball is supposed to be played. Francisco led the scoring with 20 markers as local find Jim Patrick Lontoc gave the Global City crowd something to cheer about with his booming three pointers finding its mark. The Olympians fielded a mixture of Seniors and Juniors players since both teams have just come from a game the previous day.

Elmer Labis fouled

The Australian College of Basketball is Australia’s way of creating their own basketball legends. Everyone remembers Luc Longley who was Michael Jordan’s center in his second run for three titles. Andrew Gaze who was the many time Australian Olympian and just recently Shane Heel who was the Aussies stocky point guard. Just recently, Australia has made an effort to create more basketball heroes by creating grassroots programs in basketball and this tour in manila will definitely help their cause in the international scene.

Jim Lontoc is so phenomenal

The game against the Olympians is the Aussies fifth game in four days with the previous four against the Ateneo Blue Eagles Team B, the Trace Stallions, and the Ginebra Gin Kings. The tour of the Aussie teens was arranged by former Blue Eagle and PBA player Fritz Gaston who is at the helm of promoting Sports tourism in the country.

Franciso on the board

The Olympians who took part in this exhibition game are Marvin Moraga, Paul dela Pena, Ivan Moreno, Elmer Labis Jr., Carlo Saldaña, Jerome Ortega, and Lester Bocablo were from the Seniors team while Nino Romano, Fernando Ngolong, John Roy Pariñas, Josh Raymundo, Arvin Detubio and Jim Lontoc were the juniors campaginers.

Fernando Scores

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Blue Eagles formalize final four entry

The Unstoppable Greg S.

Adamson’s EJ Camson has been on a tear and is slowly beginning to be the Falcons go to guy. Shooting 6 of 10 from beyond the arc, Camson this time posts up to show to the Blue Eagle fans his versatility and as he posts up he is met by Nico Salva and is fouled and given two free throws with the Falcons protecting a one point lead with three minutes and twenty seconds left in the game. Unfortunately for Camson, this game is another one taht can be added in his crunch down melt down as he muffed his two free throws and the Blue Eagles countered with a paralyzing 9- 1 run to sneak past the upset conscious Adamson Falcons 79 – 72.

Kiefer acrobatic shot

Camson was at the forefront of another upset in the making but similar to his roles in their losses to UST and FEU, Camson who had the hot hand in this game did not get the ball in the final three minutes after missing two free throws. Nico Salva was left open and he nailed another jumper to give the Blue Eagles the lead 72 – 71 with three minutes left in the game. In the return play Jericho Cruz muffed a three pointer and Keifer Ravena drained two free throws after being fouled by Cruz himself to give the Eagles a 74 – 71 lead, their biggest for the evening.

Airtime!

The Falcons last stand came when Cruz missed another jumper but Camson grabbed the rebound and passed it to a waiting Roider Cabrera who was fouled by Salva. Cabrera went 1 for 2 from the free throw line which was the last point that the Falcons had as they went scoreless in the final two minutes. Kiefer Ravena anticipated a pass by Cruz which resulted in a Nico Salva basket. In the return play Ravena once again stole the ball for an unmolested lay up that sealed the win and a place in the final four for the league leading Blue Eagles.

Nico squeezes one in

Nico Salva led the Blue Eagles with 24 points as he went 11 for 14 on the field and 2 for 2 on the line. Most of Salva’s shots were jumpers and this is a big welcome to his return to big time scoring for the Blu Eagles. Greg Slaughter added 16 points, Kiefer Ravena ended up with15 points while Nico Elorde added 10 points. The Blue Eagles now eye the top spot with the National University Bulldogs and UST Growling Tigers as their next opponent.