(UP MBT Game #1: July 15, 2012 - MOA Arena)After an unproductive weekend due to the rainy weather and another unproductive Monday, I decided that it was time to write my first piece about my UP Fighting Maroons in this year's UAAP Basketball wars.
Since the cancellation of their 2nd game against UST
last Saturday somehow gave me a sign to write about them on a per game basis. Please bear in mind that this is a recall of events two weekends ago so it may not be that accurate, here it goes:
I arrived at the spanking brand new MOA Arena a few minutes later than what my friend Carlos and I agreed upon. Carlos gave me Patron tickets and an "all-access pass" to the game by the way.
I arrived at about halfway into the first quarter with DLSU leading UP by three (I think). Top rookie Jeron Teng and veteran L.A. Revilla were running circles around the UP defense. This prompted Coach Ricky Dandan to call a timeout and bring in new faces who I never thought would have made a difference.
Newcomers Henry Asilum (point guard from Cebu) and Chris Ball (Fil-Am rookie, also Bong Hawkins' nephew) were injected into the line-up and gave the Maroons some life on defense as the Maroons finished the first quarter trailing by just one. The quarter featured Asilum driving and converting and and-one on another rookie and high school nemesis Mark Tallo of La Salle.
Asilum proved that he can play big minutes even in his first taste of UAAP action
Then came the second quarter which seemed competitive at first, the Maroons had their first taste of the lead but was quickly relinquished by DLSU via the hot shooting of Luigi dela Paz. The quarter ended with the Maroons down by six, 35 - 29.
After a great halftime display (what's new?) by the UP Pep Squad and a rather boring one by DLSU (but they had very cute cheerleaders), the third quarter saw UP succumbed to bad shots and turnovers. DLSU gave the Maroons a pounding from inside and out as they found themselves leading by 10 with just a quarter left.
Then the inevitable happened - well almost.
UP rallied with stifling defense outscoring La Salle for the period and almost pulling out the win.
UP's run was led by graduating forward Mike Silungan who made some pretty shots from mid-range while playing the most complete game of his career as a Maroon. Transferee Raul Soyud also played well although it will be noted that he took more shots than Silungan.
Soyud looked OK in his first game but took the bulk of the shots
However, it was Alvin Padilla who made the biggest plays for the Maroons in the last few minutes of the game as he hit a surprise three-pointer and an off balanced shot in back-to-back sequences. These Padilla highlights gave UP it's last taste of the lead at 68-67.
La Salle still had the last laugh as Revilla drove and dished to Teng in the next possession and eventually converted an and-one for a 70-68 lead.
Rookie Jeron Teng made the most impotant shot of the game
UP attempted to retaliate and drew up a play designed to win the game with around half a minute remaining in the game. Padilla, Silungan and Jett Manuel ran a weave play and led to the latter being open for a few seconds. Manuel's attempt was blocked by long-armed Yutien Andrada and sent the La Salle crowd into frenzy. It was all formality after that as DLSU made it's freethrows and UP fumbled another three-point attempt.
After the final buzzer I proudly sang "UP Naming Mahal" and said to myself that Coach Rick was actually not kidding when he said that playing UP this year doesn't guarantee anyone a win.
I went home with a positive outlook to the UP Fighting Maroons Men's Basketball Team campaign this year.
UP Fight!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment