THE END (of another UP Maroons MBT season)

 

UP fights till the very end only to come up short against host NU; Eight seniors play final game

Ray Parks got a lot of help from the refs, getting one superstar call after another

 

Ok, I’ll admit it. I cried as I watched the UP Maroons MBT and the coaching staff huddle inside the court in honor of the eight seniors playing their last games in the UAAP.

The NU Bulldogs relied on their dynamic duo of Ray Parks and Emmanuel Mbe to survive a late Maroon rally and win, 65-60. Parks got a lot of help from the from Mbe’s offensive rebounds and putbacks. He also got a lot of assists from the referees who seem to be calling the game in a one-sided manner.

Ang sakit lang kasi eh, yung alam mong binigay nila lahat ng makakaya nila buong season. Pero kahit may pulitika, palakasan sa UAAP board, masasamang tawag ng referees for almost the whole season at iba’t iba pang outside distractions eh lumaban pa rin ng todo ang mga players ng team mo.

Sobrang saya ko nung nakita kong mag-huddle sa gitna ng court ang buong team kahit na natalo pa tayo kahapon. Ang mahalaga, lumaban ng buong tapang at gilas ang mga totoong student-athletes ng UP Maroons MBT.

Pero nalungkot din ako kasi, huling taon na nung walong seniors natin, na kung tutuusin hindi naman mukhang graduating. May iba ngang players yung ibang schools magugulat ka may natitira pang playing years pero mukhang tatay na ng mga players natin ngayon (e.g. RR Garcia of FEU).

But enough of the ranting here, I would just like to thank the team for all the fight and effort shown this season. I don’t care even if we had a 1-13 season (the hell, even if we finish at 0-14), our record does not indicate how well our team played this year.

This last post about the UP MBT games will be dedicated to thanking the team and the people who helped made my “coverage” of the Maroons’ season 75 campaign a successful one.

 

To the UP Maroons Men’s Basketball Team and coaching staff



UP fans holding up the numbers of the graduating seniors

First off, I would like to thank the UP Maroons Basketball team for all the hardwork and fight you have shown all season long. I would like to commend Mark Lopez, Jelo Montecastro and Henry Asilum for consistently answering my mentions on Twitter. Those answers were a lot of help in disseminating information about the team. These three easily are also my favorite players from this year’s squad.

To the eight super seniors, Lopez, Montecastro, Mike Silungan, Alvin Padilla, Mike Gamboa, Alinko Mbah, Diony Hipolito and Robby Weirzba, thank you for choosing UP. You will forever be in our hearts and will support you in the next career paths you take after the UAAP.

1.       Mark Lopez- a player who came to UP alongside his high school teammate Soc Rivera (who is nowhere to be found now). Thank you for the five years you spent representing Oblation Nation. An all-around player who can score, rebound, facilitate and defend, para sa akin, ikaw ang pinaka-epitome ng isang student-athlete, Iskolar ng Bayan pa.

 

2.       Jelo Montecastro- a guy who chose to transfer to UP after first donning green for the CSB Blazers, thank you for choosing to transfer to us. You are the most poised UP pointguard I have watched play for this team. You made the right choice transferring to UP.

 

3.       Mike Silungan- the hotshot dude from Chicago who took his talents to Diliman, never question your talents bro. The critics and online trolls will always be there when your down, but we supporters are behind you all the way. Just keep your head in the game and make us proud as you continue your hoop dreams onto the professional ranks.

 

4.       Alvin Padilla- the other transferee who made the right choice. Thank you for trading your red for maroon. Thank you for the stingy defense you give the opposing team’s best player and for developing that clutch mentality as your career with the Maroons progressed.

 

5.       Mike Gamboa- the former King Eaglet who went to the other side of Katipunan to represent Diliman Republic. Thank you for those daredevil drives and timely assists to your teammates. And thank you for showing everyone that it’s not height but the size of the heart that matters in basketball.

 

6.       Alinko Mbah- the Nigeran center who played a hell of a game in his last one. I thank you for the two years spent patrolling the paint for the Maroons. I also thank you for giving us Maroons fans a reason to laugh everytime you do something comical on the court.

 

7.       Diony Hipolito- the smallest power forward I’ve watch play in the UAAP, thank you for showing improvement ever year. I always pump my fist everytime you outrebound the bigger and bulkier forwards of our opponents.

 

8.       Robby Weirzba- the role player who is always called upon to play sticky defense to elite wing players such as Parks and Terrence Romeo, thank you for doing what do best for UP.

To the holdovers for next season, Asilum, Jett Manuel, Raul Soyud, Chris Ball, Paolo Romero, JR Gallarza and Julius Wong, continue the fight and achieve the goals not obtained this season.

To Mikey Reyes, Mark Juruena, Mo Gingerich, Tata Marata and Kyle Suarez, we are expecting a lot from you as well next year.



The graduating players in tears while singing the UP hymn for the last time as members of the team

 

To the coaching staff, especially coach Ricky Dandan, thank you for all the sacrifices you’ve made or the UP community this season. Asahan niyong nandto pa rin kaming mga supporters niyo sa mga susunod pang mga taon.

To the detractors of this team and coaching staff, salamat na rin. Hindi naman kumpleto ang mundo ng wala kayo. Andami dami nyo sinasabi wala naman kayong alam sa basketball, if I were you, I will just help the current coaching staff in place. We all know that the UP MBT management is in shambles and it would only get worse if we keep replacing our head coach and coaching staff.

If you think you can help then let's just help each other, if not, I just have one message for you all, FUCK OFF!

 

To those who made my coverage happen

Prior to this season, I never got to watch all the games of our MBT live (whether it be on TV or at the venue). This season I got lots of help from my friend Carlos Pascual, who helped me secure tickets to all the UP Maroons weekend games that I could’ve watched. This paragraph is for you my friend, thank you and I am looking forward to next season.

To my sister Krisha, my cousins Joan, Vea and Coleen and my friends Trish and Renel who served as company while watching the games, let’s all do this again next season for the Maroons.

To my former player for the UP CMC Wildcats and current UP MBT Student Manager, Julio Dragon Silvestre, thanks for the little bits of information that helped me improve writing my blog posts about the UP Maroons this year.

The Maroons huddled for one last time this season

And finally to my Maker. To the Big Guy up in the sky, I thank you for making me realize I can still write. Maybe this blogging gig can lead to something else. I want to thank you for reviving my hoop dreams once again, I know that basketball is my first love and I will not stop until I make a name for myself in this field.

Of course, I would love it if I can help with the resurgence of the one and only school team I will cheer for as long as I live, the UP Fighting Maroons!

Salamat sa lahat ng mga nagbasa and hopefully I can continue doing this until I reach my hoop dream, that is to help the UP Maroons Men’s Basketball Team get that championship once again.

Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Matatapang, Matatalino, Walang Takot kahit kanino. Hinding-hindi magpapahuli, ganyan kaming mga taga-UP!

 

P.S.

May pahabol pa pala ako. Stay tuned for the “An Interview with Mark Lopez” post coming soon.

UP Fight! UP Win! UP Pride! Till next season guys!

 

(Credit to the UP Fighting Maroons fan page and Interaktv.com for the pictures)

Tamaraws charge at Maroons to grab a share of second place

Graduating team captain Silungan did his best but still came up short in another UP loss

 

This storyline is getting too old already this season.

Much like what the Linkin Park song “In the End” says, the Maroons “tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it doesn’t even matter. “

The UP Fighting Maroons played well enough for the whole game only to lose again in the end, a 67-63 setback to the FEU Tamaraws for their 12^th loss in 13 outings. The Morayta five on the other hand ties idle UST and improves to 9-3 to strengthen their bid for a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four. The loss also automatically assures that the Maroons finish dead last in the standings again this year.

Roger Pogoy continued his impressive play towards the homestretch after hitting his career high in their previous game against UE. Pogoy, who praised God above all else in his pre-game interview, scattered 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a game where both Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia did not shoot the ball well. More importantly, the Cebu native hit two all-important freethrows less than a minute left that helped seal the tightly contested game in FEU’s favor.

The first quarter saw both teams performing efficiently in both ends of the floor. Pogoy and Mark Bringas starred for the Tams early on scoring four points each. Alvin Padilla carried the fight for the Maroons with two highlight plays, a steal of an inbounds pass plus an and-one conversion and a great assist to Alinko Mbah for a lay-in to end the first quarter with UP ahead, 18-16.

Things began getting sloppy for both teams in the second quarter as FEU missed their freethrows and UP unable to convert on their outside attempts. There was also a sequence wherein three straight shot clock violations were called by the referees, one for the Maroons and two for the Tams.

Romeo then broke the ice hitting a transition three over Mike Silungan. UP’s Fil-Am captain eventually returned the favor, getting a rare four point opportunity in the ensuing possession after an unsportsmanlike foul called on Pogoy. Silungan missed the freethrow and UP wasn’t able to convert on their extra possession.

The Tams were able to tie it at 34-all at the half after two freethrow conversions by Pogoy off a Silungan foul. However, it was Silungan who delivered for UP in the second quarter, with 10 points, six coming from beyond the arc. Pogoy led all FEU scorers with 10 points as well.

Jelo Montecastro dictated the tempo to start the second half after not playing entirely in the first. He stole the ball from Romeo to break the deadlock and would score five more points on two daredevil drives and a bonus freethrow. Montecastro’s exploits had UP leading by six, 43-37, halfway through the third period.

Garcia starred in a third quarter run that put FEU up by five going to the fourth

Then Garcia decided to take over his team. At the three-minute mark of the third, the former UAAP MVP scored six straight points to turn a 45-42 deficit into a 48-45 lead for the Tams.

Silungan’s two freethrows restored a little order for the Maroons but a surprise trey from Russell Escoto extended FEU’s advantage to 51-47. Jett Manuel would go one out of three after being fouled beyond the arc, while Escoto and Arvie Bringas would both split their charities for a 53-48 count going into the final frame.

The fourth quarter was marred with two incidents of unsportsmanlike fouls from FEU. The frst one came from Mac Belo as he elbowed Padilla after the latter accidentally pulled his shorts when the former blocked him. The second one came just when Romeo converted on his and-one opportunity and his team up by seven, 58-51.

Arvie Bringas, who was suspended for two games because of spitting on Ateneo center Justin Chua, was caught doing another hooligan-like act on the court after he elbowed Diony Hipolito in the face while going for a rebound. This happened after Bringas promised to FEU courtside reporter Judy Saril in an interview before the game that the UAAP will see a nicer Bringas from now on.

UP used this as a springboard to launch a 5-0 run featuring two inside stabs by Chris Ball and the lead trimmed down to two, 58-56. Pogoy answered with a fastbreak layup to put FEU ahead by four again but the gutsy Padilla had other things in mind. The graduating guard exploded for five straight points to give UP the lead, 61-60 with five minutes left in the game.

After Romeo’s two charities gave back FEU the lead, the Maroons mapped out a play that led to Raul Soyud’s floater for their last taste of the lead 63-62.

FEU’s first round “hero” against UP, Anthony Hargrove, came up big again for the Tams in a non-controversial way as the American center scored on a putback of a Garcia miss giving his team a 64-63 lead.

The ensuing possessions were lackluster for both teams as Soyud set an illegal screen in the next sequence, Romeo shot an ill-advised three and finally Padilla turned the ball over.  Romeo set-up Pogoy at the baseline and the forward was fouled and eventually madetwo crucial freethrows to put the Tams ahead by three, 66-63.

Ball missed an easy lay-in that would’ve cut the lead to a single point and just when things looked bleak for UP, they get another crack to put the game into overtime after Terrence Romeo turned the ball over with 25 seconds left.

Manuel and Silungan were able to launch Hail Mary threes but to no avail. Garcia put the game away with yet another split from the line for a 67-63 final score.  

It was again a matter of who wanted it more in this game as the Maroons who played with almost no pressure in this game could not convert in the end after taking the lead in the closing minutes. FEU used a 5-0 run to end the game and proved that they were the better team.

Also not helping the Maroons’ cause were the second half missed freethrows when they went four out of 10, compared to seven of eight in the first. They were also badly outshot (49% against 36%) and outrebounded (46 against 27) by the more athletic Tamaraws.

FEU finished the game with a 15-for-27 freethrow clip to UP’s 11-for-18. To the Maroons credit, they had a eight less turnovers than FEU (14 against 22) and lead the points of turnovers department (19 against 14)

UP plays this season’s host National University to end their season 75 campaign this Sunday, September 16. FEU still has two assignments left, versus DLSU and the replay of their controversial match against NU on September 23.

Notes:

From L-R: Mark Juruena, Mo Gingerich and Tata Marata will wear their UP jerseys again next season 

UP Team B players Mark Juruena and Moriah Gingerich, transferee Tata Marata and alumnus Josant Cervantes was in attendance.

Silungan and Padilla led the scoring for the Maroons with 12 and 11 respectively.

Romeo had 13 points and five rebounds. Garcia finished with 11 points, eight scored in an important third quarter run.

This is the only time this season that the games were played at the ULTRA/ PSC Arena.

 

(Credit to the GMA News website and the UP Fighting Maroons Fan Page in Facebook for the pictures)

 

Familiar Storyline: Maroons devoured by Tigers after leading for most of the game

(An open letter of a UP MBT loyalist to our MBT for the last two games and next season)

The Tigers went on a tear again in the final quarter to sink the Maroons

Mark Lopez stole the ball after a lousy inbound pass from Tata Bautista about 20 seconds left in the game. The outcome was not in doubt though as the UST Growling Tigers came back from the grave again, mounting another comeback to plummet the UP Fighting Maroons further at the bottom.

Lopez wasn’t able to convert on his first attempt though. Then he and Jett Manuel tried consecutive putbacks to no avail. When Lopez got the rebound again he took his time to get his shot off but was fouled in the process.  But unfortunately, as it was observed for majority of the game, there was no foul called.

Or maybe it was just me who thought so as I screamed at the top of my lungs even with the little voice I have left and said, “Tang-ina mo ref, tumawag ka naman ng foul. Dinudugo na player namin wala pa rin!” My friend Trish Miranda even had to restrain me after thinking I would go after the referee and start a fight.

The people all around looked at me, seeing how frustrated I am at how this game’s outcome unfolded. UP was up by seven going into the fourth quarter and look positioned at winning their second game of the season. It was how the game was officiated in the fourth that I felt did it again for the Maroons. 

Abdul killed us inside the paint once again

However, poise (or lack of it) may have just been the main thing that gave the Fighting Maroons in.

Ok, so maybe it just wasn’t the refs for us to blame. However, I still believe that majority of the breaks were against UP in this game, a trend that I have also observed in the other games I’ve watched (the Hargove goaltend and the phantom fouls called against us versus Ateneo to name a few).

But let me go back to poise, endgame poise for that matter.

This has been the missing ingredient all season long. Something that the Fighting Maroons could’ve had that would’ve translated to maybe seven wins already this season.

How many times have the Maroons come back from a big deficit and even lead at the latter part of the game but still end up losing? How many times were they ahead through the first 30-35 minutes of the game only to lose in the end? How many times did they have a chance to win a game with a big shot but missed on the opportunity?

If there was one time that the Maroons displayed poise this season, it was in their lone win against UE when they answered every run thrown at them by the Red Warriors in the waning minutes of the game.

Call it how you may want it, crunch time composure, intestinal fortitude, a finishing kick or the heart/ will to win. These basketball traits are what the Maroons need to have in order to regain their relevance in the UAAP basketball wars.

These three guys (Cervantes, Almeda and Ibanes) almost led UP to a Final Four appearance in season 67

 

The last time they had these characteristics, UP almost went to the Final Four in season 67 of the UAAP. Back in that season, the Maroons had tried, tested and graduating warriors like Toti Almeda, Josant Cervantes and Jireh Ibanes to lead the team.

After a 0-6 start to the season, this edition of the Fighting Maroons beat the crap out of every single team in the second round except for La Salle (to whom they lost in controversial fashion). After losing their first six assignments, they won over National University to cap off the first round and then ran over powerhouse teams like Ateneo and FEU in the second.

It was too bad that the breaks did not go their way in that La Salle match-up after winning six straight. They were at 6-6 that time but DLSU and the referees were having their way. Mac Cardona did what he did best, being an asshole on the court, leading to the ejection of the mild mannered Almeda and giving away the Maroons’ chances to win the game.

UP was able to end their campaign with another win against NU to have an overachieving 7-7 win-loss record that season.

Anyway, back to the present reality.

It was actually all downhill for the team after that season, with two 0-14 seasons as proof.

It’s actually painful for a UP basketball loyalist like me to hear things like, “See you sa Cheerdance,” or “Exam na lang ang laban” and “UP Fighting but not WINNING Maroons.” These are just actually a few examples of what people say about the UP Maroons being bad in terms of basketball.

Ok, I know that UP is not an institution that prioritizes dominance in sports over academics and that UP is among the few (if not the only) schools that observe what the term Student-Athlete actually means. Still, it wouldn’t hurt if the men’s basketball team can close out half of their games in a season

Silungan will say goodbye to UP soon

With eight players graduating this year, I call out to the boys to do their best and win the last two games of the season to serve as springboard for a better one next year . Co-captains Lopez, Mike Silungan and Mike Gamboa, together with veterans Alvin Padilla, Jelo Montecastro, Alinko Mbah, Robby Weirzba and Diony Hipolito will be playing their last two games and we would want for them to go out with a respectable finish.

This will serve as inspiration for the guys that will be back next year to continue the fight for the Maroons and the whole UP community backing them up. Henry Asilum and Chris Ball have shown flashes of brilliance and would probably be a good one-two tandem for the next years to come. Transferee Raul Soyud will provide the veteran leadership this team needs together with ace shooter Manuel.

Paolo Romero, JR Gallarza and Julius Wong will certainly be back next year to provide quality minutes together with returning players Mikee Reyes, Mark Juruena and Moriah Gingerich. Sure to provide a boost next year will be “prodigal son” Tata Marata, who is returning to his roots after playing his first three years in college for DLSU. Youngster Kyle Suarez, a vital piece of this year’s RP Under-18 National team that competed in the FIBA Asia U-18 tournament in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, will also be called upon to provide spark to a rebuilding line-up next year.

Manuel will likely be the main outside threat next season

Observing the needs we have to address for next year, a tall, athletic center that can protect the paint and rebounds well (Ball somehow fits the rebounding part but lacks consistency in interior defense) is the main piece we have to secure as well as a tall pointguard who can run the transition offense smoothly (ala Montecastro).

We also hope that Coach Ricky Dandan and his staff will be back next year. They have shown commitment in improving our basketball program for the last two years even if the win-loss record does not indicate so.

For the UP MBT fans, I believe a lot of them are tired of supporting a team that doesn’t even win a quarter of their games. However, there are still those who would stick with this team win or lose.

Marata will try to fill in Silungan's shoes

I believe it’s just a matter of having just a solid system and an improved recruitment process in place in order for UP to succeed in the men’s basketball tournament again. Some financial help from successful alumni would also go a long way, as long as they’re helping just to help the team out and not have any hidden agenda on the side.

I’m pretty sure that if the UP Fighting Maroons become relevant in the men’s basketball tournament again, Araneta Coliseum, Mall of Asia Arena and other playing venues will be jampacked with the color maroon all over the place.

Here’s to hoping that this dream comes true for State U in the coming seasons.

UP Fight and UP Win!

Graduating Players				Playing next year
#	Position	Name		Position	Status	Name
4	PG	Mike Gamboa		PG	Returnee	Mikee Reyes
5	PG/SG	Robby Weirzba		G/F	Transferee- DLSU	Tata Marata
7	C	Alinko Mbah		G/F	Returnee	Moriah Gingerich
8	PF	Diony Hipolito		G/F	Rookie- Ateneo	Kyle Suarez
11	G/F	Mark Lopez		F/C	Returnee	Mark Juruena
12	G/F	Alvin Padilla
17	PG	Jelo Montecastro		Current UP Depth Chart for Season 76
21	G/F	Mike Silungan		Position	Player
				PG	Henry Asilum	Mikee Reyes
Holdovers				SG	Jett Manuel	Tata Marata	Julius Wong
#	Position	Name		SF	Tata Marata	Kyle Suarez	Moriah Gingerich
6	SG	Jett Manuel		PF	Raul Soyud	Paolo Romero	Mark Juruena
10	F/C	JR Gallarza		C	Chris Ball	JR Gallarza	Mark Juruena
13	F/C	Raul Soyud
14	PG	Henry Asilum
18	C	Chris Ball
19	PF	Paolo Romero
20	SG	Julius Wong