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