Saturday, July 29, 2006
Blue Eagles Flying Higher and Higher
A third of the elimination round has finished in the ongoing 69th UAAP Men's basketball tournament, and we're seeing the Ateneo Blue Eagles flying higher and higher. The Blue Eagles are currently carrying an umblemished 4-0 card, with wins against the NU Bulldogs (which I blogged here), UP Fighting Maroons, a come from behind victory against the Adamson Soaring Falcons, and another victory against the FEU Tamaraws.
Though they are not star-studded, the Blue Eagles are sporting a very balanced line-up in each game they're playing. In the game against the UP Fighting Maroons back in July 16, 2006, the Blue Eagles were carried by the late game heroics of rookie Eric Salamat behind an 11/12 FT shooting, plus the infinite hustle of Zion Laterre and the consistent plays of veterans JC Intal, Doug Kramer, and Macky Escalona. The Blue and White survived the attack of Marvin Cruz's 29 points and rookie Migs de Asis' outside sniping, by establishing a comfortable 10 point lead going to the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, in the game against the Adamson Falcons back in July 20, 2006, the Blue Eagles survived a horrific 2nd quarter field goal shooting, a scoring drought after leading as much as 10 points with 5 minutes left in the game, a late game rally by the Falcons, which they all overcame via a come-from-behind victory. Doug Kramer and JC Intal played their consistent games, but it was Yuri Escueta and Chris Tiu who played big in the home stretch by unleashing two timely triples. Yuri Escueta doubled up on Falcon Ken Bono on the final seconds of the game and forced big Bono into a turnover by stealing the precious basketball. It would have been an upset had Adamson won against Ateneo, but the late game breaks went to the Ateneans' favor.
Top met bottom as the Blue Eagles took their unblemished 3-0 record against a surprisingly winless but victory hungry FEU Tamaraws. The Tamaraws unleashed an 8-0 start behind Tamaraw Arvee Mangahas' game face (hehe), but the Blue Eagles kept their composure and crept on to the Tamaraws lead behind the solid plays of the trio Doug Kramer, Macky Escalona, and JC Intal to lead the half 43-40. The Blue Eagles padded their lead to a comfortable 10 point margin entering the fourth, but FEU eventually took the lead behind the guns of Jeff Chan. An Escalona triple tied the game before the Ateneans eventually took control of the game behind JC Intal's and Chris Tiu's timely assists to Doug Kramer at crunch time which gave them a comfortable 5 point lead, 78-73, with 10 seconds left. Doug was solid from the free throw line behind an 8 of 8 free throw shooting, and produced his third consecutive double-double performance with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
From the looks of those victories, it is the consistent plays of veterans JC Intal, Macky Escalona, and Doug Kramer (who are the last remnants of the 2002 UAAP Champions) which is doing the trick: JC Intal for those slashing and running baskets, Escalona for those assists under the basket, and Doug's consistent double-double performance inside the paint. The bench also provide a solid and balanced offense, most notably Chris Tiu, Yuri Escueta, Eric Salamat, Zion Laterre, and Ford Arao. It's also worth noting though that Ken Barracoso and Jai Reyes have been getting limited minutes. So far because of his limited minutes, Jai Reyes hasn't lived up to his reputation of the team's outside gunner. Eric Salamat hasn't followed up his 17 point performance against UP, which probably brings pressure on his part as some scribes has named him already the league's Rookie of the Year this early in the tourney. He is lucky though that this early, he is given enough minutes by Coach Norman Black for a rookie.
It's also worth looking at the other teams now that we're seeing a relatively balanced competition. UST this early is surprising everyone, scoring upsets against the FEU Tamaraws and UE Warriors, after getting a defeat from the UP Maroons. The NU Bulldogs also are showing everyone that they are for real when they almost scored upset wins over the UE Warriors and the Ateneo Blue Eagles, before finally taking a bite on the FEU Tamaraws. Adamson too, is back on its winning ways by drubbing UP Maroons and the NU Bulldogs, but absorbed defeats from powerhouses UE and Ateneo. UP too is an exciting team to watch with its outside sniping rookies and super-scorer Marvin Cruz.
Anything can happen in the coming days of competition as the league is nearing half the elimination mark. Nothing is certain in the league. For the first time in years, we're seeing two slots suddenly opening up for the last final four slots, assuming Ateneo and UE enter the final four. We're seeing FEU drop to give rise to either UST, NU, UP or Adamson to fill in those slots: a position they haven't gone in for years. It's worth watching every game.
And for La Salle, oh don't claim that the UAAP needs you more than you need the UAAP. Don't say that just because you got suspended, suddenly Ateneo or UE are on top. Just sit down and relax and just watch the competition. Hehe :D
Go Ateneo, One Big Fight!
Though they are not star-studded, the Blue Eagles are sporting a very balanced line-up in each game they're playing. In the game against the UP Fighting Maroons back in July 16, 2006, the Blue Eagles were carried by the late game heroics of rookie Eric Salamat behind an 11/12 FT shooting, plus the infinite hustle of Zion Laterre and the consistent plays of veterans JC Intal, Doug Kramer, and Macky Escalona. The Blue and White survived the attack of Marvin Cruz's 29 points and rookie Migs de Asis' outside sniping, by establishing a comfortable 10 point lead going to the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, in the game against the Adamson Falcons back in July 20, 2006, the Blue Eagles survived a horrific 2nd quarter field goal shooting, a scoring drought after leading as much as 10 points with 5 minutes left in the game, a late game rally by the Falcons, which they all overcame via a come-from-behind victory. Doug Kramer and JC Intal played their consistent games, but it was Yuri Escueta and Chris Tiu who played big in the home stretch by unleashing two timely triples. Yuri Escueta doubled up on Falcon Ken Bono on the final seconds of the game and forced big Bono into a turnover by stealing the precious basketball. It would have been an upset had Adamson won against Ateneo, but the late game breaks went to the Ateneans' favor.
Top met bottom as the Blue Eagles took their unblemished 3-0 record against a surprisingly winless but victory hungry FEU Tamaraws. The Tamaraws unleashed an 8-0 start behind Tamaraw Arvee Mangahas' game face (hehe), but the Blue Eagles kept their composure and crept on to the Tamaraws lead behind the solid plays of the trio Doug Kramer, Macky Escalona, and JC Intal to lead the half 43-40. The Blue Eagles padded their lead to a comfortable 10 point margin entering the fourth, but FEU eventually took the lead behind the guns of Jeff Chan. An Escalona triple tied the game before the Ateneans eventually took control of the game behind JC Intal's and Chris Tiu's timely assists to Doug Kramer at crunch time which gave them a comfortable 5 point lead, 78-73, with 10 seconds left. Doug was solid from the free throw line behind an 8 of 8 free throw shooting, and produced his third consecutive double-double performance with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
From the looks of those victories, it is the consistent plays of veterans JC Intal, Macky Escalona, and Doug Kramer (who are the last remnants of the 2002 UAAP Champions) which is doing the trick: JC Intal for those slashing and running baskets, Escalona for those assists under the basket, and Doug's consistent double-double performance inside the paint. The bench also provide a solid and balanced offense, most notably Chris Tiu, Yuri Escueta, Eric Salamat, Zion Laterre, and Ford Arao. It's also worth noting though that Ken Barracoso and Jai Reyes have been getting limited minutes. So far because of his limited minutes, Jai Reyes hasn't lived up to his reputation of the team's outside gunner. Eric Salamat hasn't followed up his 17 point performance against UP, which probably brings pressure on his part as some scribes has named him already the league's Rookie of the Year this early in the tourney. He is lucky though that this early, he is given enough minutes by Coach Norman Black for a rookie.
It's also worth looking at the other teams now that we're seeing a relatively balanced competition. UST this early is surprising everyone, scoring upsets against the FEU Tamaraws and UE Warriors, after getting a defeat from the UP Maroons. The NU Bulldogs also are showing everyone that they are for real when they almost scored upset wins over the UE Warriors and the Ateneo Blue Eagles, before finally taking a bite on the FEU Tamaraws. Adamson too, is back on its winning ways by drubbing UP Maroons and the NU Bulldogs, but absorbed defeats from powerhouses UE and Ateneo. UP too is an exciting team to watch with its outside sniping rookies and super-scorer Marvin Cruz.
Anything can happen in the coming days of competition as the league is nearing half the elimination mark. Nothing is certain in the league. For the first time in years, we're seeing two slots suddenly opening up for the last final four slots, assuming Ateneo and UE enter the final four. We're seeing FEU drop to give rise to either UST, NU, UP or Adamson to fill in those slots: a position they haven't gone in for years. It's worth watching every game.
And for La Salle, oh don't claim that the UAAP needs you more than you need the UAAP. Don't say that just because you got suspended, suddenly Ateneo or UE are on top. Just sit down and relax and just watch the competition. Hehe :D
Go Ateneo, One Big Fight!
Comments
I have my own thoughts on the current AdMU lineup, but I'll save it for my own article. For now, let's give some time for yours to shine. Haha.
OBG!
Post a Comment
OBG!
<< Home
