9/05/2004
FEU waiting in the wings of the Eagles
In a playdate that did not matter, everybody was looking ahead.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles had a hard time disposing luckless National University in the first game, while the Far Eastern University Tamaraws took some three quarters before they could totally shake off University of Santo Tomas, 66-57, last September 5 at the PhilSports Arena. This set up a battle for first place between the day’s winners this September 11 at the Araneta Coliseum to draw the UAAP men’s basketball eliminations to a close.
In a game where both teams committed a total of 50 turnovers, and surprisingly, only four fouls each in the first half, the best thing that happened was when Dennis Miranda supposedly threw the ball towards Arwind Santos for an alley-oop, but instead, the leather bounced the backboard and went through the net.
“That’s the story of the game,” was how FEU men’s basketball coach Koy Banal described his point guard’s fantastic shot from near midcourt, reminding him of one game in their previous PBL campaign where Miranda did the same thing.
Miranda’s only three-point attempt of the game provided the perfect nightcap for a match where both squads could not do anything right. He finished with seven points along with seven rebounds, four steals, and five turnovers.
Jeffrei Chan finally made himself noticed scoring 14 points in the first half and topping the department with 16. RJ Rizada was the only other player who finished in double-digits with 15.
In a day when the referees’ whistles were not that prominent, Mark Isip fouled himself out along with nine markers and seven errors.
On the other hand, Danilo Pribhdas, Christian Luanzon, and Allan Evangelista did much on a lean as they all concluded with nine points for the hapless Tigers.
“One thing good doon sa team ng UST, if not all of them, most of their players are ready to play. Siguro iyon ang one thing na dapat naming matutunan,” the FEU mentor said of the oppostition.
The Tamaraws had a feast on the hustle board with 52 rebounds, 14 feeds, eight thefts, and five blocks, four coming from Arwind Santos. They also had 17 fastbreak points as they run the Tigers aground with their transition game. This romp proved that they have UST’s number this season, beating them badly in both of their meetings.
UST’s sickness proved to be contagious as scoring did not pick up until midway of the first quarter when Chan stringed up a pair of fastbreak points to lead, 6-0. From there, more sloppy plays ensued as Rizada joined in the scoring fray beginning the Tamaraws’ rampage in the second period with six straight, 22-13.
Chan ended what he started as he had his own six-point binge in the final two minutes before halftime, capping with a shot a second remaining, 31-24. Santos gave the Green and Gold their highest lead of 20 in the middle of the fourth quarter, 62-42, after he grabbed an offensive board, ran towards the corner, and suddenly spun for a shot.
From there, the Morayta-based crew coasted as the Tigers tried for one last gasp and managed to cut down the deficit to seven, 55-62, with less than a minute to play. In the next possession, Miranda was setting up Santos for an alley-oop play when his pass went over, hit the board, and bounced into the bottom of the net to the delight of the sparse crowd.
Far Eastern’s motivation this Saturday, besides getting top spot, is avenging their loss against Ateneo, and at the same time, would also be able to grab solo first place for the first time this season.
“Iyon ang goal namin before going into the Final Four. Magandang pabaon iyon,” Banal mentioned.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles had a hard time disposing luckless National University in the first game, while the Far Eastern University Tamaraws took some three quarters before they could totally shake off University of Santo Tomas, 66-57, last September 5 at the PhilSports Arena. This set up a battle for first place between the day’s winners this September 11 at the Araneta Coliseum to draw the UAAP men’s basketball eliminations to a close.
In a game where both teams committed a total of 50 turnovers, and surprisingly, only four fouls each in the first half, the best thing that happened was when Dennis Miranda supposedly threw the ball towards Arwind Santos for an alley-oop, but instead, the leather bounced the backboard and went through the net.
“That’s the story of the game,” was how FEU men’s basketball coach Koy Banal described his point guard’s fantastic shot from near midcourt, reminding him of one game in their previous PBL campaign where Miranda did the same thing.
Miranda’s only three-point attempt of the game provided the perfect nightcap for a match where both squads could not do anything right. He finished with seven points along with seven rebounds, four steals, and five turnovers.
Jeffrei Chan finally made himself noticed scoring 14 points in the first half and topping the department with 16. RJ Rizada was the only other player who finished in double-digits with 15.
In a day when the referees’ whistles were not that prominent, Mark Isip fouled himself out along with nine markers and seven errors.
On the other hand, Danilo Pribhdas, Christian Luanzon, and Allan Evangelista did much on a lean as they all concluded with nine points for the hapless Tigers.
“One thing good doon sa team ng UST, if not all of them, most of their players are ready to play. Siguro iyon ang one thing na dapat naming matutunan,” the FEU mentor said of the oppostition.
The Tamaraws had a feast on the hustle board with 52 rebounds, 14 feeds, eight thefts, and five blocks, four coming from Arwind Santos. They also had 17 fastbreak points as they run the Tigers aground with their transition game. This romp proved that they have UST’s number this season, beating them badly in both of their meetings.
UST’s sickness proved to be contagious as scoring did not pick up until midway of the first quarter when Chan stringed up a pair of fastbreak points to lead, 6-0. From there, more sloppy plays ensued as Rizada joined in the scoring fray beginning the Tamaraws’ rampage in the second period with six straight, 22-13.
Chan ended what he started as he had his own six-point binge in the final two minutes before halftime, capping with a shot a second remaining, 31-24. Santos gave the Green and Gold their highest lead of 20 in the middle of the fourth quarter, 62-42, after he grabbed an offensive board, ran towards the corner, and suddenly spun for a shot.
From there, the Morayta-based crew coasted as the Tigers tried for one last gasp and managed to cut down the deficit to seven, 55-62, with less than a minute to play. In the next possession, Miranda was setting up Santos for an alley-oop play when his pass went over, hit the board, and bounced into the bottom of the net to the delight of the sparse crowd.
Far Eastern’s motivation this Saturday, besides getting top spot, is avenging their loss against Ateneo, and at the same time, would also be able to grab solo first place for the first time this season.
“Iyon ang goal namin before going into the Final Four. Magandang pabaon iyon,” Banal mentioned.
// posted by Unknown @ 21:03 
