9/17/2004
Tamaraws in familiar territory
The Far Eastern University Tamaraws finished on top of the field at the end of the UAAP men’s basketball eliminations. That should not be a surprise. Pre-season pundits expected them to be there as their core won the PBL Unity Cup months before the UAAP started.
Finishing with a lofty 11-3 standing, they would reprise their “Battle of the East” with fourth seed University of the East in this early Christmas treat as red and green face each other in this Final Four skirmish.
You might get to read this after the FEU-UE semifinal match, but regardless who wins that game, the Tamaraws’ season is far from over.
The eliminations that it was
The Tamaraws hardly encountered any resistance during the preliminary rounds as they went neck-and-neck with Ateneo for the top spot most of the time. Beginning the collegiate year with a bang, they trampled the Warriors to the ground in opening day.
They then went 1-1 with pre-season favourites Adamson and De La Salle holding off the Falcons while getting surprised by the unpredictable Archers. Afterwards, the Tams streaked to straight victories courtesy of Santo Tomas, National, and State. Although the Nicanor-based squad bludgeoned the hapless Tigers, they survived close calls, literally and figuratively, against NU and UP.
As icing to the first round of cage hostilities, last season’s Finals protagonists were at it with neither team giving an inch. It only took one shot to define the game as LA Tenorio had his best game of the 2004 season and the game-winning basket.
Segueing into the second round, they vented their frustrations on the Green Archers, getting even with the first round upset. They then had close encounters with AdU and UE in a matter of three days in what FEU men’s basketball coach Koy Banal described as “character-building” victories.
After another three-game romp, the Green and Gold squad were caught in the middle of the UP rampage as the Maroon five got their fifth straight win with a five-point lead, 61-56.
Despite the minor bump, they coasted against out-of-it UST and NU before riding with the momentum with a relatively easy win over ADMU, 65-61, to snatch first place and somehow defined on who might win the MVP between Tenorio and FEU main man Arwind Santos.
Bulls leading the parade
Now that we mentioned Santos, he really is good with what he does and that is, defending like hell, grabbing the rebounds, and lighting up the hustle board. To him, scoring is just a second option, a fact that separates him with other MVP contenders.
Santos is fourth in scoring, averaging 13.5 ppg, with a 50.4% 2-pt field goal shooting. He is also first in rebounds (10.3 rpg) and second in blocks behind Niño Canaleta (2.2 bpg).
But then, Santos wouldn’t be there if no one was setting him up in pattern plays. Enter Dennis Miranda, a cinch for a spot in the Mythical Five if only a person named Tenorio wasn’t also playing this season. A do-it-all guard, he could score (11.6 ppg, 10th overall), drive and drop the ball to an open Tamaraw, or kick the ball out in the wings (4.6 apg). At six-foot flat, he could even collar the rebounds (4.0 rpg). A workhorse, Miranda clocks in more than 30 minutes a game and could also be depended upon in defense (2.4 spg).
While veterans Mark Isip (9.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg), and Don Yabut (5.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg) provide the inside presence, shooters RJ Rizada (9.9ppg, 46.2% fg) and Jeffrei Chan (8.0 ppg) make sure the opposition would not clog the lane with their timely hits from outside so that their big guys could operate in the paint with relative ease.
Against the Warriors
FEU is the only team that has the Warriors’ number beating them twice in the elims. This should augur well for Banal and his wards. Nevertheless, this is a different UE squad they would be facing, although the latter lack in playoff experience. Proof to this is the difference of the Tams’ winning margins in both games.
In their first time out, the Warriors looked tentative as Far Eastern bared its teeth, 89-61. In the second round, breaks in the endgame determined the victor in that match with the Tamaraws escaping, 64-62.
“I don’t consider UE as a rookie-laden (team). Siguro in some other colleges these guys have played already like Saguindel, Labagala, Palaganas. I believe transferees sila,” commented Banal on his adversary.
In addition, the veteran tactician is all praises for the neophyte UE mentor and the rest of his coaching staff.
“Coach Dindo (Pumaren) has done a wonderful job in UE. Kung makikita niyo, sa simula pa lang medyo nagduda na marami. But in-erase niya lahat ng doubts na iyon nung nag-deliver sila.”
A ploy the bespectacled FEU guru devised is to let Niño Canaleta break lose while control the Warriors.
“Ang isa na lang gagawin namin dito i-shut down namin iyung ibang players, pa-iscorin namin siya (Canaleta). Hindi naman niya siguro kayang umiskor for 40 minutes.”
Against the other semifinalists
FEU has a 4-2 record against fellow Final Four teams, although they split their games with ADMU and DLSU. Nevertheless, Far Eastern’s wins are pretty much convincing trouncing the opposition in both occasions they won.
Just means that they have a slight upperhand with whomever they might face once they hurdle the Warriors.
As a team
At the end of the 14-game eliminations, FEU was in the top four of almost all the statistics. They total 68.6 ppg, which is good for third overall, every time out while limiting their opponents to 61.6 ppg, first in the league. The Tams are also third in field goal shooting (44.4%) while they are third in freethrows (64.5%).
With the Tamaraws’ formidable wall, they grab an average of 48.1 rebounds (2nd) and swat 4.9 shots (1st). They also pass around the ball well (14.8, 1st), while at the same time taking good control of it (19.1 turnovers per game, 1st).
The word according to Banal
Camaraderie, teamwork, and faith in God are the primary components of what makes his team click. Other than that, having a veteran lineup is always a plus.
“It’s always an edge if you have championship experience. Thank God na meron kaming eight players who came from the champion (team) last year. Iba iyung marami kang baraha,” he elaborated.
The drawback of being defending champion though is that everybody is after your skin.
“Ganon naman palagi lahat ng defending champion. Lahat ng makakalaban mo, para sa kanila nothing to lose when going up against the defending champion,” Banal explained.
Banal and his Tamaraws had an open session in between rounds and he recalled what they talked about, “Before the start of our game sa De La Salle sa second round, kinompare ko na. Nilagay ko lahat ng stats. Tinanong ko mga players, ‘Ano commitment natin dito?’ Nagsabi sila. Hangga’t tinalo namin UE at naka-three straight kami sa second round, in-asses namin ngayon, ‘Nag-improve ba tayo?’ In fact, second kami sa offense, number three na kami sa defense. Ano mangyayari kung magto-top tayo sa offense at magto-top tayo sa defense? Champion!”
Nevertheless, despite all the success, the religious mentor always leaves it to the divine beings to have the final say.
“It’s not going to be easy in the Final Four. Basta kasama namin ang Diyos, wala kaming takot.”
Finishing with a lofty 11-3 standing, they would reprise their “Battle of the East” with fourth seed University of the East in this early Christmas treat as red and green face each other in this Final Four skirmish.
You might get to read this after the FEU-UE semifinal match, but regardless who wins that game, the Tamaraws’ season is far from over.
The eliminations that it was
The Tamaraws hardly encountered any resistance during the preliminary rounds as they went neck-and-neck with Ateneo for the top spot most of the time. Beginning the collegiate year with a bang, they trampled the Warriors to the ground in opening day.
They then went 1-1 with pre-season favourites Adamson and De La Salle holding off the Falcons while getting surprised by the unpredictable Archers. Afterwards, the Tams streaked to straight victories courtesy of Santo Tomas, National, and State. Although the Nicanor-based squad bludgeoned the hapless Tigers, they survived close calls, literally and figuratively, against NU and UP.
As icing to the first round of cage hostilities, last season’s Finals protagonists were at it with neither team giving an inch. It only took one shot to define the game as LA Tenorio had his best game of the 2004 season and the game-winning basket.
Segueing into the second round, they vented their frustrations on the Green Archers, getting even with the first round upset. They then had close encounters with AdU and UE in a matter of three days in what FEU men’s basketball coach Koy Banal described as “character-building” victories.
After another three-game romp, the Green and Gold squad were caught in the middle of the UP rampage as the Maroon five got their fifth straight win with a five-point lead, 61-56.
Despite the minor bump, they coasted against out-of-it UST and NU before riding with the momentum with a relatively easy win over ADMU, 65-61, to snatch first place and somehow defined on who might win the MVP between Tenorio and FEU main man Arwind Santos.
Bulls leading the parade
Now that we mentioned Santos, he really is good with what he does and that is, defending like hell, grabbing the rebounds, and lighting up the hustle board. To him, scoring is just a second option, a fact that separates him with other MVP contenders.
Santos is fourth in scoring, averaging 13.5 ppg, with a 50.4% 2-pt field goal shooting. He is also first in rebounds (10.3 rpg) and second in blocks behind Niño Canaleta (2.2 bpg).
But then, Santos wouldn’t be there if no one was setting him up in pattern plays. Enter Dennis Miranda, a cinch for a spot in the Mythical Five if only a person named Tenorio wasn’t also playing this season. A do-it-all guard, he could score (11.6 ppg, 10th overall), drive and drop the ball to an open Tamaraw, or kick the ball out in the wings (4.6 apg). At six-foot flat, he could even collar the rebounds (4.0 rpg). A workhorse, Miranda clocks in more than 30 minutes a game and could also be depended upon in defense (2.4 spg).
While veterans Mark Isip (9.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg), and Don Yabut (5.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg) provide the inside presence, shooters RJ Rizada (9.9ppg, 46.2% fg) and Jeffrei Chan (8.0 ppg) make sure the opposition would not clog the lane with their timely hits from outside so that their big guys could operate in the paint with relative ease.
Against the Warriors
FEU is the only team that has the Warriors’ number beating them twice in the elims. This should augur well for Banal and his wards. Nevertheless, this is a different UE squad they would be facing, although the latter lack in playoff experience. Proof to this is the difference of the Tams’ winning margins in both games.
In their first time out, the Warriors looked tentative as Far Eastern bared its teeth, 89-61. In the second round, breaks in the endgame determined the victor in that match with the Tamaraws escaping, 64-62.
“I don’t consider UE as a rookie-laden (team). Siguro in some other colleges these guys have played already like Saguindel, Labagala, Palaganas. I believe transferees sila,” commented Banal on his adversary.
In addition, the veteran tactician is all praises for the neophyte UE mentor and the rest of his coaching staff.
“Coach Dindo (Pumaren) has done a wonderful job in UE. Kung makikita niyo, sa simula pa lang medyo nagduda na marami. But in-erase niya lahat ng doubts na iyon nung nag-deliver sila.”
A ploy the bespectacled FEU guru devised is to let Niño Canaleta break lose while control the Warriors.
“Ang isa na lang gagawin namin dito i-shut down namin iyung ibang players, pa-iscorin namin siya (Canaleta). Hindi naman niya siguro kayang umiskor for 40 minutes.”
Against the other semifinalists
FEU has a 4-2 record against fellow Final Four teams, although they split their games with ADMU and DLSU. Nevertheless, Far Eastern’s wins are pretty much convincing trouncing the opposition in both occasions they won.
Just means that they have a slight upperhand with whomever they might face once they hurdle the Warriors.
As a team
At the end of the 14-game eliminations, FEU was in the top four of almost all the statistics. They total 68.6 ppg, which is good for third overall, every time out while limiting their opponents to 61.6 ppg, first in the league. The Tams are also third in field goal shooting (44.4%) while they are third in freethrows (64.5%).
With the Tamaraws’ formidable wall, they grab an average of 48.1 rebounds (2nd) and swat 4.9 shots (1st). They also pass around the ball well (14.8, 1st), while at the same time taking good control of it (19.1 turnovers per game, 1st).
The word according to Banal
Camaraderie, teamwork, and faith in God are the primary components of what makes his team click. Other than that, having a veteran lineup is always a plus.
“It’s always an edge if you have championship experience. Thank God na meron kaming eight players who came from the champion (team) last year. Iba iyung marami kang baraha,” he elaborated.
The drawback of being defending champion though is that everybody is after your skin.
“Ganon naman palagi lahat ng defending champion. Lahat ng makakalaban mo, para sa kanila nothing to lose when going up against the defending champion,” Banal explained.
Banal and his Tamaraws had an open session in between rounds and he recalled what they talked about, “Before the start of our game sa De La Salle sa second round, kinompare ko na. Nilagay ko lahat ng stats. Tinanong ko mga players, ‘Ano commitment natin dito?’ Nagsabi sila. Hangga’t tinalo namin UE at naka-three straight kami sa second round, in-asses namin ngayon, ‘Nag-improve ba tayo?’ In fact, second kami sa offense, number three na kami sa defense. Ano mangyayari kung magto-top tayo sa offense at magto-top tayo sa defense? Champion!”
Nevertheless, despite all the success, the religious mentor always leaves it to the divine beings to have the final say.
“It’s not going to be easy in the Final Four. Basta kasama namin ang Diyos, wala kaming takot.”
// posted by Unknown @ 14:51 
