9/17/2004
Tams skin Warriors, enter finals
Experience prevailed over youth and energy this time around as University of the East came short in the end, giving the Far Eastern University Tamaraws a chance to defend their crown in the UAAP men’s basketball finals, 71-64, last September 16 at the PhilSports Arena.
After a pretty close dogfight almost throughout the match, the Tamaraws settled down and started making their shots in the payoff quarter and led as much as 12 after Mark Isip spotted a cutting Arwind Santos towards the basket to lay the ball in, 66-54, with 6:18 left in the game.
On the other hand, the Warriors committed one unforced error after another to stymie their output in the fourth period.
To prove that the veterans are all business at the side of FEU men’s basketball coach Koy Banal’s bench, Dennis Miranda led the scoring with 19 points, along with eight rebounds, five assists, and four steals, while Mark Isip finished with 17 markers on 70% shooting, at the same time grabbing seven boards. Santos was the third Tam with double-digits, chipping in 12, with nine caroms and three blocks.
The Warriors meanwhile was spearheaded by Paolo Hubalde, playing on his last game for UE, topping with 16 points while also committing a horrendous seven turnovers. Earl Saguindel also did well with 16 markers but his contribution was negated with six errors. Niño Canaleta had a relatively quiet night chalking 12 points and just five rebounds.
“Siguro, wala na iyon kanina. Down by eight, Final Four, ibang klase na,” Banal recalled the hole they dug themselves in halftime trailing, 33-41.
But then, it was just a case of history repeating itself when a similar scenario occurred in their semifinal encounter with East a year back.
“We were down by 13 points at the half against UE. We remembered it. It was nice (recalling it) and everyone was positive going into the second half.”
How much the veterans in the squad wanted to win, they exemplified it by talking to the rest of the team during the break and emphasized the importance of this match.
Both squads were dead even after ten minutes of play, 20-all. Somehow, during the next ten, the shots didn’t fall for the Green and Gold making them frustrated which made life easier for the Warriors converting theirs.
“Lahat ng maganda naming ginagawa nawala noong first half because of frustration,” Banal emphasized.
Nevertheless, the FEU had more than enough time to catch up and was ahead by the time the third quarter buzzer sounded. From there, they roared to string up eight straight points to go ahead, 62-52, seven and a half minutes remaining.
Hubalde single-handedly carried the Warriors forcing himself to bring his team back into the thick of the fight managing to cut it down to six, 60-66, less than three minutes left.
However, a sequence where Santos saved the leather from going outside, threw it to Rizada, who handed it to an open Isip down the goal for a slam with just 20 ticks to go somehow signified “game over” and “Better luck next time, UE”.
FEU now awaits the victor of the ADMU-DLSU encounter and may possibly have more than a week’s worth of rest if the Eagles manage to win this September 19 and extend the series to one more game.
After a pretty close dogfight almost throughout the match, the Tamaraws settled down and started making their shots in the payoff quarter and led as much as 12 after Mark Isip spotted a cutting Arwind Santos towards the basket to lay the ball in, 66-54, with 6:18 left in the game.
On the other hand, the Warriors committed one unforced error after another to stymie their output in the fourth period.
To prove that the veterans are all business at the side of FEU men’s basketball coach Koy Banal’s bench, Dennis Miranda led the scoring with 19 points, along with eight rebounds, five assists, and four steals, while Mark Isip finished with 17 markers on 70% shooting, at the same time grabbing seven boards. Santos was the third Tam with double-digits, chipping in 12, with nine caroms and three blocks.
The Warriors meanwhile was spearheaded by Paolo Hubalde, playing on his last game for UE, topping with 16 points while also committing a horrendous seven turnovers. Earl Saguindel also did well with 16 markers but his contribution was negated with six errors. Niño Canaleta had a relatively quiet night chalking 12 points and just five rebounds.
“Siguro, wala na iyon kanina. Down by eight, Final Four, ibang klase na,” Banal recalled the hole they dug themselves in halftime trailing, 33-41.
But then, it was just a case of history repeating itself when a similar scenario occurred in their semifinal encounter with East a year back.
“We were down by 13 points at the half against UE. We remembered it. It was nice (recalling it) and everyone was positive going into the second half.”
How much the veterans in the squad wanted to win, they exemplified it by talking to the rest of the team during the break and emphasized the importance of this match.
Both squads were dead even after ten minutes of play, 20-all. Somehow, during the next ten, the shots didn’t fall for the Green and Gold making them frustrated which made life easier for the Warriors converting theirs.
“Lahat ng maganda naming ginagawa nawala noong first half because of frustration,” Banal emphasized.
Nevertheless, the FEU had more than enough time to catch up and was ahead by the time the third quarter buzzer sounded. From there, they roared to string up eight straight points to go ahead, 62-52, seven and a half minutes remaining.
Hubalde single-handedly carried the Warriors forcing himself to bring his team back into the thick of the fight managing to cut it down to six, 60-66, less than three minutes left.
However, a sequence where Santos saved the leather from going outside, threw it to Rizada, who handed it to an open Isip down the goal for a slam with just 20 ticks to go somehow signified “game over” and “Better luck next time, UE”.
FEU now awaits the victor of the ADMU-DLSU encounter and may possibly have more than a week’s worth of rest if the Eagles manage to win this September 19 and extend the series to one more game.
// posted by Unknown @ 14:53 
