Varsity Sports Updates (UAAP Season 77 Junior Basketball)- UST Tiger Cubs draw big games from Erik Marcelo, seek place in semifinals

10, January 2015,

Saturday,

Blue Eagle gym,

Ateneo de Manila campus,

Katipunan Ave.,

Quezon City,

3 p.m.

 

Erik Marcelo, 17 years old, 4^th year high school, and a senior member of his team.

 

He scored two crucial free throws at endgame last January 10, Saturday, during a game of the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs in the 77^th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) junior basketball tournament.

 

That was one of the few games which I saw Tiger Cubs team that was fighting hard to earn wins, and trying to make it far in the elimination round.

(Eric Marcelo leaps as he makes a pass).

“Matagal ko na po inantay ito. Na mabigyan ng chance na mapanalo ang team,” said Marcelo after the game as the team retreated to their assigned locker room inside the Blue Eagle gym in Katipunan Ave., Quezon City.

 

Marcelo drilled in the winning charity in the last 13 seconds and this helped the Tiger Cubs upset the defending champion National University Bullpups, 51-49.

 

“Kaso, hindi ko na shoot iyung isa. Pero sabi ko, sayang ang chance,” added Marcelo, who still has two playing years for  with the Tiger Cubs.

 

(members of the UST Tigers singing the school anthem. From left to right are: Miguel Jison, Erik Marcelo, Adolph Salinas, Vince Ferrer and Roald Mayor).

Their efforts allowed the Tigers Cubs to pick up their fourth win in nine games, score their first win over the Bullpups in five years, and stay in contention for a Final Four semifinals seat.

 

After that game, that Tiger Cubs went on to post their fourth straight triumph at the expense of the University of the Philippines Integrated School Junior Maroons, 61-55.

 

He went on to score 15 points for the Tiger Cubs when they took a 55-62 loss to La Salle-Zobel on Jan. 13.

(Members of the UST Tiger Cubs whooping it up after a game).

The Tiger Cubs drew 16 points from Marcelo, when they absorbed their second consecutive setback to the Ateneo Blue Eaglets, 66-84, last Jan. 21.

And on Saturday, Jan. 24,  Marcelo had a low of two points when the Tiger Cubs absorbed their third straight loss, this time to the Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws, 48-57.

(Teammates Francis Luna (6) and Roald Mayor(9) boxes in NU Bullpup Philip Manalang).

 

Marcelo averages 6.4 points and he has been working hard the past few games.

 

When he graduates after this season, he knows he will be in Team B, and plans to take up architecture in college.

And if his first season with Team B is OK, he will pursue his dream to be with the UST Tigers in the UAAP season 79.

(NU’s Mark Dyke faces his man during a one-on-one play).

 

“If I pass first year, tuloy ko basketball,” added Marcelo.

 

For now, Marcelo’s concern, just like the rest of his teammates is for the Tiger Cubs to reach the Final Four.

With two playdates left in the second round, UST will have to step up.

 

They have a 5-6 win-loss record in fifth position.

 

If they win their last two games against La Salle Zobel (Jan. 28), and Adamson on Jan. 31, they will have a chance of reaching the Final Four.

 

 

 

Varsity Sports Updates (UAAP Season 77 Junior Basketball)- Mike Nieto shines as Ateneo Blue Eaglets win last game of year 2014, other results

20 December 2014,

Saturday,

3 p.m.,

Blue Eagle Gym,

Quezon City

The last time Joseph Nieto came and watched a game of the 77th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) junior basketball tournament in 2014 was on Dec. 20, Saturday.

 

He watched his son Mike Nieto score the winning basket for the Ateneo Blue Eaglets, who stopped the defending champion National University Bullpups, 66-64.

 

The win was posted at the Blue Eaglets’ own home court at the Blue Eagle gym in Quezon City.

(Mike Nieto in action).Photo sourced from Richard Esguerra.

Mike had seven points and 15 rebounds in that game.

 

He drove in with 2.5 seconds left, shattering a 64-all deadlock.

 

This helped the Blue Eaglets sweep their seven-game assignment  at the close of the first round.

(Lorenzo Mendoza (left) in action).- photo sourced from Richard Esguerra.

His heroics also snapped the Bullpup’s two-season winning run after 22 games.

 

This hand NU its first setback after winning their first ever title via a 15-game winning streak last season.

 

Lorenzo Mendoza showed the way 20 points for the Blue Eaglets.

 

The Blue Eaglets have remained  unbeaten after seven games.

 

• Why Joseph Nieto enjoyed the game

 

Nieto, who is now an orthopedic surgeon, played in 1987 and  1988 in the senior division of the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

 

I caught up with him in the upper box after the game.

 

“Wala pa mga sons ko nuon,” said Nieto, who played alongside Danny Francisco, Jun Reyes, Nonoy Chuatico and  Jayvee Gayoso.

 

Together, they helped the Blue Eagles win back-to-back title in the UAAP that year under different coaches.

 

“My sons started playing at age four,” said Nieto, who added that Mike and Matthew never got to see him play.

An ACL injury in 1988 kept him from playing  competitively professionally later on.

 

The boys took interest in the game, after watching older kids in their neighborhood play street ball.

 

“I was not teaching them yet. They were playing with 12, 13 year olds,” added Joseph.

 

More on Joseph and  the Nieto boys.

 

And so, the Bullpups were led by Mark Dyke.

 

Dyke showed the way that afternoon  with 19 points.

 

NU dropped to second place with their 6-1 win-loss record at the end of the first round.

 

The La Salle-Zobel Junior Archers got big baskets from  Aljun Melecio and Joaquin Banzon.

 

The two had  with 18 points each.

 

Both  turned to the free throw line in repulsing Far Eastern University, 55-50.

 

This put the Junior Archers in third spot at 5-2 while FEU fell to fourth at 4-3.

 

JD Tungcab topscored for 28 points and had 14 rebounds for the Adamson Baby Falconss.

 

Tungcab’s big performance came as the Baby Falcons bucked a late rally and won over University of the Philippines Integrated School, 56-50.

 

The Junior Falcons improved at 3-4.

 

University of Santo Tomas (2-5) leaned on a big last quarter to swamp University of the East, 77-65.

 

Francis Luna hot 15 points for the Tiger Cubs.