08 August 2014,
Friday,
8 p.m.,
FilOil-Flying V Arena,
San Juan
Team standings W L
Letran Squires 6 1
JRU Light Bombers 6 1
San Beda Red Cubs 6 2
Malayan Red Robins 6 2
San Sebastian Staglets 4 4
La Salle Greenies 4 4
Arellano Braves 4 5
Lyceum Junior Pirates 2 7
UPHSD Altalettes 1 6
EAC–ICA Brigadiers 0 7
It was an ugly win for the La Salle Greenhills Greenies.
I am not used to watching closely-fought games in the junior division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament.
But, this year, a lot of games in NCAA season 90 junior action are being fought this way.
(Greenies John Gob (12) gets the ball during a loose ball scramble)
Many tears are being shed, while many bones and muscles getting broken or sprained.
A lot of coaches get angry over the outcome of the games that they get involved in.
And Friday’s night’s encounter between the Greenies and the Arellano University Braves are among those that are close.
(LSGH Greenie Amando San Juan in the act of shooting a free throw).
But, despite a game which some quarters think is ugly, somebody still stood out.
-LSGH Greenies 60, Arellano University Braves 59; Gobs gives out best
Big man John Gob came up with a double-double performance for the La Salle Greenhills Greenies as they held back the Arellano University Braves, 60-59, Friday night, July 8 at the Arena in San Juan.
He was stepping in the absence of scoring ace Michael de la Cruz, who is in Dubai with Kobe Paras and the rest of the national under-17 team, which is seeing action in the 2014 FIBA World under-17 championships.
The six-foot Gob led with 22 points and 19 rebounds for the Greenies as they picked up their fourth win in eight games, and with still a game left in their first round assignment.
Gob’s big performance makes him one of the performing junior cagers after eight games in the season, and with his averages of 15.25 points and 17.25 rebounds.
His big game came as the Greenies finished the game leading by a point, and to the disappointment of coach John Flores.
After all, Gob, who says the team have done better against the Braves, made his highest field goal output for the season, which is nine out of 16 attempts.
His field goal output for the evening is the fourth highest since the start of the season.
San Beda Red Cub cager Evan Furaque has the highest overall, so far, with 12, which he made on June 29, when the Red Cubs took a 74-76 upset to the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers.
-Guilmer de la Torre, John Zamora spoils it all
The Greenies were supposed move ahead in the last period.
But, Guilmer de la Torre spoiled everything for them, at least before he left the game on an injured left shoulder.
(Arellano Braves cager Guilmer de la Torre (11) getting chased by Greenies (7) Rafael Salonga and San Juan (18) right after his steal off John Gob. He just hurt his left shoulder in this piece action)- photo I took and shared with Guilmer de la Torre on his Facebook page
Showing the way for the Braves with an above-par tally of 24 points, de la Torre forced a 44-all deadlock in the last 9:54 with his split charity.
He was able to force another, 46-all in the last 8:01, following a steal and drive off Amando San Juan.
De la Torre, who norms 17.44 points per game, was never the same afterwards, as his steal from San Juan, apparently hurt his left shoulder, and he had to be momentarily led out of the court by medics for first aid.
(Guilmer de la Torre is attended by a medic. He feels pain on his left shoulder after snatching the ball away from Gob a few second back)-photo I took and shared with Guilmer de la Torre on his Facebook page
Eventually, the Greenies moved away, 53-48, behind attacks from San Juan and a split charity from Alain Madrigal in the last 3:16.
They then enjoyed a six-point edge, 54-48, on a split by Rafael Salonga.
Things could have gotten better for the Greenies, but the Braves continues to push with incursions from John Zamora and Juniel Balbarona allowing the Legarda-based dribblers to stay close, 54-56, in the final 1:01.
(Guilmer de la Torre (11) temporarily sidelined as medics look into his shoulder)- photo I took and shared with Guilmer de la Torre on his Facebook page
Hitting four of six charities in the last 7.1 seconds enabled the Greenies to remain ahead, 60-56, and with Salonga making two of them near the end.
What got coach Flores really pissed off was when Zamora was able to get away with a triple as the buzzer sounded, and the Greenies won by a mere one-point advantage over the Chiefs.
“Wala. Hindi kami lumaro nang maayos. Wala sa focus. Wala kami lahat. Tsamba lang ang panalong ito,” said angry Flores with fire in his eyes, and before he stomped off to the dugout.
- The significance of the win
Their latest victory comes a week after the Greenies pulled off a 71-52 demolition of the Lyceum Philippines University Junior Pirates.
With the end of the first round just around the corner, the Greenies climbed to a share of third with the San Sebastian Staglets
Being finalists last year, the victory means a lot for the Greenies, who were finalists last year.
Because this will keep them within reach of a Final Four seat going into the second round.
The Braves, on the other hand, fell behind in lone fourth at 4-5.
(Guilmer de la Torres getting help for his recovery)-photo I took and shared with Guilmer de la Torre on his Facebook page
Hopefully, de la Torre will be back in action, and asks for everyone’s prayers. He says he was still in pain a day after their game, and as he tells me on Facebook chat.
-THE SCORES:
LSGH 60 — Gob 22, San Juan 19, Salonga 5, Alcala 5, Madrigal 4, Velasco 3, Herrera 2, Pagulayan 0, Manuel 0, Ollano 0.
Arellano 59 — Dela Torre 24, De Lara 13, Zamora 12, Clemente 3, Strait 3, Balbarona 2, Cabahug 2, Enriquez 0, Manaloto 0, Juico 0, Peralta 0, Bataller 0.
Quarterscores: 19-11, 32-21, 44-43, 60-59.
(Mapua’s Jasper Salenga (11) and Warren Bonifacion (15) tries to screen a pass by FEU’s Rey Boc (12) to LJ Gonzales (14), with Mapua’s Eric Andaya (6) coming in position for a triple team).
Pektus Corner 