Varsity Sports Updates(NCAA Men’s Basketball results): Long and memorable season ends: SBC Red Lions get fourpeat

Nov. 16, 2013

10:37 p.m.

Saturday

SM Mall of Asia Arena,

Pasay City

The long season of the 89th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament has ended.

In my opinion, it has set a new record in league history after it was held for around five months.

And, It will be remembered by scribes like Cedelf Tupas (Inquirer), Joey Villar (Phil. Star),  the rookie Christian Jacinto (Manila Bulletin, Karlo Sacamos (Spin.ph), Marivic Awitan (Balita), Theodore Jurado (Journal), Jonathan Perez (Business Mirror) and me for the length time it took to finish the season.(and also the NCAA.orp.ph people like Mia Domingo).

The numerous natural disasters which took the place along the way, including the 7.6 magnitude earthquake in Bohol and the supertyphoon Yolanda, the tragedies and all, made it memorable.

Fatherhood, or parenthood, made it meaningful to Joey Villar, now a doting father to Iago Sebastian.

As for the  San Beda Red Lions, they finished their successful campaign with  a simple celebration tonight at the San Beda College campus in Mendiola, Manila with members of the community.

But, it is not like previous festivities.

There is no street party, nor are bands playing, and not as flashy like in previous years.

A very simple party with the rest of the community is being planned this Friday.

Because of the destructive effects of supertyphoon Yolanda on the population on parts of the Eastern Visayas region, supporters of the school just held mass and a dinner.

This is in sympathy to the victims, the dead and the living alike, the homeless and those who are now in refugee camps in Cebu City and Pasay City.

(The Red Lions celebrate. photo sourced from Jan Dizon, NCAA.org.ph on Facebook).

SAN BEDA 60, LETRAN 56: HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The defending champion San Beda Red Lions turned to the free throw line at endgame.

Charities from coming from John Ludovice and Adeogun in the last 30 seconds  allowed the Red Lions to snare the men’s crown for a fourth straight year in the 89th National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament  at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Ludovice split charities in the last 29.8 seconds, while  Adeogun sank  both his attempts with 1.7 ticks left.

This  lifted the Red Lions to a 60-56 beating of the Knights.

With their latest title conquest, the Red Lions claimed their 18th overall crown in the men’s division.

Since last year, they have already surpassed the Knights as the winningest collegiate squad in the league.

The Knights have 16 crowns after finishing runners-up twice over the last two years.

Historically, this is the first time that the Red Lions have won a four-peat as well.

They surpassed the three-peats which they achieved from 2006 to 2009, and from 1934 to 1936.

The other three-peats were achieved by Letran (1982 to 1984), Ateneo (1931-1933) and University of the Philippnes-Manila (1924-to 26).

No varsity squad has yet matched the five-peat of the San Sebastian Stags (1993-1997).

-PLAY-BY-PLAY

Coach Boyet Fernandez, who now knows of the feeling of how it is to coach a champion team on his first try,  gave credit to Adeogun for rallying his teammates on with 17 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks.

One of Adeogun’s block off Kevin Racal came in the last 8.6 seconds, and this forced a crucial turnover.

“He came out like a lion. He swatted every shot, he got every rebound, and that’s Ola Adeogun. And I told him, if he will just play the way you’re playing, we’ll not win the game. But if you step up your game, we’ll win this fourpeat,”said Fernandez.

“True to my words, he came out in the second half, and gave this championship to us,” added Fernandez.

Arthur de la Cruz, who was adjudged as the Finals MVP, showed the way with 20 points and 16 rebounds.

(A double teamed Arthur de la Cruz going for a jumper). Photo sourced from Jan Dizon, NCAA.org.ph Facebook page.

He rose to the occasion after Adeogun got shackled to five points in the first half.

The Red Lions finished their best-of-three title series at 2-1, and after they won Game 1 with an 80-68 repulsing of the Knights.

The Knights bounced in Game 2, 79-74, to equalize the series at 1-all.

They were enjoying a 52-51 edge in the last 3:50 off foul-troubled Raymund Almazan’s perimeter shot in the final 3:50.

After that Adeogun  and de la Cruz struck in succession, 55-52, in the last three minutes.

Kevin Racal, who had seven points, sank two charities off Arthur de la Cruz’s foul in the final 1:48, allowing the Knights to threaten, 54-55.

De la Cruz then kept the Red Lions ahead with 1:03 with a perimeter shot from the left, 57-54.

The Knights still hung on, and threatened, 56-57, some 12 seconds later when Almazan hit a jumper off Mark Cruz’s pass.

Ludovice’s split found its mark with 29.8 seconds remaning, giving the Red Lions a 58-56 lead, and the expense of Cruz’s second foul.

Cruz was never the same again as he went down with cramps on his left foot right after.

With Cruz, the Knights’ top point guard, in pain, regain ball possession in the ensuing play after Adeogun came away with a clean block off Racal as he was in mid-air, making an attempt.

They lost Racal to five, and after he was penalizing while hounding de la Cruz and Adeogun.

Adeogun scored both his charities in the last 1.7 seconds at the expense of Racal.

“Credit to all my players. It’s Ola and all the rest, Rome, Baser, Kyle, and Art. Art is like a libero. Parang sa libero ng volleyball, pasok-pasok lang. Kailangan ko talaga siya. He is my secret weapon. If he plays bad, we’re dead,” said Fernandez.

–         HOW THEY FARED IN OTHER QUARTERS

The Knights turned the ball over thrice in succession in the last 1:23 of the third.

This was after Nambatac bungled two triples and Belorio missed one.

The Red Lions took advantage of this,  grabbing the upperhand anew off a trio of drives from Baser Amer, 45-42.

Drawing seven points from de la Cruz at the half, the Red Lions took charge in the first period, 14-7.

But the Knights managed to overtake them in the second period behind Almazan, Mark Cruz and Ford Ruaya.

Francis Abarcar and Kyle Pascual  gave San Beda its biggest lead in the second canto, a 18-7 advantage in the 8:37 off Abarcar’s two gift shots, and Pascual’s jumper.

Almazan then led an counterattack with his driving shot and putback, and Kevin Racal eventually forced a 20-all tie off his three freebies.

They then took a 26-20 lead behind McJour Luib, Ruaya and Cruz with 2:31 to go.

Cruz’s two charities in the remaining 1:16 allowed Letran to take an eight point edge, 30-22, at halftime.

-THE BOXSCORES:

San Beda 60- Dela Cruz 20, Adeogun 17, Amer 6, Dela Rosa 6, Pascual 4, Abarcar 2, A. Semerad 2, Ludovice 2, Sara 1, D. Semerad 0.

Letran 56- Almazan 14, Cruz 10, Nambatac 10, Ruaya 9, Racal 7, Belorio 4, Luib 2, Castro 0, Po 0, Tambeling 0, Buenaflor 0, Gabawan 0.

Quarterscores: 14-7, 24-30, 45-43, 60-56.

Varsity Sports Updates (NCAA Men’s Basketball results)- Game 1 review: Cheers amidst gloom, Letran Knights had the numbers to win it

Nov. 11, 2013

Monday

SM Mall of Asia Arena,

Pasay City

4 p.m.

Game 2  of the best of three finals series of the 89^th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball tournament will be like Game 1.

(Ola Adeogun in a rebound battle with Raymund Almazan, photo sourced Paul Ryan Tan, AksyonTV website).

It will be held amidst a gloomy atmosphere, which is prevalent in places  outside of the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

( a bruised and battered boy stares at the devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda, photo sourced from the Guardian).

Down south in the Visayas, in many places in the Eastern Visayas region, people are trying to recover from the devastation caused by super typhoon Yolanda last Nov. 8, Friday.

(Volunteers carry a dead body off the streets of Tacloban, photo sourced from Slate.com).

Many are dead, many more survived.

A lot of people are missing, and search and rescues operations are under way.

Looting is prevalent in places like Tacloban, but the presence of the police and the military will slow but surely minimize, if not stop such incidents in the coming day.

Relief operations are now going on, with help foreign sources, like the United Nations, and the United States through the US Marines.

For me, I’ve had my first experience in assisting  individuals find missing relative on the online people finder,  which has been put up by concerned people  for such a  task.

My attempts to use  People Finder, which I did beside the individual seeking help,  gave me the shivers.

Out of seven searches, I am only able to find one relative. The status of this remain unknown.

So, to ease the gloom which could engulf the festive feelings of a championship series like a tsunami,  organizers of the NCAA  have done something noble.

(A chopper landing with relief goods, photo sourced from The Guardian).

They are donating P100,000 to the relief efforts of the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.

The donation will go to the Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc. of TV5.

ON TO GAME 2

And so, as Game 2 approaches, the Letran Knights will have their chance to bounce back.

Just like last year.

Coach Caloy Garcia believes that the Letran Knights will be able  make a big come back  in  Game 2.

(Coach Caloy Garcia giving instructions to Kevin Racal, photo sourced from Paul Ryan Tan, Aksyon TV website).

Statistically, the Knights have the numbers to force a decisive Game 3 on Saturday, and showed it in Game 2.

“Hopefully, there will be Game 3, and we will win the title,” said Garcia, after the San Beda Red Lions repulsed the Letran Knights, 80-68.

The Knights, according to Garcia managed to stay close until the fourth quarter.

(Mark Cruz, #9, in action, photo sourced from Paul Ryan Tan, Aksyon TV website).

After that, Red Lions pulled away behind the outside shooting of two second stringers, Anthony Semerad and John Ludovice.

Semerad and Ludovice, filling in for foul-troubled Olaide Adeogun, scored two of three triples in the last 2:54, baskets, allowing the Red Lions to gain ground in the final quarter.

Garcia said their second stringers will have to do better this time around.

“I told my second stringers that we can’t rely too much on the first stringers, They have to also follow the game plan.

The Red Lions came up with  a total field goal percentage of  40 percent during the game, with the Knights close behind, at 39.

But they made a big difference with their three-point shooting, connecting eight of 21 attempts, while the Knights hit only out two of eight tries.

Offensively, the Red Lions were able to  outrebounded them, 18 to 8, with Adeogun dominating the boards with 11, and Baser Amer backing him up not only with 11 points, but with 8 boards as well. Arthur de la Cruz was also there with eight points and 11 boards.

Season MVP Raymund Almazan came up with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

To win Game 2, Garcia said:”We just have to be disciplined (in terms of adjustments), especially against Ola. Because has been stealing the whole time., trying to get some fouls.”

Last year, the Mendiola dribblers won the crown after they went the distance with the Knights. They took Game 1, 62-50, before the Knights prevailed in Game 2, 55-64.

The Red Lions later topped Game 3, 67-39.

–         PLAY-BY-PLAY

They Red Lions started pulling away right after Kevin Racal unloaded a trey.

This touched off a deciding 10-2 blast in the last 2:08.

The Knights were in the thick of the fight, 62-60, when the Red Lions charged ahead.

The Mendiola dribblers later took a 75-62 spread with 2:08 remaining.

Baser Amer  had 11 points with Ludovice, who hit the last of his three three-pointers during the run.

Adeogun then drove past  Almazan to cap San Beda’s pivotal run.

From there, San Beda  grabbed a 75-62 lead.

“It’s not over yet. We still have one game. And, we will be ready against Letran,” said Red Lions coach Boyet Fernandez.

Adeogun led with 16 points and 11 boards.

He  barely saw action in the second half after he ran into foul trouble in the first half with three.

This  compelled Fernandez to utilize David Semerad on his behalf.

His layup off Amer’s pass in the 5:38 allowed San Beda to overtake the Knights for the eighth and last time.

Mark Cruz showed the way for the Knights with 22 points, while  Racal shot 12 points.

The scores:

San Beda 80 — Adeogun 16, Amer 11, Ludovice 11, A. Semerad 9, Dela Cruz 8, Dela Rosa 8, Abarcar 6, D. Semerad 6, Pascual 5, Sara 0.

Letran 68 — Cruz 22, Almazan 16, Racal 12, Ruaya 4, Tambeling 4, Belorio 4, Gabawan 4, Nambatac 2, Castro 0, Luib 0, Buenaflor 0.

Quarterscores: 12-12, 26-24, 47-53, 80-68.