NCAA Season 93 Junior Basketball— The San Sebastian Staglets and their first win of the season with the Lyceum Junior Pirates

(Notes: On Oct. 24, 2017, the La Salle Greenhills Greenies stood their ground in the second half. Drawing big plays from big man Inand Fornilos in the second half, LSGH overpower the San Sebastian Staglets, 108-82,  in the playoffs for the last Final Four seat in the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball tournament. And so ended the Staglets’ quest to reach the finals. And this is  considered as their best season in four years).

 

21, July 2017,

Friday,

FilOil-Flying V Arena,

San Juan,

8 p.m.

 

After three games in the season, the San Sebastian Staglets finally established their first win.

 

And that’s with an 88-81 beating of the Lyceum Junior Pirates last July 21 at the Arena in San Juan.

 

Five players established themselves as among the best, and among the most promising this season.

(Members of the San Sebastian Staglets in this file photo, with another opponent, the La Salle Greenhills Greenies. In photo are Romel Calahat (25), Neil Villapando (17) and Damiel(10), along with LSGH player Inando Fornilos (0)).

In this game, Bryan Pelias topscored for 16 points and eight rebounds, while Romel Calahat added 14 points and nine rebounds.

 

Neil Villapando provided 11 points and eight rebounds, while Damie Cuntapay shot 10 points and 13 rebounds.

 

This game was best remembered with the Lyceum Junior Pirates fighting their way out of a 15-point deficit in the last period.

(Staglets (Romel Calahat (25), Damie Cuntapay (10), Neil Villapando (17), along with players of the LSGH Greenies in this file photo).

The Staglets enjoyed a 72-57 lead in the last 7:14 after Calahat scored off a pass from Marty Espiritu.

 

Led by Vincent Cunanan with 32 points, the Junior Pirates rallied with a 13-2 blast.

 

Cunanan made six points during the rally, coming within four points when it was over.

(In photo are: Staglets Ameer Aguilar (27), Jan Timbacaya (13) and Neil Villapando (17).

Mclaude Guadana’s split charity saw the Junior Pirates, coming within four points, 70-74.

 

From there, the Staglets fought back.

 

And that’s when Calahat came up with big plays.

 

Calahat’s two charities off John Barba, and then his assist to Ameer Aguilar, who then scored in the  last 3:15 put the Staglets ahead by eight, 78-70.

 

After Guadana shot only one charity in the next play, the Staglets further ahead off Villapando’s drive and free throw with 2:42 left, 82-81.

 

Their 11-point cushion was enough to ensure the Staglets’ first win in three matches.

 

 

 

 

 

NCAA Season 93 Junior Basketball- The Arellano Braves’ ugly win and the rise of Rey Domingo

 

It was an ugly win for the Arellano University Braves.

 

They were struggling to catch up with the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers.

 

But, in the end, a prayer, a miracle, and a free throw shot from reserve player Rey Domingo made it all happen.

(Fred Segura).

Last July 18, the Braves pulled off a nearly impossible 80-79 victory over the Light Bombers at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

 

This gave them their second win in three games in season 93 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament.

 

On that same day, the Letran Squires drew 21 points from Kiefer Cordero and beat the Emilio Aguinaldo College Brigadiers, 85-81.

(Aaron Fermin (11) with Malayan Red Robins’ Carl Lacap).

Joel Cagulangan struck with 21 points for La Salle Greenhills and upset the San Beda Red Cubs, 82-78.

 

This put the LSGH Greenies in the lead with win no. 3, and ahead of the Mapua Red Robins (2-0).

 

• Arellano Braves 80, JRU Light Bombers 79

(Kobe Camacho).

The Light Bombers were leading 54-61, when the Braves got their acts together and rallied.

 

The Braves’ big charge came after JRU posted their biggest lead, 73-61, behind John  Amores in the last 6:57.

 

A 13-0 blast led Nino Tamayo and big man Aaron Fermin cut down JRU’s lead.

(Marlon Espiritu).

A three-point play from Marlon Espiritu would tie match, 73-all, with 43 seconds left.

 

There would be three turnovers in the next instance, with Nino Tamayo scoring two, with the last on a three-point play, 78-73.

 

Their lead would go down to two following a putback and charity from JRU’s Javine Serrano, 76-78.

 

Fermin then kept Arellano ahead with his freebie in the last 2:58, 79-76.

 

But, a stuborn JRU side kept their ball on their side until Serrano sinks a three-point play in last 44 seconds, to keep the game tied, 79-all

 

As Arellano regained possession, Domingo cans one of two gift shots in the last 26 seconds off Carlos Sumabat’s foul.

 

“Kinabahan ako kasi first game ko ngayon. May sakit ako nung first two games, trangkaso,” said the 17-year old Domingo.

 

But, it was a scary moment for Arellano afterwards when  Fermin  got the rebound.

 

That’s because Fermin  turned  it over on a fumble in the last 24 seconds.

 

Serrano then took possession for JRU, but they turned the ball over in the last eight seconds after he missed and committed a miscue during an offensive rebound.

 

Even after Espiritu fumbled on his freebies in the last three seconds, the Braves still won the game after JRU ran out of time, and could not get a clear shot in the remaining time.

 

“Siguro, ang nagpanalo sa amin ay faith. Siguro depensa, na rin,” said Braves coach Tylon Darjuan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NCAA Season 93 Junior Basketball: The Lyceum Junior Pirates and the best games of McLaude Guadaña (part 1)

11 July 2017

12 nn

Tuesday,

FilOil-Flying Arena Sports Center

San Juan City

The exposure that Mclaude  Guadaña   had this year with Batang Gilas seems to be rubbing off on his game.

Coach LA Mumar took note of this after Guadaña found his range at endgame and carried the Lyceum Junior Pirates to a 94-87 stopping of the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers last July 11.

“Batang really helped. We feel that this is his year to really step up,” said Mumar.

Lyceum”s Mclaude Guadaña dribbles his way past a JRU defender).

Guadaña, who started playing for the Junior Pirates at age 13, gave the Junior Pirates some distance during those crucial moments.

This gave the Junior Pirates  a chance to pull off their first win in the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) junior basketball tournament.

The 5’11 Guadana’s heroics in the last 2 minutes were the ones that made the difference.

(Vincent Cunanan in action).

Totalling 19 points throughout the game, Guadaña made heads turn with the  11 points he made in the last period.

His baskets came right when the Light Bombers slightly ahead.

First, Guadaña  scored from inside a crowded shaded lane at the right side.

(John  Barba(10) watches as Lyceum teammate Mclaude Guadaña plays defense).

This  allowed the Junior Pirates to regain the lead, 85-84, in the last 3:06.

His two treys found their mark right after Vincent Cunanan drove in with 1:47 left, and after the Light Bombers bungled two easy shots.

From there, the Junior Pirates were safely ahead, 93-87, with 25 ticks to go.

(Lyceum’s Chester Jungco is a rebound battle with JRU players).

“Buti naman nakabawi ako. Nung first to third quarter struggle ako sa laro ko,” said Guadana, who was limited to four points in the third.

Junior Pirates LA Mumar said opening day jitters allow the Light Bombers to challenge their slim lead and stay close with repeated rallies.

“We play well. Then, we falter. Its been happening in all quarters. Hopefully, we’ll work on this in future games,” said Mumar.

 

(Guadaña and teammate Neil Ruiz double teams a  JRU player).

Kobe Caballero led the Light Bombers with 19 points while John Sicat had 18.

-Mapua 91 Letran Squires 75

Clint Escamis, one of the defending champion Mapua University Red Robins, was on fire early in the game.

 

He shot 10 of his game high 18 points in the first period as he tried his best to help the Red Robins post a 91-75 swamping of the Letran Squires last night at the Arena in San Juan.

 

But as he and teammate Jeff Sapinit fell into foul trouble early, other teammates stepped up  to help bring the Red Robins to their second straight win in the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) junior basketball tournament.

 

Mike Enriquez, back from injury that recurred during the finals last year, scored all of his  six points in the second period.

 

But that was enough for him, as he and teammates Will Gozum, Erick Jabel and Joaqui Garcia combined for 12 points during the last 10 minutes of the first half.

 

Their efforts allowed the Red Robins to overcome a 14-17 deficit, and move away 43-30, at the end of the first half.

 

Their zone defense in the second half picked up.

 

With Gozum making 5 of 17 points, and hauling down 10 rebounds, the Red Robins went on to post 62-50 spread when the third period ended.

 

“Maganda iyung dinipensa. Pero sa huli. Hindi kami puedeng magpabaya kasi muntik na kaming habulin,” said Red Robins coach Randy Alcantara.

 

The Squires played with new coach Raymund Valenzona calling the shots.

 

Valenzona once led the San Sebastian Staglets to the crown back in the days of Ryan Buenafe.

 

The Squires, who fell behind by as much as 22 points, got 15 points from Neil Tolentino, while Enoch Valdez and Russelle Aniban 13.

 

 

 

–LSGH 64, Perpetual Help 60

 

Inand Fornillo banged in 22 points for the La Salle Greenhills Greenies as they repulsed the Perpetual Help Junior Altas.

 

Albert Bordeos, a transferee from San Beda, contributed 14 points, including two game-winning free throws.

 

The Junior Altas kept matters tight in the closing second, and forced a 60-all tie of John Umali’s basket.

 

Then, their chance to break the tie came off Joel Cagulangan’s charities.

 

Esvin Inliwan topscored with 15 points for the Junior Altas, while Jielo Razon had 11.

 

 

 

NCAA Season 93 Junior basketball : Evan Nelle steps up, San Beda Red Cubs win

09 July 2017,

Sunday,

Letran College gym

3:45 p.m.

On the San Beda Red Cubs’ first game of the season, point guard Evan Nelle felt frustrated in the third quarter.

 

His shots were not going in.

 

And this was keeping the team from taking a big lead in the start of the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) junior basketball tournament at the almost dimly lit Letran College gymnasium in Intramuros.

(Evan Nelle dribbling his way towards the San Beda side of the court.)

But when he found  people who were open and unguarded  in the last period, the Red Cubs went on to pull off an 86-75 triumph over a dangerous San Sebastian Staglets.

“My shots weren’t going in. So what I planned to do was pass the ball to my teammates who are on defense,” said Nelle.

It was in the last five minutes when Nelle found many opportunities.

(Sam Abu Hijle under tight guarding from Staglet Damie Cuntapay).

Scoring only six points, and dishing out an above-average 14 assists for the Red Cubs, he scored on a drive, and then assisted Peter Alfaro during a fastbreak.

These two crucial plays fuelled the Red Cubs’ decisive scoring run.

This time around, the San Beda Red Cubs did not have an easy time with the San Sebastian Staglets.

(Eduardo Velasquez jr. guarding his man underneath the basket).

But, with veteran guard Evan Nelle taking charge and finding the open man in the last period, the Red Cubs pulled off an 86-75 triumph over the Staglets yesterday at the Letran College gymnasium in Intramuros.

At that time,  the Stags were threatening, 69-72.

With Nelle and Alfaro joining up for the two plays, the Red Cubs then moved away on a 12-0 blast.

(Big man Germy Mahinay tries to escape a double team).

Nelle scored only six points, and did an above-average 14 assists for the Red Cubs in the start of the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) junior basketball tournament.

He scored on a drive, and then assisted Peter Alfaro during a fastbreak, and this two crucial plays fuelled the Red Cubs’ decisive scoring run in the last five minutes.

With the Stags threatening, 69-72, the Red Cubs then moved away on a 12-0 blast.

(Peter Alfaro going for a three-point shot).

Alfaro showed the way with 17 points for the Red Cubs, Addie Velasquez added Sam Abu Hijle added 16.

“Expected namin ito. I’m preparing the boys because  every game, hindi na madali,” said Red Cubs coach JB Sison.

The Red Cubs, who lost the crown to the Mapua Red Robins last year, held their ground as the Staglets rallied repeatedly.

The Staglets, the reigning Fr. Martin Cup Summer cagefest champions, were led by Damie Cuntapay with 25 points and 10 rebounds, and stayed close for the last time, 69-72.

That was after Lewis Pasamante stole off Nelle and assisted Cuntapay for an undergoal stab.

The loss spoiled the debut of new Staglets coach Mel Banua, who took over Franco Atienza after season 92 ended last year.