Varsity Sports Flasback-Pong Ducanes analyzes the NU Bullpups-Adamson Baby Falcons’ season 77 UAAP junior basketball semis performance

Next to the La Salle Zobel Junior Archers, the National University Bullpups is another team which fought hard to stay alive in the season 77 University Athletic Association of the Philippines(UAAP) junior basketball wars.

 

Resident statsman Pong Ducanes got me entertained with his tweets on that game when I finally found it online this afternoon, and two months after the game was finished.

 

As community wireless internet service finally got restored in my neighborhood(and after a 3-day breakdown), I finally got to retrieve all available stats of that game.

(Mark Dyke in action).

03, February, 2015,

4 p.m.,

Tuesday,

Blue Eagle gym,

Ateneo de Manila campus,

Katipunan Ave., Quezon City

 

Pong chronicled the performance of the NU Bullpups and the Adamson Baby Falcons during their game which happened last Feb. 3.

 

According to Pong’s tweets, he noted that,”in 40 mins of action NU led in the last 39 mins & 8 secs of the game.”

 

He also felt that the Baby Falcons were “out of sync today ourebounded by 40, missed 21 FT’s & 1/11 on wide open field goal attempts.”

(NU Bullpup Philip Manalang).

And so, the defending champion NU went on to follow up on a great start with greater ending.

 

They blasted the  Adamson University Baby Falcons, 72-45, in the lone game that day at the Blue Eagle gym in Quezon City.

 

Mark Dyke fired 23 points for the Bullpups.

(NU’s Jordan Sta. Ana).

Because of this, the NU Bullpups stayed in contention for a finals slot, and won the no. 2 seeding in the stepladder semifinal round.

 

The Bullpups took charge early, unleashing a 19-9 blast in the first period.

 

It was their first won game after suffering three straight losses.

(Baby Falcon JD Tungcab)- photo by Richard Esguerra.

The Baby Falcons were kept at bay with NU’s full court and transition game.

 

As a result, Adamson was limited to just nine points in the first 10 minutes.

 

Jordan Sta. Ana led NU’s  attacks, scoring eight of the team’s first nine points during that period.

(Baby Falcon JD Tungcab)- photo by Richard Esguerra.

Dyke then struck with  15 points to  to lead the Bullpups to a 41-21 spread at halftime.

 

He ended up with a double-double as he also hauled down 26 rebounds.

 

What’s important in this game is that his teammates realized they needed to step up and help him (Dyke),” said Bullpups coach Jeff Napa.

 

The Baby Falcons finally got their game going in the third.

 

They had a 7-0 run in the final three-minutes.

 

But the Bullpup answered with a 6-0 spurt before the buzzer sounded.

 

Varsity Sports Updates (UAAP Season 77 Junior Basketball)- Big game from Fernandez: Adamson Baby Falcons make it to semis

31 January 2015,

Saturday,

3 p.m.,

Blue Eagle gym,

Ateneo de Manila University campus,

Katipunan Ave.,

Quezon City

A boy from Cebu made a  splash recently in the 77^th University Athletic Association of the Philippines Junior Basketball wars.

 

It happened last January 31 when Gerald Fernandez shot 14 points for the Adamson Baby Falcons, who won over the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs.

 

On that day, the Ateneo Blue Eaglets made it back in the finals after they swept their 14-game elimination assignment.

(Gerald Fernandez in action, not against UST Tiger Cubs, but in game with FEU)- file photo sources from Richard Esguerra.

This was after Michael Nieto, who ran away with the MVP honors, led with 29 points as the Blue Eaglets swamped the defending champion National University Bullpups, 76-49, last Saturday.

 

Because of this, the Blue Eaglets earned a thrice-to-beat incentives, which is given to teams which gain an automatic finals seat.

 

At the same day, Joaquin Banzon fired 18 points for the Junior Archers, who leaned on the heroics of Noel Cabarrus at endgame to beat Far Eastern University, 60-58.

(Gerald Fernandez trying to get past a screen)- photo sourced from Richard Esguerra.

Big plays from Fernandez in the first period helped decide the outcome of the game in the next three periods.

 

He came off the bench in the last 5:29 of the first period.

 

Gerald subbed for JD Tungcab after the latter missed a two-pointer.

(Gerald Fernandez trying to avoid a double team)- photo sourced from UBL.

He came into the picture just when the Baby Falcons have just erected 15-2 advantage.

 

Because of the win, the fourth placing Baby Falcons made it to the stepladder semis and will meet the defending champion National University Bullpups in the start of the semis last Feb. 1.

 

• Gerald Fernandez speaks up

 

After waiting for Gerald to come out of the locker room with the rest of his teammates after, he finally emerges upon the encouragement of one of the assistant coaches, Christian Luanzon.

 

It turns that this guy, who hails from Consolacion, Cebu, is on his first last playing year for the Baby Falcons.

 

This was he spent a year in residency following his transfer from the University of Visayas.

 

“Wala lang. Ginawa ko lang lahat. Binigyan ko ng effort ang laro,” said Fernandez, who plays as a shooting guard for the team.

 

That afternoon, Fernandez was the topscorer, next to Miguel Sasuman, JD Tungcab and James Pasturan with 14 points.

 

He played for 23.17 minutes, made 5 of 9 free throw attempts, was 50 percent from the three-point line, score 2 of 5 from the free throw area, and snagged three rebounds.

 

• How Fernandez did in stepladder semis

 

On Feb. 3,  the NU Bullpups won the first stepladder semis, and with 72-45 beating of the Baby Falcons.

 

And so Fernandez bowed of the season with just three points to show, and a rebound.

 

It was Sasuman’s turn to shine, coming up with 13 points behind Pasturan’s 11.

 

Hopefully, this will not be the last time that we will see Fernandez  play.

The scores:

Adamson 76—Fernandez 14, Sasuman 13, Tungcab 12, Pasturan 11, Zaldivar 5, Antiporda 4, Chua 4, Cabanilla 4, Boac 4, Calacalsada 3, Egan 2, Mayo 0, Binarao 0,Guanco 0, Agbong 0, Darang 0.

 

UST 67—Lapena 14, Santos 12, Jison 10, F. Luna 6, N. Luna 6, Marcelo 5, Ferrer 4, Mayor 3, Narvasa 3, Balingit 2, Salinas 2, Pascual 0, Lorenzana 0, Montes 0, Guevarra 0.

 

Quarterscores: 31-7, 45-25, 64-42, 76-67.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Varsity Sports Updates (NCAA Season 90 Game Day Review)- LSGH Greenies stays in contention; LSGH Greenies 79, JRU Light Bombers 71, other results

24 September 2014,
Wednesday,
8 p.m.,
Filoil-Flying V Arena,
San Juan

Team W L
San Beda 13 3
Mapua 11 3
JRU 11 4
Letran 11 4
LSGH 9 6
SSC 8 7
Arellano 5 10
LPU 4 12
UPHSD 3 13
EAC-ICA 2 15

Ricci Rivero and John Gob continue to provide a ray of hope for the La Salle Greenhills Greenies.

Their chances of making it to the Final Four semifinals are not good.

But the La Salle Greenhills Greenies have not given up hope.

(Ricci Rivero (white and green) tries to force his way past JRU’s Joco Estrada).

Last Wednesday, Sept. 14, they fought off the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers, 79-71.

Coming off a 20-day layoff, the Greenies posted their fourth consecutive win, and their ninth overall in 15 games in the 90th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) junior basketball wars.

Rivero and Gob came up with the big baskets at endgame, and they helped keep the Greenies in fifth spot.

(JRU’s Andrei Dada barrels his way past Michael de la Cruz).

So far, the Greenies are two games behind of Final Four contenders, the Letran Squires and the Light Bombers.

Their loss to LSGH had the Light Bombers slipping down to from second spot, and into a share of fourth with the Letran Squires.

Both now have the same 11-4 win-loss records.

(LSGH big man John Gob gets harassed by JRU’s Darious Estrella(19) and John Sta. Maria.

“We are still continuing what we are doing. We are holding on,” said LSGH coach John Flores.

The Greenies have three remaining games.

And they can advance to the Final Four if they sweep their matches against University of Perpetual Help, Mapua and Letran.

(Promising LSGH big man Ian Herrera (5) drives past JRU’s Joco Estrada).

-Play-by play

The Light Bombers were enjoying a 71-67 advantage in the last 4:56.

This was after Mark de la Virgen unloaded a three-point shot to put JRU in front for the last time in their very close encounter with LSGH.

But two triples from Rivero and a layup from Gob in the last 2:38 turned things around for the LSGH.

(Mark de la Virgen (7) gets screened by Luis Velasco (14) and Alain Madrigal (6).

They earned a 75-71 advantage afterwards

They forced JRU to four crucial turnovers in the remaing.

From there, two charities each from Amando San Juan and Gob in the last 6.2 seconds allowed LSGH to finish with an eight-point lead.

– A revelation in Ian Herrera

Ricci, the younger brother of Prince and Rasheed, tallied 21 points while Gob came up with another double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds for LSGH.

De la Virgen shot 24 points, including 10 points which allowed JRU to stay on top in the third period, 59-57.

Michael de la Cruz was good for 11 points for LSGH.

But the Light Bombers held him to just three in the fourth.

Coach Flores had something else up his sleeves after Gob got held to just four points at the end of the third.

He brought in rookie big man Ian Herrera, who had only nine points.

But Herrera proved his worth as Gob, who played for 27 minutes, was tiring out in the initial minutes of the fourth.

Herrera struck hardest After Darious Estrella put JRU ahead, 60-57, with his split charity.

A pair of layups from Herrera allowed LSGH to move up, 61-60, in the final 8:49.

With Gob having enough rest, Herrera then checked out of the game quietly.

“In the last nine minutes, Ian Herrera came up big while Gob was resting. He provided us with quality minutes,” added Flores.

From Ian’s performance, Flores found someone he can rely when Gob is 100 percent.

There words of praise on Ian, who was utilized much during crucial moments of earlier games.

“I was surprised. He was aggressive today. I think that mattered a lot. We can’t rely on Gob playing more than 30 minutes per game. He needs to be rested,” noted Flores.

The Scores:

Sept. 26, 2014 Games

Second Game

SSC-R 77 – Cruz 22, Magno 13, Ilagan 10, Navarro 9, Causon 6, Bonleon 5, Mercado 5, Sera Josef 4, Bardaje 3, Alfaro 0, Malamug 0, Miasco 0, Padigdig 0.

LPU 72 – Guadaña 20, Cecilio 18, Santos 16, Castaneda 6, Menil 6, Bautista 3, Lagman 2, Jungco 1, Agdon Jass. 0, Glipo 0, Pere 0, Wong 0.

Quarterscores: 18-17, 40-28, 61-47, 77-72.

Second Game

EAC-ICA 85 – Castillo 18, Cayabo 15, Piopongco 13, Montilla 12, Cruz 12, Tayomora 11, Catusalem 2, Gentile 2, Baliquig 0, Beduria 0, Dungca 0, Justan 0.

UPHSD 82 – Chavez 21, Villaceran 18, Sison 16, Alarcon 11, Umali 7, Tan 4, Manaligod 3, Yaco 2, Neri 0.

Quarterscores: 12-16, 28-37, 57-62, 85-82

Sept. 24, 2014 games

Second game

CSB 79- Rivero 21, Gob 20, Dela Cruz 11, Madrigal 10, Herrera 9, San Juan 6, Velasco 2, Bunyi 0, Salonga 0, Pagulayan 0, Alcala 0.

JRU 71 — Dela Virgen 24, Estrella 14, Garcia 12, Dada 8, Sta Maria 4, Estrada 4, Astrero 3, Anonuevo 2.

Quarterscores: 16-17, 36-38, 57-59, 79-71.

First Game

Letran 85 – Dungan 15, Balanza 15, Rubite 13, Ramirez 12, Gedaria 11, David 6, Caunan 4, Magsino 4, Gonzales 3, Villasis 2, M,arasigan 0, Dava 0.

Arellano 70 – Zamora 22, Cabahug 12, De Lara 11, Strait 10, Juico 7, Balbarona 3, Peralta 3, Bataller 2, Enriquez 0, Manaloto 0.

Quarters: 14-17, 38-33, 64-49,85-70.

Varsity Sports Updates (NCAA Season 90 Game Day Review)- Letran Squires pull off amazing win; Letran Squires 80, EAC-ICA Brigadiers 68

01 Aug. 2014
Friday,
2:30 p.m.,
FilOil-Flying V Arena,
San Juan

Statistically, the Letran Squires don’t impress me.

This early, they don’t have the numbers which could convince me that they will make it to the Final Four of the 90th National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) junior basketball wars.

But, the numbers that I looked at did not speak for the team when the Squires demolished the Emilio Aguinaldo College-Immaculate Concepcion Academy Brigadiers, 80-68, last Monday at the FilOil-Flying V Arena.

(Letran’s Tommy Gedaria (9) drives past pursuing EAC-ICA cager Enrico Dungca).

– A WIN IS A WIN

Nevertheless, something else factored in, and contributed to the Squires’ amazing victory.

The Squires built up an early lead with their running game and pressure defense.

The 6-foot-2 Jerrick Balanza was sick with the flu when he banged in 14 points to lead the Squires to a 64-56 beating of the La Salle Greenhills Greenies last July 21.

(Jerrick Balanza drives past defenders (7) Juniel Tayamora and (11) Angelo Beduria).

But, he seems to have recovered last Wednesday. He showed the way with Tommy Gedaria after both made 15 points.

With Joshua Gonzales and Klyve Dungan, he made six points, and combined for 17 points with his two teammates to carry the Squires to a 27-15 first quarter advantage.

“Ganda ng response nila sa game. First quarter pa lang, pumupukpok na sila,” said Squires coach Junjie Ablan.

(EAC-ICA’s Edlor Cayabo (10) in a rebound scramble with Letran’s Gian Marasigan (12) and Jerus Ramirez (6), with EAC-ICA’s Marvyn Catusalem (14) caught by surprise).

Balanza made seven in the second period, and now with Gedaria and Dungan backing him up and three tallying 15 points, the Squires maintained their 11-point edge at halftime, 49-28.

As Balanza got pulled out midway in the third, Gonzales and Gedaria continued the Squires’ efforts.

But, here comes Johann Rubite, who hit six of 10 points in the third, and with Gedaria and Gonzales firing a combined nine points, the Squires managed to move away by a bigger margin, 70-46, when the last period got under way.

In the fourth quarter, coach Junjie Ablan decided that it was time to pull out the first five, and the go-to guys of the Squires were given their time rest.

So, in the last 10 minutes, Gonzales, Dungan and Rubite just sat it out on the bench, and later with Gedaria.

The Squires were held by the Brigadiers to just 10 points in the last period.

The Brigadiers made huge efforts this time with their 24-point, fourth quarter blast, and with Edlor Cayabo making eight of his 12-point tally in the final stretches of the game.

Jerus Ramirez, was good for six points and had eight rebounds, was the only one scoring big for the Squires.

But, still the Squires finished with still plenty to spare, and with a 12-point cushion when the game ended.

“Nung malaki na ang lamang, binigyan ko na ng chance iyung iba. Gusto ko ring ma-feel nila ang game. Kaya nilabas ko na iyung frontliners at baka ma-inure pa,” added Ablan.

-THE STATS OF THE SQUIRES

After getting past the Brigadiers, they moved to a three-way share of the lead with the multi-titled San Red Cubs and the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers.

According to statistics, the Squires should not be out there in the lead.

They make 66 points in offense per game, and are ranked at no. 9 because of this.

The Squires are no 10, defensive with their norm of 59.19 ppg.

The Brigadiers are supposed to have won the game with their offensive average of 66.67 ppg and defensive average of 82 ppg.

– WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE?

Their game against the Brigadiers defied whatever statistical averages I saw in front of me, and I took breaks from reading the game stats by watching Youtube clips of Godzilla’s past movies.

And to me, it is a miracle that the Squires are in a share of the lead.

Over their past five games, six veterans have been stepping up.

This time, four of six mainstays came up with huge efforts in the early part of the game.

– JERRICK BALANZA, TOMMY GEDARIA AND JOSHUA GONZALES

There were three Squires who stood out that evening.

Balanza averages 12.17 point per game, and six rebounds. This time he had 15 points.

Gedaria, another graduating veteram norms 11.33 points, and he was above par against the Brigadiers also with 15.

Gonzales, averaging 11.33 ppg and 9.67 rebounds, was good for 13 points and eight boards.

Somehow, their performances that evening made a big difference.

And these could be the miracle which the Squires needed that day to stay on top of the standings.