Taking a break from the local UAAP basketball wars, as “Pedring” washed out Game 2 of the Finals between Ateneo and FEU, I managed to catch up on the baseball news.
While the division titles in both the American and National Leagues had been wrapped up weeks ago, the wild card race in both leagues went down to the wire, and both ended in dramatic fashion.
Going into the final month of the season, the Boston Red Sox and the Atlanta Braves had seemingly insurmountable leads in the wild card race, with Boston leading by nine games, and Atlanta leading by 8 and a half. Even sportswriters had more or less conceded the race as early as the first week of September. However, the sportswriters couldn’t have predicted the race that was to come.
Boston went on a downward spiral throughout the month of September, winning only seven games and unable to win consecutive games throughout the month. In the meantime, both the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Angels continued to play solid baseball down the stretch. While the Angels faltered, the Rays kept up their torrid streak, winning games against the division leader New York Yankees, and finally catching up to the Red Sox on the day before the final games of the season.
Atlanta didn’t fare much better, losing key games, and allowing the St. Louis Cardinals to also catch up to them the same day as Tampa Bay did.
The last games for the four teams were as follows: Boston would be up against cellar-dweller Baltimore, Tampa Bay would face the New York Yankees, Atlanta was hosting division winner Philadelphia, and St. Louis would face cellar-dweller Houston.
Boston looked as if they could stave off disaster, and held a thin 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the ninth, and their closer Jonathan Papelbon failed to hold the lead, and gave up two runs to allow the Baltimore Orioles to end their dismal season on a winning note.
Tampa Bay, on the other hand, looked like they were going south when the Yankees built up a huge 7-0 lead. However, since the Yankees weren’t playing for anything in this game, New York manager Joe Girardi pulled his star players, and let his bench play. The Rays managed to win in extra innings, 8-7, and, with the win, edge the Red Sox for the wild card slot.
Atlanta, like Boston, almost won their match with Philadelphia, only to lose it when their rookie closer gave up the tying run, and Philly outfielder Hunter Pence, acquired this season from Houston, drove in the winning run, as the Phillies won, 4-3 in the 13th inning.
St. Louis apparently had the easiest assignment, and left nothing to chance, as the Cardinals blasted the Astros 8-0, to clinch the wild card slot.
Two teams that seemed to have their respective playoff spots locked up simply collapsed. For Boston, it was too many injuries to too many players. For Atlanta, it was the fact that their pitching couldn’t continue hiding the flaws in their offensive lineup.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a season go this way, and I’m sure executives and coaches from both teams will be spending their off-season asking what happened and figuring out what needs to be done in order to improve for next season. As for the players, it’s likely that a number of them won’t be back to play for either Boston or Atlanta, since it’s certain that some of the figuring out will involve making decisions on which players can still help deliver a postseason for their respective teams. It’s not going to be easy, since a number of these players have had long ties with their teams, but then, taking the easy way out is not how one wins championships.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
"Pedring"'s Onslaught
Two years after typhoon "Ondoy" dumped a month's worth of rain on Metro Manila, typhoon "Pedring" roared into the Philippines and caused havoc across Luzon.
Classes were suspended at noon last Monday and continued to be suspended throughout Tuesday yesterday.
Unlike "Ondoy", however, "Pedring" brought gusty winds along with the rains, which, while plentiful, did not come up to the month's worth of rain that "Ondoy" brought. The winds, though, made up for the lack, as they whipped through the metropolis, uprooting trees and causing billboards to topple; in one case, the billboards fell on passing vehicles.
Many parts of Metro Manila experienced power failures and floods; in my case, the brownout lasted from morning to late afternoon, while other areas continued to be blacked out Wednesday morning. I only saw videos and images the next day, and saw how nature's rage once more rampage through the city.
At the same time, I think officials were better prepared to deal with "Pedring" than they were two years ago when "Ondoy" caught them with their figurative pants down.
Palace officials announced that classes would resume today, unless the local government units and schools said otherwise. In Metro Manila, Marikina, Navotas, and Malabon called off classes, and schools around Metro Manila, especially in the flood-prone University Belt, also canceled classes.
The Ateneo, however, announced as early as last night that classes would resume, but, as I drove to school, I saw the carnage that "Pedring" had wrought: branches and leaves were strewn across Ylanan Rd. in U.P., and, the Ateneo campus itself had a good amount of debris. Most students, though, made it to school, and I wouldn't be surprised if teachers were a little more lenient about school work this day. The day passed without incident, although there were occasional rains throughout the day.
Still, it will be a while before things in the metropolis will go back to normal, as a number of people are still staying at evacuation centers, waiting for the flood waters to subside.
On a side note, I wonder if those who clamor for school opening to be moved to September have noticed that both "Ondoy" and "Pedring" hit Metro Manila in September. It's just a thought.
In the meantime, there's yet another storm set to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this weekend, and the weather bureau expects a few more storms to pass through in the coming months. The best thing to do is to be prepared, and be ready to deal with the adversity as it comes.
Classes were suspended at noon last Monday and continued to be suspended throughout Tuesday yesterday.
Unlike "Ondoy", however, "Pedring" brought gusty winds along with the rains, which, while plentiful, did not come up to the month's worth of rain that "Ondoy" brought. The winds, though, made up for the lack, as they whipped through the metropolis, uprooting trees and causing billboards to topple; in one case, the billboards fell on passing vehicles.
Many parts of Metro Manila experienced power failures and floods; in my case, the brownout lasted from morning to late afternoon, while other areas continued to be blacked out Wednesday morning. I only saw videos and images the next day, and saw how nature's rage once more rampage through the city.
At the same time, I think officials were better prepared to deal with "Pedring" than they were two years ago when "Ondoy" caught them with their figurative pants down.
Palace officials announced that classes would resume today, unless the local government units and schools said otherwise. In Metro Manila, Marikina, Navotas, and Malabon called off classes, and schools around Metro Manila, especially in the flood-prone University Belt, also canceled classes.
The Ateneo, however, announced as early as last night that classes would resume, but, as I drove to school, I saw the carnage that "Pedring" had wrought: branches and leaves were strewn across Ylanan Rd. in U.P., and, the Ateneo campus itself had a good amount of debris. Most students, though, made it to school, and I wouldn't be surprised if teachers were a little more lenient about school work this day. The day passed without incident, although there were occasional rains throughout the day.
Still, it will be a while before things in the metropolis will go back to normal, as a number of people are still staying at evacuation centers, waiting for the flood waters to subside.
On a side note, I wonder if those who clamor for school opening to be moved to September have noticed that both "Ondoy" and "Pedring" hit Metro Manila in September. It's just a thought.
In the meantime, there's yet another storm set to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this weekend, and the weather bureau expects a few more storms to pass through in the coming months. The best thing to do is to be prepared, and be ready to deal with the adversity as it comes.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
UAAP Men's Basketball: Blue Eagles Triumph!
It looks like I was wrong about the momentum.
This morning, when I posted my Finals preview, I wrote that the FEU Tamaraws had the momentum going into Game One, since they had a great end of the season, having taken away the twice-to-beat advantage of Adamson Falcons.
Well, the basketball aficionado I talked to had the right of it, that everything gets thrown out the window come the Finals, as the Ateneo Blue Eagles shook off a shaky start, and came out strong in the second half to beat down the Tamaraws, 82-64, to take Game One of the Finals.
It seemed that the Blue Eagles were rusty both in offense and defense in the first half, as the Tamaraws executed pick and pop after pick and pop, and zoomed to a 10-point lead in the middle of the second quarter. Fortunately, Ateneo found its legs and its defense down the stretch of the first half, and managed to end the half tied to FEU, 33-33.
In the second half, whatever adjustments Ateneo coach Norman Black made during the halftime break paid off, as the Blue Eagles leaned on their championship experience, and Ateneo took the lead for good in the middle of the third quarter, and never looked back.
Whatever composure FEU had during the first half disappeared with the exception of guard Terence Romeo, who continued to score throughout the second half. The rest of the Tamaraws were shackled and hampered into missing shots and turning the ball over, and fell further behind.
During the final quarter, Ateneo continued to pour it on, and the lead ballooned to as much as 20 points. The Tamaraws continued to stumble, and, having been stymied from driving inside by the Blue Eagles' stifling defense, had to content themselves with 3-pointers down the stretch.
Blue Eagle forward Nico Salva had a monster game, scoring 24 points, being perfect from both the field and the foul line. He was ably supported by the other starters (Kirk Long, Kiefer Ravena, Emman Monfort, and Greg Slaughter), as well as quality minutes by the bench, especially JP Erram, who has played sparingly this season.
Game Two is on Tuesday, and expect Ateneo to try to close it out and clinch its fourth straight men's basketball crown. The FEU Tamaraws, on the other hand, have to reach down deep in order to attempt to extend the series to a third game. Here's hoping, though, that the Blue Eagles don't let up the pressure, and win on Tuesday.
This morning, when I posted my Finals preview, I wrote that the FEU Tamaraws had the momentum going into Game One, since they had a great end of the season, having taken away the twice-to-beat advantage of Adamson Falcons.
Well, the basketball aficionado I talked to had the right of it, that everything gets thrown out the window come the Finals, as the Ateneo Blue Eagles shook off a shaky start, and came out strong in the second half to beat down the Tamaraws, 82-64, to take Game One of the Finals.
It seemed that the Blue Eagles were rusty both in offense and defense in the first half, as the Tamaraws executed pick and pop after pick and pop, and zoomed to a 10-point lead in the middle of the second quarter. Fortunately, Ateneo found its legs and its defense down the stretch of the first half, and managed to end the half tied to FEU, 33-33.
In the second half, whatever adjustments Ateneo coach Norman Black made during the halftime break paid off, as the Blue Eagles leaned on their championship experience, and Ateneo took the lead for good in the middle of the third quarter, and never looked back.
Whatever composure FEU had during the first half disappeared with the exception of guard Terence Romeo, who continued to score throughout the second half. The rest of the Tamaraws were shackled and hampered into missing shots and turning the ball over, and fell further behind.
During the final quarter, Ateneo continued to pour it on, and the lead ballooned to as much as 20 points. The Tamaraws continued to stumble, and, having been stymied from driving inside by the Blue Eagles' stifling defense, had to content themselves with 3-pointers down the stretch.
Blue Eagle forward Nico Salva had a monster game, scoring 24 points, being perfect from both the field and the foul line. He was ably supported by the other starters (Kirk Long, Kiefer Ravena, Emman Monfort, and Greg Slaughter), as well as quality minutes by the bench, especially JP Erram, who has played sparingly this season.
Game Two is on Tuesday, and expect Ateneo to try to close it out and clinch its fourth straight men's basketball crown. The FEU Tamaraws, on the other hand, have to reach down deep in order to attempt to extend the series to a third game. Here's hoping, though, that the Blue Eagles don't let up the pressure, and win on Tuesday.
UAAP Men's Basketball: A Finals Preview
With just a few scant hours before game time, I am writing this hurriedly to get my pre-game thoughts in. Game 1 of the UAAP men's basketball finals pits the three-time defending champion the Ateneo Blue Eagles versus last year's runner-up, the FEU Tamaraws.
It looks to be a close fight, as each teams prepare to square off against each other. I thought I'd try to break down the match-up into the various factors that will determine the outcome.
Guards - Here, it appears that FEU has the edge, as the Tams' backcourt of RR Garcia, Terence Romeo and Cris Tolomia will create headaches for Blue Eagles Emman Monfort and Kiefer Ravena. While Monfort and Ravena aren't slouches, and can probably put the defensive stops on the FEU guards, Garcia, Romeo and Tolomia have the ability to explode on the offensive end. Needless to say, Monfort and Ravena will need help in stopping this electric trio.
Forwards - It's in the front court where Ateneo has the edge, as Nico Salva and Captain Kirk Long will take on Carl Cruz and Russel Escoto. As long as Salva's shooting is solid, even the fiery play of Escoto will not be able to stop him. While Long has had a bit of a slump as far as his shooting is concerned, his defense hasn't faltered, and he will probably wind up breaking up many a Tamaraw play.
Center - Greg Slaughter versus Aldrech Ramos? Close, but Slaughter has the edge in height, and has the presence of mind to pass the ball once the opposing defenses double team him. He's also going make it difficult for the Tamaraw guards to drive to the basket. Ramos, however, is no slouch in defense, and his perimeter shooting could mean the difference in the game.
Bench - I'm biased here, but Ateneo's bench is deeper than FEU's, and Ateneo coach Norman Black will have a number of options (Tonino Gonzaga, Justin Chua, and Frank Golla, to name a few) to deal with the Tamaraws' game. I can't recall if Tolomia comes off the bench, but players like Jens Knuttel and Ping Exciminiano will have to step up their game against the Blue Eagles.
Coach - While both Norman Black and Bert Flores have both won UAAP titles, Black has won the last three, and has the savvy in order to adjust to whatever game plan the Tamaraws have prepared.
Momentum - A basketball aficionado I spoke with yesterday stated that the Tamaraws' overcoming the Adamson Falcons' twice-to-beat advantage gives them no real edge going into the finals, as he opined that the finals wipes the slate clean, and it's anybody's ball game. Still, it can't be denied that FEU has had the hot hand in its last few games, and are coming into the Finals on an emotional high, while Ateneo has had to struggle, having lost to Adamson to end the Blue Eagles' 29-game winning streak against the Falcons, as well as the chance for an outright entry into the Finals via a 14-0 sweep.
Pressure - This is all on Ateneo, as the Blue Eagles are attempting to win their fourth straight crown. FEU, on the other hand, has nothing to lose, and will probably play with less tension.
Keys - For Ateneo, it'll be the defense that will carry it to victory. For the FEU Tamaraws, it'll probably be how well its backcourt is able to shake off the defense, and score.
All things considered, it'll be a close match, with whoever takes Game One gaining a huge upper ground. My call? Ateneo will probably win it in three.
It looks to be a close fight, as each teams prepare to square off against each other. I thought I'd try to break down the match-up into the various factors that will determine the outcome.
Guards - Here, it appears that FEU has the edge, as the Tams' backcourt of RR Garcia, Terence Romeo and Cris Tolomia will create headaches for Blue Eagles Emman Monfort and Kiefer Ravena. While Monfort and Ravena aren't slouches, and can probably put the defensive stops on the FEU guards, Garcia, Romeo and Tolomia have the ability to explode on the offensive end. Needless to say, Monfort and Ravena will need help in stopping this electric trio.
Forwards - It's in the front court where Ateneo has the edge, as Nico Salva and Captain Kirk Long will take on Carl Cruz and Russel Escoto. As long as Salva's shooting is solid, even the fiery play of Escoto will not be able to stop him. While Long has had a bit of a slump as far as his shooting is concerned, his defense hasn't faltered, and he will probably wind up breaking up many a Tamaraw play.
Center - Greg Slaughter versus Aldrech Ramos? Close, but Slaughter has the edge in height, and has the presence of mind to pass the ball once the opposing defenses double team him. He's also going make it difficult for the Tamaraw guards to drive to the basket. Ramos, however, is no slouch in defense, and his perimeter shooting could mean the difference in the game.
Bench - I'm biased here, but Ateneo's bench is deeper than FEU's, and Ateneo coach Norman Black will have a number of options (Tonino Gonzaga, Justin Chua, and Frank Golla, to name a few) to deal with the Tamaraws' game. I can't recall if Tolomia comes off the bench, but players like Jens Knuttel and Ping Exciminiano will have to step up their game against the Blue Eagles.
Coach - While both Norman Black and Bert Flores have both won UAAP titles, Black has won the last three, and has the savvy in order to adjust to whatever game plan the Tamaraws have prepared.
Momentum - A basketball aficionado I spoke with yesterday stated that the Tamaraws' overcoming the Adamson Falcons' twice-to-beat advantage gives them no real edge going into the finals, as he opined that the finals wipes the slate clean, and it's anybody's ball game. Still, it can't be denied that FEU has had the hot hand in its last few games, and are coming into the Finals on an emotional high, while Ateneo has had to struggle, having lost to Adamson to end the Blue Eagles' 29-game winning streak against the Falcons, as well as the chance for an outright entry into the Finals via a 14-0 sweep.
Pressure - This is all on Ateneo, as the Blue Eagles are attempting to win their fourth straight crown. FEU, on the other hand, has nothing to lose, and will probably play with less tension.
Keys - For Ateneo, it'll be the defense that will carry it to victory. For the FEU Tamaraws, it'll probably be how well its backcourt is able to shake off the defense, and score.
All things considered, it'll be a close match, with whoever takes Game One gaining a huge upper ground. My call? Ateneo will probably win it in three.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Heartbreaker
It’s been a while since I watched a live basketball game. I can’t even remember the last time I did. Even when the Ateneo junior basketball team, anchored by the stellar trio of Kiefer Ravena, Von Pessumal and Paolo Romero, was on its way to winning its third straight title last year, I was cheering it on in the confines of the faculty workroom. This time, I decided that I would be there to cheer on our players.
Last Tuesday, the Ateneo Blue Eaglets, vying for its fourth straight title, were fighting for survival against the FEU Baby Tamaraws, trying to get past the Baby Tams’ twice-to-beat advantage. Having won the first Final Four match, the Blue Eaglets were hoping against hope to make it back to the Finals.
When I entered the Blue Eagle Gym to watch the game, it appeared as if the Eaglets were well on their way to accomplishing that feat, as they had a commanding 19-6 lead in the first quarter. Bolstered perhaps by the presence of the student body, the Eaglets played great offense, and held the Baby Tams down with a pressuring defense.
However, FEU managed to find its bearing, and managed to go into the locker room, having cut Ateneo’s lead to seven points.
In the second half, FEU opened up with guns blazing, and, coupled with a stifling defense that caused the Eaglets to turn the ball over again and again, the Baby Tams managed to grab the lead somewhere in the middle of the third quarter.
It was a lead that they would not relinquish again. The Eaglets, confounded by the Tams’ defense, were unable to get anything going, and, as their offense sputtered, the Tams continued to play excellent defense and offense down the stretch. The Blue Eaglets’ last hurrah was a sprinting, driving layup by junior Mark Gamboa that caught the Tams sleeping, and cut the lead down to five points, which was the closest that Ateneo got down the stretch. FEU closed out the game strong, and won by 7 points to propel them to the Finals, where they will face the NU Bullpups, who had earlier managed to overcome De La Salle-Zobel’s twice-to-beat advantage.
Still, it wasn’t a bad season for the Blue Eaglets, even if they were unable to defend their title. At the start of the season, I was talking to a more knowledgeable co-faculty, who had predicted that the Eaglets would have a hard time getting back to the Finals. Having taken their season this far is accomplishment enough for an Ateneo team that wasn’t expect to strongly contend.
What I liked about the end of the game was that the fan base, mainly composed of our high school students, continued to show strong support for the team by singing the alma mater as lustily as they could, showing that, true to form, “win or lose, it’s the school we choose!” So, there’s next year to look forward to, and here’s hoping that the Blue Eaglets who will remain for next year’s season will take the lessons from this loss to heart, and come out strong for next season.
Last Tuesday, the Ateneo Blue Eaglets, vying for its fourth straight title, were fighting for survival against the FEU Baby Tamaraws, trying to get past the Baby Tams’ twice-to-beat advantage. Having won the first Final Four match, the Blue Eaglets were hoping against hope to make it back to the Finals.
When I entered the Blue Eagle Gym to watch the game, it appeared as if the Eaglets were well on their way to accomplishing that feat, as they had a commanding 19-6 lead in the first quarter. Bolstered perhaps by the presence of the student body, the Eaglets played great offense, and held the Baby Tams down with a pressuring defense.
However, FEU managed to find its bearing, and managed to go into the locker room, having cut Ateneo’s lead to seven points.
In the second half, FEU opened up with guns blazing, and, coupled with a stifling defense that caused the Eaglets to turn the ball over again and again, the Baby Tams managed to grab the lead somewhere in the middle of the third quarter.
It was a lead that they would not relinquish again. The Eaglets, confounded by the Tams’ defense, were unable to get anything going, and, as their offense sputtered, the Tams continued to play excellent defense and offense down the stretch. The Blue Eaglets’ last hurrah was a sprinting, driving layup by junior Mark Gamboa that caught the Tams sleeping, and cut the lead down to five points, which was the closest that Ateneo got down the stretch. FEU closed out the game strong, and won by 7 points to propel them to the Finals, where they will face the NU Bullpups, who had earlier managed to overcome De La Salle-Zobel’s twice-to-beat advantage.
Still, it wasn’t a bad season for the Blue Eaglets, even if they were unable to defend their title. At the start of the season, I was talking to a more knowledgeable co-faculty, who had predicted that the Eaglets would have a hard time getting back to the Finals. Having taken their season this far is accomplishment enough for an Ateneo team that wasn’t expect to strongly contend.
What I liked about the end of the game was that the fan base, mainly composed of our high school students, continued to show strong support for the team by singing the alma mater as lustily as they could, showing that, true to form, “win or lose, it’s the school we choose!” So, there’s next year to look forward to, and here’s hoping that the Blue Eaglets who will remain for next year’s season will take the lessons from this loss to heart, and come out strong for next season.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Spoilsport
In 1993, Sports Illustrated writer Rick Reilly wrote an essay entitled “Too Many Spoilsports”, wherein he illustrated the apparent death of sportsmanship by enumerating event after event of unsportsmanlike conduct, from coaches racking up the score over hapless opponents, to players throwing temper tantrums, to fans using personal taunts on opposing players.
I wonder how he would have described the actions of Floyd Mayweather, Jr., last Sunday.
Mayweather won via a controversial knockout over welterweight champion Victor Ortiz, to keep his unbeaten streak going. After a head butt by Ortiz, Mayweather sucker-punched Ortiz when it wasn’t clear that the match had already re-started. Ortiz, who had apologized for the head butt, was apparently under the impression that there was a break, and had his gloves down when Mayweather clocked him.
Referee Joe Cortez, whose head was turned away from the action, immediately counted Ortiz out, giving the win to Mayweather, and giving the viewers the impression that they were watching a WWE match, rather than a professional boxing match.
Mayweather, true to form, declared it an impressive victory, one that apparently added to his Hall-of-Fame credentials. He also berated HBO announcer Larry Merchant and demanded that Merchant be fired for his biased line of questioning. Merchant responded that he would kick Mayweather’s ass had he been younger, and turned his back on Mayweather.
Predictably, Mayweather continued to duck questions on whether or not he would face Manny Pacquiao. While Mayweather holds an unbeaten record, to the boxing enthusiast’s eye, this means nothing until he gets into the ring with Pacquiao. Given Mayweather’s crass attitude towards boxing, I would question, though, if Pacquiao actually has anything to gain from fighting someone who has little or no integrity.
It can’t be denied that Floyd Mayweather, Jr., is an exceptional boxer, but his lack of sportsmanship sullies whatever glory he achieves. Plus, the fact that he continues to avoid facing Pacquiao raises questions as to whether Mayweather actually has the guts to face a worthy opponent. Here’s hoping that the questions will soon goad Mayweather into facing Pacquiao, and here’s hoping that, when that happens, Pacquiao will emerge victorious.
I wonder how he would have described the actions of Floyd Mayweather, Jr., last Sunday.
Mayweather won via a controversial knockout over welterweight champion Victor Ortiz, to keep his unbeaten streak going. After a head butt by Ortiz, Mayweather sucker-punched Ortiz when it wasn’t clear that the match had already re-started. Ortiz, who had apologized for the head butt, was apparently under the impression that there was a break, and had his gloves down when Mayweather clocked him.
Referee Joe Cortez, whose head was turned away from the action, immediately counted Ortiz out, giving the win to Mayweather, and giving the viewers the impression that they were watching a WWE match, rather than a professional boxing match.
Mayweather, true to form, declared it an impressive victory, one that apparently added to his Hall-of-Fame credentials. He also berated HBO announcer Larry Merchant and demanded that Merchant be fired for his biased line of questioning. Merchant responded that he would kick Mayweather’s ass had he been younger, and turned his back on Mayweather.
Predictably, Mayweather continued to duck questions on whether or not he would face Manny Pacquiao. While Mayweather holds an unbeaten record, to the boxing enthusiast’s eye, this means nothing until he gets into the ring with Pacquiao. Given Mayweather’s crass attitude towards boxing, I would question, though, if Pacquiao actually has anything to gain from fighting someone who has little or no integrity.
It can’t be denied that Floyd Mayweather, Jr., is an exceptional boxer, but his lack of sportsmanship sullies whatever glory he achieves. Plus, the fact that he continues to avoid facing Pacquiao raises questions as to whether Mayweather actually has the guts to face a worthy opponent. Here’s hoping that the questions will soon goad Mayweather into facing Pacquiao, and here’s hoping that, when that happens, Pacquiao will emerge victorious.
Monday, September 19, 2011
UAAP Men's Basketball: FEU Back in the Finals!
The stage is set for the UAAP men’s basketball Finals, as the FEU Tamaraws survived a furious charge led by graduating guard Jerick Canada, and held on to win 78-74 over the Adamson Falcons. By doing so, the Tamaraws overcame the Falcons’ twice-to-beat advantage and won the right to face defending 3-time champion Ateneo in the Finals.
From the start of the game, it was clear that each team came in with a strong intent to make it to the Finals. At one point, tempers flared as Tamaraw forward Carl Cruz mixed it up with Falcon Eric Camson, with both of them being slapped with unsportsmanlike fouls. While the Tamaraws ended the first quarter with a four-point lead, the Falcons came back in the second to take a slim lead going into halftime.
In the third quarter, FEU, led by guards Terence Romeo and Chris Tolomia, surged to a nine-point lead, and looked to put an early end to the Falcons’ hopes.
Going into the fourth quarter, it seemed that FEU would make an easy romp to the win, as the Tams continued to keep Adamson at bay, and managed to up their lead to as much as 11 points.
When it appeared that FEU was going to repeat its 59-49 win in the first game, Jeric Canada went on a tear, scoring 8 points on a spirited drive to the basket and 2 booming 3-pointers to cut FEU’s lead down to a measly 3 points heading into the last two minutes.
However, the Tamaraws’ experience in the face of adversity proved to be the winning factor, as they managed to hold the Falcons at bay, buck the loss of reigning MVP RR Garcia to fouls, and escape with a 4-point win.
For the Adamson Falcons, it was a bitter defeat, considering that, prior to the Final Four matchup, they had finally put an end to the 29-game losing streak to Ateneo in order to claim the second seed, and the twice-to-beat advantage. Instead, they were twice beaten, and their season is at an end. For key players such as Canada, Lester Alvarez, Jan Colina and Janus Lozada, it was even more painful, since this was their last UAAP game.
For Ateneo, playing FEU doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be an easier match-up than Adamson. While the Blue Eagles managed to win both games in the elimination round, the Finals is an entirely different setting, with the two key Eagles, Greg Slaughter and Kiefer Ravena, playing in the Finals for the first time. How Slaughter and Ravena adapt to the pressure cooker will be the key to Ateneo’s annexing a fourth straight title. Veterans Emman Monfort, Nico Salva, Kurt Long, Tonino Gonzaga, Justin Chua, and Bacon Austria will have to play their A-game to provide support.
The Tamaraws, on the other hand, may finally be complete come the Finals, with injured players JR Cawaling, Pipo Noundou, and Chris Sentcheu possibly playing, creating more matchup situations with the Blue Eagles. Aldrech Ramos may be shorter than Slaughter, but he can mix it up with the best of them; plus he can shoot from outside. Rookie Russel Escoto has shown that he’s fiery enough to be fearless in rebounding and attacking the basket. Throw in the potent 3-guard mix of RR Garcia, Terence Romeo and Chris Tolomia, and we’re probably looking at an explosive Finals match.
It’s going to be a long week, waiting for the Finals to begin.
From the start of the game, it was clear that each team came in with a strong intent to make it to the Finals. At one point, tempers flared as Tamaraw forward Carl Cruz mixed it up with Falcon Eric Camson, with both of them being slapped with unsportsmanlike fouls. While the Tamaraws ended the first quarter with a four-point lead, the Falcons came back in the second to take a slim lead going into halftime.
In the third quarter, FEU, led by guards Terence Romeo and Chris Tolomia, surged to a nine-point lead, and looked to put an early end to the Falcons’ hopes.
Going into the fourth quarter, it seemed that FEU would make an easy romp to the win, as the Tams continued to keep Adamson at bay, and managed to up their lead to as much as 11 points.
When it appeared that FEU was going to repeat its 59-49 win in the first game, Jeric Canada went on a tear, scoring 8 points on a spirited drive to the basket and 2 booming 3-pointers to cut FEU’s lead down to a measly 3 points heading into the last two minutes.
However, the Tamaraws’ experience in the face of adversity proved to be the winning factor, as they managed to hold the Falcons at bay, buck the loss of reigning MVP RR Garcia to fouls, and escape with a 4-point win.
For the Adamson Falcons, it was a bitter defeat, considering that, prior to the Final Four matchup, they had finally put an end to the 29-game losing streak to Ateneo in order to claim the second seed, and the twice-to-beat advantage. Instead, they were twice beaten, and their season is at an end. For key players such as Canada, Lester Alvarez, Jan Colina and Janus Lozada, it was even more painful, since this was their last UAAP game.
For Ateneo, playing FEU doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be an easier match-up than Adamson. While the Blue Eagles managed to win both games in the elimination round, the Finals is an entirely different setting, with the two key Eagles, Greg Slaughter and Kiefer Ravena, playing in the Finals for the first time. How Slaughter and Ravena adapt to the pressure cooker will be the key to Ateneo’s annexing a fourth straight title. Veterans Emman Monfort, Nico Salva, Kurt Long, Tonino Gonzaga, Justin Chua, and Bacon Austria will have to play their A-game to provide support.
The Tamaraws, on the other hand, may finally be complete come the Finals, with injured players JR Cawaling, Pipo Noundou, and Chris Sentcheu possibly playing, creating more matchup situations with the Blue Eagles. Aldrech Ramos may be shorter than Slaughter, but he can mix it up with the best of them; plus he can shoot from outside. Rookie Russel Escoto has shown that he’s fiery enough to be fearless in rebounding and attacking the basket. Throw in the potent 3-guard mix of RR Garcia, Terence Romeo and Chris Tolomia, and we’re probably looking at an explosive Finals match.
It’s going to be a long week, waiting for the Finals to begin.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Figuring Things Out
Okay, now I’m a little worried.
It’s been a largely unproductive month, writing-wise, for me, as I had to deal with a number of issues. However, writing at least once in a while will probably help me in the long run.
I’ve been trying to figure out why I haven’t been able to write anything substantial this past year, and one of the realizations I’ve had is that I lack a reason to be passionate about writing. For the past six years, my writing took on a political bent, as I tried to keep an eye on the excesses of the Arroyo government. Checking my posts over that period, there were a lot of issues for me to be angry enough in order to write. Having chosen my point of attack, I managed to be passionate in dealing with the myriad issues that the Arroyo government spawned, from the perceived massive corruption committed by the Arroyo family to the various effects of that corruption on our society, from Arroyos moves in the Supreme Court, to the Maguindanao Massacre. It seemed as if every day, there was an issue to be angry about.
Now, with the administration of President Noynoy Aquino a year into place, there are fewer reasons to be angry about. I’m not saying the Aquino administration is doing a good job; in fact, there’s a lot to be desired about how this current administration operates. What I’m seeing is that, despite the many naysayers, this current administration, if on the incompetent side, is operating under the frame of mind of an anti-corruption bent. Call me naïve, but I want to believe that the President has the right idea of what direction to take, and, given the right people, there’s still time for him to turn things around.
Maybe it’s also because I voted for President Aquino under the belief that he can effect positive change in our country that I’m hesitant to be overly critical about him and his administration. After all, when I read the editorials in the newspapers, a number of the President’s critics were part of the previous two administrations (Arroyo and Estrada), so I’m rather skeptical about their motives for writing negatively about the Aquino government, and I probably loathe being included among their number.
Be that as it may, how does this impact on my writing as a blogger? It appears that I may have to find other topics to be passionate about, in order to continue writing. Perhaps it’s an impetus for me to expand my writing beyond the political realm, and try flexing my muscles on other topics.
I’m not sure if this post will signal my return to a more regular schedule of writing, although I’m hoping that it will. What I am hoping is that those of you who still follow my blog will be patient with me, as I try to figure out things, and try to see what direction I want this blog to take.
It’s been a largely unproductive month, writing-wise, for me, as I had to deal with a number of issues. However, writing at least once in a while will probably help me in the long run.
I’ve been trying to figure out why I haven’t been able to write anything substantial this past year, and one of the realizations I’ve had is that I lack a reason to be passionate about writing. For the past six years, my writing took on a political bent, as I tried to keep an eye on the excesses of the Arroyo government. Checking my posts over that period, there were a lot of issues for me to be angry enough in order to write. Having chosen my point of attack, I managed to be passionate in dealing with the myriad issues that the Arroyo government spawned, from the perceived massive corruption committed by the Arroyo family to the various effects of that corruption on our society, from Arroyos moves in the Supreme Court, to the Maguindanao Massacre. It seemed as if every day, there was an issue to be angry about.
Now, with the administration of President Noynoy Aquino a year into place, there are fewer reasons to be angry about. I’m not saying the Aquino administration is doing a good job; in fact, there’s a lot to be desired about how this current administration operates. What I’m seeing is that, despite the many naysayers, this current administration, if on the incompetent side, is operating under the frame of mind of an anti-corruption bent. Call me naïve, but I want to believe that the President has the right idea of what direction to take, and, given the right people, there’s still time for him to turn things around.
Maybe it’s also because I voted for President Aquino under the belief that he can effect positive change in our country that I’m hesitant to be overly critical about him and his administration. After all, when I read the editorials in the newspapers, a number of the President’s critics were part of the previous two administrations (Arroyo and Estrada), so I’m rather skeptical about their motives for writing negatively about the Aquino government, and I probably loathe being included among their number.
Be that as it may, how does this impact on my writing as a blogger? It appears that I may have to find other topics to be passionate about, in order to continue writing. Perhaps it’s an impetus for me to expand my writing beyond the political realm, and try flexing my muscles on other topics.
I’m not sure if this post will signal my return to a more regular schedule of writing, although I’m hoping that it will. What I am hoping is that those of you who still follow my blog will be patient with me, as I try to figure out things, and try to see what direction I want this blog to take.
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