Sunday, August 10th, 2008
ATENEO de Manila managed to convert only a single field goal in the final three minutes of its game against Far Eastern University. Fortunately for the Loyola faithful, it was more than enough.
Big man Rabeh Al-Hussaini delivered the only field goal for the Blue Eagles in that crucial stretch, but was decisive enough as his squad averted a near endgame collapse and preserved a tense 78-74 win over the Tamaraws in the 71st UAAP seniors basketball tournament last August 9, 2008 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
“When you lose a big lead, the best thing you can do is to win a game at a crucial stage,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black. “You can’t control things like that when you are at the sidelines. But we won it in the endgame and that’s the important thing.”
Al-Hussaini’s 16-point, nine-rebound effort was complemented by the efforts of Eric Salamat, who scorched the Tams with a game-high 18 points, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
The Blue Eagles saw their nine-point lead in the final 3:32 wiped out by a
determined charge from the Morayta-based squad. By way of a 1-2-2 halfcourt zone trap, FEU was able to force Ateneo to commit costly miscues.
That resulted to an 8-0 blast capped off by an Andy Barroca basket off a Benedict Fernandez feed, which shoved the Tamaraws within striking distance, 74-76.
Instead of panicking, though, Black sued for time and mapped up one important play at the low block for Al-Hussaini. Sensing the Tamaraws’ lack of height at the post, he scored easily with 51 seconds remaining to give the Blue Eagles a slightly larger advantage at 78-74.
The Tamaraws had several chances to rescue the game. Forward Aldrech Ramos was fouled by Ryan Buenafe with 35 seconds to play, but muffed both charities that could have cut the deficit further.
In FEU’s next possession, Barroca was called for a travelling violation, which enabled Ateneo to secure its seventh win in eight matches to keep the Blue and White atop the team standings.
“We didn’t come out prepared against FEU’s 1-2-2 halfcourt press. That’s why we lost our big lead,” said Black. “But the good thing we did today is we challenged their perimeter shooting pretty well. We also hammered them inside because we knew we had the advantage, with FEU lacking big men.”
So effective was FEU’s trapping defense that it resulted to 33 points off turnovers. But Black has Salamat to thank for.
The 2005 NCAA juniors MVP, along with Kirk Long, hit back-to-back treys that opened up a fourth period upsurge for Ateneo, which took its biggest lead of the game at 67-52 with still 8:10 left.
The Tamaraws rallied though. A 13-4 run capped by Reil Cervantes’ inside bucket moved FEU to within four, 67-71. Salamat, however, responded quickly and knocked down his fourth three-pointer of the game to give Ateneo a 74-67 advantage, with 4:52 remaining on the clock.
“Eric is the anchor of our second team. He could have been the starter, but Chris Tiu is still playing with us. The good thing about him is he makes the most out of the time given to him and he can always be counted on when called off the bench,” said Black.
Cervantes led FEU with 14 markers, while Paul Sanga had 12. FEU dropped to third place as it absorbed its third loss in eight meetings.
The scores:
Ateneo 78 – Salamat 18, Tiu 16, Al-Hussaini 16, Buenafe 10, Long 5, Reyes 5, Baldos 3, Baclao 3, Salva 2, Austria 0, Nkemakolam 0, Escueta 0.
FEU 74 – Cervantes 14, Sanga 13, Fernandez 11, Barroca 9, Cawaling 7, Knuttel 6, Alisbo 5, Adolfo 4, Ramos 3, Tanuan 2, Macazo 0, Cabagnot 0.
Quarter scores: 13-15; 36-33; 57-51; 78-74
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Tuesday, August 5th, 2008
UAAP Basketball 2008-2009
SCHEDULE OF GAMES
MEN’S DIVISION
Second Round
Saturday, 9 August 2008 - ULTRA
4:00 pm FEU vs Ateneo
Thursday, 14 August 2008 - ULTRA
4:00 pm UST vs Ateneo
Sunday, 17 August 2008 - ULTRA
2:00 pm AdU vs Ateneo
Thursday, 21 August 2008 - Araneta Coliseum
4:00 pm Ateneo vs UE
Sunday, 24 August 2008 - Araneta Coliseum
2:00 pm Ateneo vs UP
Saturday, 30 August 2008 - ULTRA
4:00 pm Ateneo vs NU
Saturday, 6 September 2008 - Araneta Coliseum
4:00 pm Ateneo vs DLSU
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UAAP Basketball 2008-2009
SCHEDULE OF GAMES
WOMEN’S DIVISION
Second Round
Sunday, 10 August 2008 - Blue Eagle Gym
3:00 pm NU vs Ateneo
Sunday, 17 August 2008 - Blue Eagle Gym
9:00 am Ateneo vs UP
Wednesday, 20 August 2008 - Blue Eagle Gym
4:00 pm UE vs Ateneo
Sunday, 24 August 2008 - Blue Eagle Gym
11:00 am FEU vs Ateneo
Thursday, 28 August 2008 - Blue Eagle Gym
2:00 pm Ateneo vs DLSU
Sunday, 31 August 2008 - Blue Eagle Gym
11:00 am UST vs Ateneo
Wednesday, 3 September 2008 - Blue Eagle Gym
10:00 am Ateneo vs AdU
UAAP Basketball 2008-2009
SCHEDULE OF GAMES
JUNIORS DIVISION
Second Round
Saturday, 09 August 2008- Blue Eagle Gym
3:00 pm Ateneo vs FEU
Tuesday, 12 August 2008 - Blue Eagle Gym
10:00 am NU vs Ateneo
Saturday, 16 August 2008 - Blue Eagle Gym
3:00 pm UST vs Ateneo
Saturday, 23, August 2008 - Blue Eagle Gym
11:00 am Ateneo vs UE
Tuesday, 26 August 2008- Blue Eagle Gym
4:00 pm Ateneo vs UP
Saturday, 30 August 2008 - Blue Eagle Gym
1:00 pm Ateneo vs AdU
Saturday, 6 September 2008 - Blue Eagle Gym
11:00 am DLSZ vs Ateneo
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Saturday, August 2nd, 2008
THERE won’t be a 14-game sweep of the elimination round this season.
Far Eastern University ended Ateneo de Manila’s quest to emulate the 2007 University of the East Red Warriors after scoring a come-from-behind 72-66 win in the 71st UAAP seniors basketball tournament last July 31, 2008 at the Araneta Coliseum.
FEU displayed remarkable endgame poise and leaned on the heroics of forward Aldrech Ramos and slotman Reil Cervantes to hand Ateneo its first loss and in the process share the top post together with its victims and defending champion De La Salle University at 5-1.
In doing so, the Tamaraws also rendered Ateneo big man Rabeh Al-Hussaini’s career-high 33 points academic. The ex-Philippine Christian University Baby Dolphin’s output was the highest since Adamson slotman Kenneth Bono recorded the same output in the elimination round two years ago.
“My big men struggle every time they face Ateneo because of Al-Hussaini. But in the endgame, we able to stop them,” said FEU coach Glen Capacio.
Al-Hussaini missed a crucial short jumper, which almost extend the Eagles’ 66-65 lead entering the final minute. Ramos, who had 12 points, scored the go-ahead jumper in the ensuing play to give FEU a 67-66 lead with 47 ticks to go.
FEU’s solid defense then prevented Chris Tiu from scoring the much-needed basket in the pivotal seconds, which cost Ateneo the game.
Asked if Mac Baracael, FEU’s fallen forward, was still the catalyst of the team’s strong play, Capacio said: “I don’t know what it is. Maybe it is the desire and the heart of the players who are working now.”
The Tamaraws have won two straight games since Baracael was shot by a still unknown assailant a week ago. According to Capacio, center Robert Kave has decided to leave the team to return to Papua New Guinea tomorrow.
Kave was with Baracael and Ron Cabagnot when the incident happened outside the FEU Gym along Morayta.
The Tams, despite not finding any answers to Al-Hussaini’s onslaught, still managed to claw back into the game thanks to solid guard play.
After Al-Hussaini scored on two free throws to hand the Blue Eagles a 60-57 lead at the 4:53 mark, FEU guards Andy Barroca and Benedict Fernandez combined to move FEU to move within a basket at 65-66, with 1:21 left.
The loss was painful, especially for the Katipunan faithful, who were celebrating the feast day of the founder of the Jesuit order, St. Ignatius. Ateneo seemed to have the game under control after erecting a 56-46 lead early in the fourth, where Al-Hussaini looked unstoppable in the shaded lane.
Reil Cervantes, who led the Tams with 14 points and 13 rebounds, put the finishing touches on his squad’s win with a two-handed slam in the dying seconds of the ballgame.
The scores:
FEU 72 – Cervantes 14, Fernandez 12, Ramos 12, Barroca 11, Sanga 7, Cawaling 5, Adolfo 4, Alisbo 3, Tanuan 2, Macazo 0, Kave 0.
Ateneo 66 – Al-Hussaini 33, Baclao 8, Tiu 7, Salamat 7, Buenafe 4, Reyes 3, Baldos 2, Long 2, Salva 0, Burke 0, Austria 0, Nkemakolam 0, Escueta 0.
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