UAAP Season 74 Finals Game 2: Ateneo 82-69 FEU
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;color:black;background:white">
10.01.11
Keys to Victory:
color:black">Magic Spell:color:black;background:white"> While Nico Salva was locking his Finals MVP trophy, Juami Tiongson emerged from the bench for his best scoring output of the season with 11 points. Most of Tiongson's contributions came in the second quarter, when he confidently scored on a three and a runner, capping off a 12-0 run and had FEU scrambling defensively. He will still need to work on his passing game as he only dished one assist. With Emman Monfort due for graduation, the time is ripe for Tiongson to prove that he is ready to play a starter's role in Season 75... unless a certain small forward comes back to the fold.
color:black">Romeo Westbrook:color:black;background:white"> Rather than deferring to former MVP teammate RR Garcia, Terrence Romeo unabashedly stole the show on his way to a 2/17 performance that has viewers comparing his effort to that of the Oklahama City Thunder's guard. Ateneo was more than happy to let Romeo force the issue as nerves took hold of him for the second year in a row. He can be slightly absolved for his aggression as guys like Cris Tolomia and Russel Escoto could not buy a basket. But anytime a vital cog is held to 11% shooting, it warrants an acknowledgement of Ateneo's stifling defense. Suffice to say that three-time Mythical Five member Aldrech Ramos' double-double effort went straight to the dumps.
Chalk talk:
The four-day rain delay was worth the wait. Ramos took the scoring cudgels early, scoring FEU's first seven points, countering Salva and Kiefer Ravena's early heat checks. However, FEU's chance to match Ateneo point for point was obviously hindered with Jens Knuttle running the backcourt chores with Garcia to start the game.
There were so many plays of the game from both teams that it would be difficult to pinpoint one right off the bat. Mine would have to be the one right at the tailend of the first quarter, when a Tonino Gonzaga steal on Garcia led to a dropoff for Justin Chua's three-point play that stretched the lead to five at 23-18.
Although the score nearly mirrored that of Game 1, it was Ateneo's turn to relinquish a 28-18 lead in the second quarter. The Tamaraws caught the Blue Eagles on numerous botched plays and turned it into quick baskets, highlighted Garcia's floater turned the tide with the Green and Gold ahead 34-33 as time wound down into halftime.
The third quarter is becoming too predictable in the Blue Eagles' corner, but opponents still seem to have no way of stopping the onslaught. Salva opened the scoring and the Tamaraws once again had no remedy.
How do we wrap up Kirk Long, Monfort, and Bacon Austria's UAAP careers? Long was the quadruple-double machine in high school who accepted the role of defensive ace, going up against profilic scorers from Benedict Fernandez to Paul Lee to Alex Nuyles. His deferral from being the main scoring option for the Blue Eagles comprised a significant chunk of their success.
Monfort learned the ropes early under Macky Escalona in 2006, found renewed motivation from his Team B experience in 2008, and excelled in his niche playing among giants. The 5'5" guard graduates with a Most Improved player award in 2010 and a Mark Price-like 52/56 clip from the line in his final season, good for 93%.
Austria underachieved because of his transition from power forward to shooting guard. Nonetheless, all three have multiple titles, and that is all the history books will recall years from now.
Tweets of the game:
@batangbelat:mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;color:black"> Go Ateneo! Gawin niyong parang biswit! APAT DAPAT!
@milesdomingo: #Slaughter the Tamaraw for the bonfire.
@rl_829: I can almost hear, "Welcome to the Annual Ateneo Bonfire!"
Quarter scoring: 23-18, 35-36, 57-45, 82-69
minor-fareast;color:black;background:white">BONFIRE!!!!
10.01.11
Keys to Victory:
color:black">Magic Spell:color:black;background:white"> While Nico Salva was locking his Finals MVP trophy, Juami Tiongson emerged from the bench for his best scoring output of the season with 11 points. Most of Tiongson's contributions came in the second quarter, when he confidently scored on a three and a runner, capping off a 12-0 run and had FEU scrambling defensively. He will still need to work on his passing game as he only dished one assist. With Emman Monfort due for graduation, the time is ripe for Tiongson to prove that he is ready to play a starter's role in Season 75... unless a certain small forward comes back to the fold.
color:black">Romeo Westbrook:color:black;background:white"> Rather than deferring to former MVP teammate RR Garcia, Terrence Romeo unabashedly stole the show on his way to a 2/17 performance that has viewers comparing his effort to that of the Oklahama City Thunder's guard. Ateneo was more than happy to let Romeo force the issue as nerves took hold of him for the second year in a row. He can be slightly absolved for his aggression as guys like Cris Tolomia and Russel Escoto could not buy a basket. But anytime a vital cog is held to 11% shooting, it warrants an acknowledgement of Ateneo's stifling defense. Suffice to say that three-time Mythical Five member Aldrech Ramos' double-double effort went straight to the dumps.
Chalk talk:
The four-day rain delay was worth the wait. Ramos took the scoring cudgels early, scoring FEU's first seven points, countering Salva and Kiefer Ravena's early heat checks. However, FEU's chance to match Ateneo point for point was obviously hindered with Jens Knuttle running the backcourt chores with Garcia to start the game.
There were so many plays of the game from both teams that it would be difficult to pinpoint one right off the bat. Mine would have to be the one right at the tailend of the first quarter, when a Tonino Gonzaga steal on Garcia led to a dropoff for Justin Chua's three-point play that stretched the lead to five at 23-18.
Although the score nearly mirrored that of Game 1, it was Ateneo's turn to relinquish a 28-18 lead in the second quarter. The Tamaraws caught the Blue Eagles on numerous botched plays and turned it into quick baskets, highlighted Garcia's floater turned the tide with the Green and Gold ahead 34-33 as time wound down into halftime.
The third quarter is becoming too predictable in the Blue Eagles' corner, but opponents still seem to have no way of stopping the onslaught. Salva opened the scoring and the Tamaraws once again had no remedy.
How do we wrap up Kirk Long, Monfort, and Bacon Austria's UAAP careers? Long was the quadruple-double machine in high school who accepted the role of defensive ace, going up against profilic scorers from Benedict Fernandez to Paul Lee to Alex Nuyles. His deferral from being the main scoring option for the Blue Eagles comprised a significant chunk of their success.
Monfort learned the ropes early under Macky Escalona in 2006, found renewed motivation from his Team B experience in 2008, and excelled in his niche playing among giants. The 5'5" guard graduates with a Most Improved player award in 2010 and a Mark Price-like 52/56 clip from the line in his final season, good for 93%.
Austria underachieved because of his transition from power forward to shooting guard. Nonetheless, all three have multiple titles, and that is all the history books will recall years from now.
Tweets of the game:
@batangbelat:mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;color:black"> Go Ateneo! Gawin niyong parang biswit! APAT DAPAT!
@milesdomingo: #Slaughter the Tamaraw for the bonfire.
@rl_829: I can almost hear, "Welcome to the Annual Ateneo Bonfire!"
Quarter scoring: 23-18, 35-36, 57-45, 82-69
minor-fareast;color:black;background:white">BONFIRE!!!!