Happy PBA Opening Day!
Have you ever wondered which among the PBA, UAAP and NCAA garner the biggest amount of interest? This Google Trends (of course!) chart should finally resolve any discussion.
Heck let's resolve all of our differences with a truckload of stats, after the jump.
Showing posts with label UAAP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UAAP. Show all posts
November 17, 2013
October 27, 2013
If NBA teams are Pinoy college hoops teams: the 2013-14 NBA season preview, Part 1
Basketball never stops. College basketball season is about to end -- yes NCAA is still ongong -- but in most years, the end of October means the college hoops tourneys are over, and we're salivating at a brand new NBA season. Old players on new teams! New players on new teams! Comebacking players! More hating on LeBron! More "Chris Bosh is gay" jokes! More "I'd still take the Lakers over the Clippers" shit! More "I'm drafting Kobe in the first round in fantasy NBA!"
And what better way to merge both basketball worlds is with a preview: let's see which NBA teams would wind up as the Pinoy college teams. There are 8 UAAP teams, 10 NCAA teams and 30 NBA teams. So for every college team, there's either one or two NBA teams. Let's begin! The order is via the winning percentage in the elimination round.
And what better way to merge both basketball worlds is with a preview: let's see which NBA teams would wind up as the Pinoy college teams. There are 8 UAAP teams, 10 NCAA teams and 30 NBA teams. So for every college team, there's either one or two NBA teams. Let's begin! The order is via the winning percentage in the elimination round.
October 11, 2013
Game 3: It all comes down to this
All of the UAAP Season 75 basketball champs have been vanquished.
The FEU Baby Tamaraws didn't even reach the finals this year.
The FEU Lady Tamaraws were screwed of a playoff berth this year, after a player played outside the UAAP while the UAAP season was ongoing. (The "ligang labas" rule, another rule which doesn't make sense.)
And of course, the Ateneo Blue Eagles legitimately didn't even make it to the playoffs this year.
It's not just the defending champs were dethroned: at least on the two already finished tournaments, the losing finalist last year won this year. In the yet unresolved men's tournament, last year's losing finalist, UST, is still in the running:
The FEU Baby Tamaraws didn't even reach the finals this year.
The FEU Lady Tamaraws were screwed of a playoff berth this year, after a player played outside the UAAP while the UAAP season was ongoing. (The "ligang labas" rule, another rule which doesn't make sense.)
And of course, the Ateneo Blue Eagles legitimately didn't even make it to the playoffs this year.
It's not just the defending champs were dethroned: at least on the two already finished tournaments, the losing finalist last year won this year. In the yet unresolved men's tournament, last year's losing finalist, UST, is still in the running:
October 6, 2013
DLSU 77, UST 70: What went wrong for UST (and what went right for DLSU)
Either it "won't be today" or there will be a "parade today". No middle grounds (Imagine if basketball had draws. That would be like kissing your sister.) on the result of Game 2 of the UAAP Season 76 men's basketball finals. In the end, La Salle built a large enough lead to prevent any incursion from UST. But how?
October 2, 2013
Pundit watch! Here are some geniuses who predicted a DLSU sweep
After the jump are our armchair pundits who said that the De La Salle Green Archers will win in 2 games. Let's bask in their geniusness!
September 30, 2013
Head to head: Teng vs Teng - UAAP Season Seven-TENG-six Finals
If there's a "Throwback Thursday" finals, this is it. Meeting in four finals series in the 1990s, the UST Growling Tigers won three out of four, but La Salle won the last matchup in 1999, capped by an epic Game 3 that went into OT; the green school was saved by Don Allado and Dino Aldeguer.
It's now 2013, and the players from that 1999 series are either now retired or at the twilight of their PBA careers, if they made it that far. It's a new generation of Tigers and Archers are on court, including brothers, the sons of Alvin "Robocop" Teng: Jeric and Jeron Teng. But it won't be just about the Teng brothers, with both teams suffering title droughts: UST since 2006, and La Salle since 2007; in fact they were the last two schools that won the title before Ateneo's unprecedented, at least in the Final Four era, 5-consecutive title romp.
It's now 2013, and the players from that 1999 series are either now retired or at the twilight of their PBA careers, if they made it that far. It's a new generation of Tigers and Archers are on court, including brothers, the sons of Alvin "Robocop" Teng: Jeric and Jeron Teng. But it won't be just about the Teng brothers, with both teams suffering title droughts: UST since 2006, and La Salle since 2007; in fact they were the last two schools that won the title before Ateneo's unprecedented, at least in the Final Four era, 5-consecutive title romp.
UAAP Final Four postmortem
What has never been done before in the UAAP has finally happened: the #4 seed has beaten the #1 seed. You see, this happened in the NCAA before when #4 seed Letran defeated #1 seed San Sebastian (ah, the bad blood rivalry) in 1999. Like 2013 UST, 1999 Letran's seed was masked by the fact that their best players weren't able to play, for one reason or another (in Letran's case, national team duty; in UST's case, injuries).
UST wasn't your ordinary #4 seed. The Tigers had a 2-0 start until Jeric Teng got injured. Teng returned, ironically against NU, but UST still lost. Then, UST won 6 of their last 7 games, with the only loss coming from La Salle.
UST wasn't your ordinary #4 seed. The Tigers had a 2-0 start until Jeric Teng got injured. Teng returned, ironically against NU, but UST still lost. Then, UST won 6 of their last 7 games, with the only loss coming from La Salle.
September 29, 2013
Top 10 college courtside reporters of the 21st century
What gets me through college basketball on TV when Boom Gonzalez is blabbering about how Bobby Ray Parks is the savior of Philippine basketball, TJ Manotoc blabbering about Kiefer Ravena is the savior, period, and Aaron Atayde blabbering about blabbering?
Coutside reporters, of course! Some people may deem them to be unimportant, or even unneeded, but seriously, once you get tired of listening to the commentators talking sadly after every Ateneo loss, and being ecstatic after every time Ravena bounces the ball, the courtside reporters are your respite.
Coutside reporters, of course! Some people may deem them to be unimportant, or even unneeded, but seriously, once you get tired of listening to the commentators talking sadly after every Ateneo loss, and being ecstatic after every time Ravena bounces the ball, the courtside reporters are your respite.
September 19, 2013
August 29, 2013
UAAP Season 76 and NCAA Season 89 team standings, magic and tragic numbers!
It's back! Track your favorite teams performance with magic and tragic numbers! For an explanation, see this.
March 13, 2013
March Madness! Haterade version!
As tribute to Grantland's "The Most Hated College Basketball Players of the Last 30 Years" tournament (written by the Rafeboogs himself), this blog ripped off their brilliant idea, because, I'm not into plagiarizing -- I cited them. Only that I made it better: instead of making this tournament solely about college hoopsters, why not include the bigwigs? You know, the shady people behind the scenes that make college basketball a little bit exciting.
Just like Grantland's version, there are four brackets: the bigwigs, players of the 2010s (2010-present), players of the 2000s (2000-2009), and the Pinoy version of Duke, the team everyone hates, a DLSU-centric bracket. But don't worry people who seethe the Gremlins, some DLSU bigwigs are at the bigwigs bracket, so an all-DLSU final is possible.
Seedings are determined by total overall hate throughout the interwebz, measured through my own biases. This is not to be a scientific survey of hate, and seeds may have been adjusted for meaty matchups, both in the first round or, potentially, in the latter rounds. I present, the bracket:
And now, the first round!
DLSU bracket: 2010s players bracket: Polls end after a week, then the other half of the bracket gets their spotlight.
Just like Grantland's version, there are four brackets: the bigwigs, players of the 2010s (2010-present), players of the 2000s (2000-2009), and the Pinoy version of Duke, the team everyone hates, a DLSU-centric bracket. But don't worry people who seethe the Gremlins, some DLSU bigwigs are at the bigwigs bracket, so an all-DLSU final is possible.
Seedings are determined by total overall hate throughout the interwebz, measured through my own biases. This is not to be a scientific survey of hate, and seeds may have been adjusted for meaty matchups, both in the first round or, potentially, in the latter rounds. I present, the bracket:
And now, the first round!
DLSU bracket: 2010s players bracket: Polls end after a week, then the other half of the bracket gets their spotlight.
March 6, 2013
Tackling the new UAAP rule head on: Pay or cap the pay.
Rules are created to stall abuses of the current system. Rules are fine-tuned to suit the change of the times. The UAAP isn't oblivious to rule-makers and rules: after all there had been rules named after players who were supposed to be the "cause" of the rule: such as the Soc Rivera rule. Just think of these players that were named after rules as modern-day Wilt Chamberlains: they were so good, or were supposed to be so good, they made rules just to mitigate him/her/him or her team.
All this in the context of the UAAP as an amateur league: the players are not being compensated at all, save for free education and probably board and lodging. Quite noble, right?
All this in the context of the UAAP as an amateur league: the players are not being compensated at all, save for free education and probably board and lodging. Quite noble, right?
September 15, 2011
#sasobranglakasngateneo
ito na ang bagong logo ng Twitter:
Special thanks to FireQuinito for initiating the jinx!
Special thanks to FireQuinito for initiating the jinx!
September 11, 2011
Sweep dreams are made of these
The perfect season is one of the rarest feats in sports. The longer the season, the more improbable it happens. In the local college sports scene, factors unique to the setting had made the sweep sweeter with its added perks.
The local college hoops scene has seen quite a number of elimination round sweeps and near-sweeps. Since the start of the Final Four format in 1993, there had been two sweeps and two near-sweeps. UE and UST swept the competition in 2007 and 1993, respectively; Ateneo and La Salle missed the sweep on the last games of the 2011 and 2002 seasons, respectively. In the NCAA, San Beda swept the eliminations on their to the title last year, while their finals opponents SSC-R was the last to do the feat prior to San Beda, in 1997 (although that was prior to the NCAA using the Final Four format).
Interestingly, the sweeps and near-sweeps had always involved the same teams, and not always the teams that contend year in and year out. And the near-sweeps were always convincing defeats for the would-be sweeper, while the sweeps would always be close games.
In 1993, Adamson led by Marlou Aquino had the privilege of derailing the Growling Tigers 14-0 sweep. They failed that time, but they managed to stay close, losing to only seven points, the second smallest advantage by the Dennis Espino-led Tigers team in that year. That game was personal for most of the Falcons as they previously tried out for the Espana team before being cut. In those days, sweeping the eliminations meant an automatic championship; this cut short the tournament so the league changed the rules, making the sweeping team qualify for the best-of-3 Finals outright.
We now all know that Aquino did not sorta attend his classes, so the league suspended the Falcons next year; this ushered in the DLSU-UST rivalry that lasted until the millennium ended. Interestingly, while UST ushered in their four-peat with a sweep, the Archers sought to extend their four-peat with a sweep in 2002.
DLSU entered the final game of the eliminations spotless, against Ateneo which had to win to have a chance at the twice to beat advantage. In that game, DLSU got blown out by Ateneo in the third quarter. UE won on their next game denying the Eagles of the incentive, but the Eagles beat them anyway, thanks to Gec Chia and "the shot" on their way to their first title since 1988.
While everyone expected DLSU to top the standings in 2002, and even sweep the eliminations, virtually no one saw UE sweeping the 2007 elimination round. In the finale, UE faced, guess what team, La Salle. Unlike the 2002 game, this game went into OT, complete with Brian Ilad making Lasallians proud by being like Manny Pacquiao.
And so we make it to the 2011 Ateneo near-sweep. Adamson relived its role of being the spoiler. Like the near-sweep games before, this was a blowout in favor of the spoiler, with Ateneo suffering its biggest defeat in... I dunno? Ever since Norman Black coached them?
What's unique with the UAAP sweep scenarios is that while you'd expect Ateneo, La Salle and even UST and UE to figure in such situations, you'd never expect teams such as Adamson to participate twice -- granted Adamson's participation is not the result of a good basketball program throughout the years, it goes to show you that for a team to figure in these sweeping situations, you'd also need a little bit of luck.
For the NCAA, the circumstances are more glaring. There had only been two instances were a sweep happened: 1997 San Sebastian and 2010 San Beda. In both times, both teams faced each other in the final elimination round game and in the finals.
The 1997 San Sebastian capped off their 5-peat with a sweep of the eliminations, beating SBC, only to be beaten by the Red Lions in Game 1 of the Finals. SSC made use of the twice to beat advantage given to the sweeper, winning Game 2.
In 2010, San Beda faced the Stags in the elimination round finale. Like in the UAAP when the would-be sweeping team won, the Red Lions had a convincing 8-point win to clinch the thrice to beat advantage in the Finals. Unlike the 2007 Red Warriors, however, the 2010 Red Lions even had more convincing Finals wins, winning both games via double-digits.
In 2011... well I won't jinx.
The local college hoops scene has seen quite a number of elimination round sweeps and near-sweeps. Since the start of the Final Four format in 1993, there had been two sweeps and two near-sweeps. UE and UST swept the competition in 2007 and 1993, respectively; Ateneo and La Salle missed the sweep on the last games of the 2011 and 2002 seasons, respectively. In the NCAA, San Beda swept the eliminations on their to the title last year, while their finals opponents SSC-R was the last to do the feat prior to San Beda, in 1997 (although that was prior to the NCAA using the Final Four format).
Interestingly, the sweeps and near-sweeps had always involved the same teams, and not always the teams that contend year in and year out. And the near-sweeps were always convincing defeats for the would-be sweeper, while the sweeps would always be close games.
In 1993, Adamson led by Marlou Aquino had the privilege of derailing the Growling Tigers 14-0 sweep. They failed that time, but they managed to stay close, losing to only seven points, the second smallest advantage by the Dennis Espino-led Tigers team in that year. That game was personal for most of the Falcons as they previously tried out for the Espana team before being cut. In those days, sweeping the eliminations meant an automatic championship; this cut short the tournament so the league changed the rules, making the sweeping team qualify for the best-of-3 Finals outright.
We now all know that Aquino did not sorta attend his classes, so the league suspended the Falcons next year; this ushered in the DLSU-UST rivalry that lasted until the millennium ended. Interestingly, while UST ushered in their four-peat with a sweep, the Archers sought to extend their four-peat with a sweep in 2002.
DLSU entered the final game of the eliminations spotless, against Ateneo which had to win to have a chance at the twice to beat advantage. In that game, DLSU got blown out by Ateneo in the third quarter. UE won on their next game denying the Eagles of the incentive, but the Eagles beat them anyway, thanks to Gec Chia and "the shot" on their way to their first title since 1988.
While everyone expected DLSU to top the standings in 2002, and even sweep the eliminations, virtually no one saw UE sweeping the 2007 elimination round. In the finale, UE faced, guess what team, La Salle. Unlike the 2002 game, this game went into OT, complete with Brian Ilad making Lasallians proud by being like Manny Pacquiao.
And so we make it to the 2011 Ateneo near-sweep. Adamson relived its role of being the spoiler. Like the near-sweep games before, this was a blowout in favor of the spoiler, with Ateneo suffering its biggest defeat in... I dunno? Ever since Norman Black coached them?
What's unique with the UAAP sweep scenarios is that while you'd expect Ateneo, La Salle and even UST and UE to figure in such situations, you'd never expect teams such as Adamson to participate twice -- granted Adamson's participation is not the result of a good basketball program throughout the years, it goes to show you that for a team to figure in these sweeping situations, you'd also need a little bit of luck.
For the NCAA, the circumstances are more glaring. There had only been two instances were a sweep happened: 1997 San Sebastian and 2010 San Beda. In both times, both teams faced each other in the final elimination round game and in the finals.
The 1997 San Sebastian capped off their 5-peat with a sweep of the eliminations, beating SBC, only to be beaten by the Red Lions in Game 1 of the Finals. SSC made use of the twice to beat advantage given to the sweeper, winning Game 2.
In 2010, San Beda faced the Stags in the elimination round finale. Like in the UAAP when the would-be sweeping team won, the Red Lions had a convincing 8-point win to clinch the thrice to beat advantage in the Finals. Unlike the 2007 Red Warriors, however, the 2010 Red Lions even had more convincing Finals wins, winning both games via double-digits.
In 2011... well I won't jinx.
July 25, 2011
Week 2 Top 10: Dominance, and exceptions
A week of college basketball has passed and we're treated, for the most part, a rather predictable slate of results, except for a couple of games. So we have a somewhat predictable Top 10 this week, except for a couple of teams.
#1: Ateneo Blue Eagles
This week results: Defeated NU 86-62 and UE 73-61
In a normal week, a game against NU should be easy and against UE to be tough; this year, it's the other way around. But for the defending champs, it's just like the old days when they had an easy game against the Dawgs and had not-so-blowout win over the Warriors. Don't put the blame solely on Parks: Mbe has shown no improvement.
#2: Adamson Falcons
This week's result: Defeated UST 81-71
Adamson gave UST a dose of reality when they gave the Tigers their first loss of the season. While the Falcons did it on both ends of the court, you'd have to give credit to their offense as they surpassed the 80-point barrier. The boys from San Marcelino can shoot from anywhere from UST's side of the court.
#3: San Beda Red Lions
This week's results: Defeated Arellano 92-67 and CSB 79-78
You can say all day that Frankie Lim is a bad on-game coach. He and staff deserve credit for their full-court defense against the Blazers that ultimately wasted enough time to deny CSB a decent crack at the basket. Traditionally an NCAA team belongs to the top 2 but CSB put up a good fight, hence the Lions, that massacred the hapless Chiefs earlier in the week, go to #3.
#4: San Sebastian Stags
This week's results: Defeated Letran 71-62
What was supposedly the real big bad rivalry of the NCAA was a bummer. The Stags led from start to finish, and Kevin Alas fouling out sealed the fate for the short-handed Knights. Kevin's dad Louie should really find a big man now or else the Intramuros faithful would go impatient.
#5: FEU Tamaraws
This week's results: Defeated UE 66-47 and NU 62-59
Last year's finalists had the same opponents this week, although they had contrasting wins. FEU bounced back from a colder-than-ice-cold start against UE to blow them out convincingly, while they had to muster all of their energies to push off NU at the final play of the game.
#6: Lyceum Pirates
This week's results: Defeated Mapua 76-73, Arellano 84-74
Lyceum coach Bonnie Tan has a system, and if they'd face any NCAA team not directly named after a saint, they have a decent chance of winning. All of their games aside from San Beda and San Sebastian were either wins or a competitive loss (against EAC, of all teams).
#7: De La Salle Green Archers
This week's result: Defeated UP 79-67
The gremlins expectedly won against UP. So that means they're #7 because I hate them with deep passion (LOL). However, you gotta look at coach Dindo Pumaren if he can carry this team to the Finals. Is it time to bring back Bigote?
#8: JRU Heavy Bombers
This week's result: Defeated Mapua 70-69
Surprisingly, the teams on the JRU-Mapua game entered the game with only one win from either side. Unsurprisingly, it ended close, and unsurprisingly, Mapua let go a huge lead.
#9: CSB Blazers
This week's result: Defeated by San Beda 78-79
Only eight teams won this week, so that means I'd have to add 2 teams that lost this week: one of them is the B-team of Taft. The Blazers now have swagger. I dunno if it's the coach (Richard del Rosario) or their fans wearing La Salle shirts, but any CSB game from here on out should not be taken lightly.
#10: Mapua Cardinals
This week's results: Defeated by Lyceum 76-73 and JRU 70-69
How can a winless team get in the top ten? In a week where only eight teams won, you gotta let a losing team get in. It's as if I'd let UE, UST or even NU get this last spot. So I just spent 3/4 of the paragraph justifying this entry so I should just stop.
The trash heap:
#11: UST Growling Tigers: Sorta good offense, defense needs adjustments.
#12: NU Bulldogs: Hey Mbe, Sy is paying big bucks for your scholarship and other amenities (such as escalators on your school) you gotta improve your game somehow.
#13: UP Fighing Maroons: You sorta expect them to lose against La Salle, at least they did not lose by twenty.
#14: Letran Knights: This looks like last season where they'd beat all teams that won't make it to the Final Four, and lose all games against Final Four-bound teams.
#15: UE Red Warriors: You can't really call this team shallow, when their bench and starters are practically the same in quality.
#16: Arellano Chiefs: Sudan Daniel was not the biggest loss in a team this season. It's Isaiah Ciriacruz.
Outside the barrel: (Did not play a game this week)
UPHSD Altas, EAC Generals
Player of the week: Chris Cayabyab of Lyceum
Cayabyab scored 20 points, in 4/9 shooting from beyond the arc, plus 7 rebounds and 5 dimes to lead the Pirates in their win against Mapua.
Games to watch (excluding Monday):
No marquee NCAA games this week, but the UAAP has two must-see games: UP vs. Ateneo, and La Salle vs. NU
See also: Team standings, and magic & tragic numbers -- NCAA, UAAP.
#1: Ateneo Blue Eagles
This week results: Defeated NU 86-62 and UE 73-61
In a normal week, a game against NU should be easy and against UE to be tough; this year, it's the other way around. But for the defending champs, it's just like the old days when they had an easy game against the Dawgs and had not-so-blowout win over the Warriors. Don't put the blame solely on Parks: Mbe has shown no improvement.
#2: Adamson Falcons
This week's result: Defeated UST 81-71
Adamson gave UST a dose of reality when they gave the Tigers their first loss of the season. While the Falcons did it on both ends of the court, you'd have to give credit to their offense as they surpassed the 80-point barrier. The boys from San Marcelino can shoot from anywhere from UST's side of the court.
#3: San Beda Red Lions
This week's results: Defeated Arellano 92-67 and CSB 79-78
You can say all day that Frankie Lim is a bad on-game coach. He and staff deserve credit for their full-court defense against the Blazers that ultimately wasted enough time to deny CSB a decent crack at the basket. Traditionally an NCAA team belongs to the top 2 but CSB put up a good fight, hence the Lions, that massacred the hapless Chiefs earlier in the week, go to #3.
#4: San Sebastian Stags
This week's results: Defeated Letran 71-62
What was supposedly the real big bad rivalry of the NCAA was a bummer. The Stags led from start to finish, and Kevin Alas fouling out sealed the fate for the short-handed Knights. Kevin's dad Louie should really find a big man now or else the Intramuros faithful would go impatient.
#5: FEU Tamaraws
This week's results: Defeated UE 66-47 and NU 62-59
Last year's finalists had the same opponents this week, although they had contrasting wins. FEU bounced back from a colder-than-ice-cold start against UE to blow them out convincingly, while they had to muster all of their energies to push off NU at the final play of the game.
#6: Lyceum Pirates
This week's results: Defeated Mapua 76-73, Arellano 84-74
Lyceum coach Bonnie Tan has a system, and if they'd face any NCAA team not directly named after a saint, they have a decent chance of winning. All of their games aside from San Beda and San Sebastian were either wins or a competitive loss (against EAC, of all teams).
#7: De La Salle Green Archers
This week's result: Defeated UP 79-67
The gremlins expectedly won against UP. So that means they're #7 because I hate them with deep passion (LOL). However, you gotta look at coach Dindo Pumaren if he can carry this team to the Finals. Is it time to bring back Bigote?
#8: JRU Heavy Bombers
This week's result: Defeated Mapua 70-69
Surprisingly, the teams on the JRU-Mapua game entered the game with only one win from either side. Unsurprisingly, it ended close, and unsurprisingly, Mapua let go a huge lead.
#9: CSB Blazers
This week's result: Defeated by San Beda 78-79
Only eight teams won this week, so that means I'd have to add 2 teams that lost this week: one of them is the B-team of Taft. The Blazers now have swagger. I dunno if it's the coach (Richard del Rosario) or their fans wearing La Salle shirts, but any CSB game from here on out should not be taken lightly.
#10: Mapua Cardinals
This week's results: Defeated by Lyceum 76-73 and JRU 70-69
How can a winless team get in the top ten? In a week where only eight teams won, you gotta let a losing team get in. It's as if I'd let UE, UST or even NU get this last spot. So I just spent 3/4 of the paragraph justifying this entry so I should just stop.
The trash heap:
#11: UST Growling Tigers: Sorta good offense, defense needs adjustments.
#12: NU Bulldogs: Hey Mbe, Sy is paying big bucks for your scholarship and other amenities (such as escalators on your school) you gotta improve your game somehow.
#13: UP Fighing Maroons: You sorta expect them to lose against La Salle, at least they did not lose by twenty.
#14: Letran Knights: This looks like last season where they'd beat all teams that won't make it to the Final Four, and lose all games against Final Four-bound teams.
#15: UE Red Warriors: You can't really call this team shallow, when their bench and starters are practically the same in quality.
#16: Arellano Chiefs: Sudan Daniel was not the biggest loss in a team this season. It's Isaiah Ciriacruz.
Outside the barrel: (Did not play a game this week)
UPHSD Altas, EAC Generals
Player of the week: Chris Cayabyab of Lyceum
Cayabyab scored 20 points, in 4/9 shooting from beyond the arc, plus 7 rebounds and 5 dimes to lead the Pirates in their win against Mapua.
Games to watch (excluding Monday):
No marquee NCAA games this week, but the UAAP has two must-see games: UP vs. Ateneo, and La Salle vs. NU
See also: Team standings, and magic & tragic numbers -- NCAA, UAAP.
July 17, 2011
Inaugural Weekly Top 10 of 2011!
Yay! College basketball season is back! And it restores sports sanity: more people watched the Ateneo-La Salle game (~15,000) vs. the Azkals home game (~12,000). So... is Pinoy basketball really dead?
#1: Ateneo Blue Eagles
This week's result: Defeated DLSU 81-72
The Blue Eagles notch this week's #1 with a defeat over La Salle -- presumably, that is a stronger opponent that any of the yet undefeated teams played against this week. Kiefer Ravena trended worldwide for good reason: he was the first UAAP baller to register 23 points in a half since Dylan Ababou did the feat in 2009. Credit the opponent as Kiefer matched up better against the shorter Archers than the burlier Falcons.
#2: San Sebastian Stags
This week's result: Defeated UPHSD 87-60
Can somebody fill me up on this? Did Topex Robinson had already had contact with the Stags prior to his appointment? While his appointment was really sudden, but not really that surprising since it made sense -- Turo Valenzona functioned sorta like Gerald Ford. Wait, who's Gerald Ford... and Turo Valenzona was their head coach???
#3: UST Growling Tigers
This week's results: Defeated NU 73-72 in OT and UE 70-63
Perhaps everyone knew from the get-go that the Tigers can beat this year's Warriors. But the Bulldogs? Wait, who was the blue chip rookie that landed in Espana? Ah, last year's UAAP Juniors' MVP, that's who! And don't forget Jeric Fortuna's shooting. His turnover stats will surely catch up as the tourney wears on.
#4: San Beda Red Lions
This week's result: Defeated Lyceum 89-69
I could've ranked them higher than Baste, but the 20-point win over the guest team was sorta underwhelming when you compare it to the 27-point beat down by the Stags against the Altas. Then again, the Pirates took the Altas' booty. The real battles for San Beda would be against last year's Final Four teams and Letran: those will prove if they are a contender without a Black dude manning the middle.
#5: Letran Knights
This week's result: Defeated Arellano 88-70
Haven't really paid attention to this game even though I watched it, but it seems that Arellano's defenses were too weak -- they let Letran score 88 points even though they put up a respectable 70.
#6: Adamson Falcons
This week's result: Defeated FEU 78-59
Don't let the final score fool you. FEU was at screaming distance (quite farther than a shouting distance), but after FEU let Adamson pull away for good, the Falcons padded the score thanks to useless fouls from the Tams in a desperate bid to get closer. What went wrong for FEU? Despite Garcia, Romeo and Ramos, well... that's it. They're too shallow this year. Adamson, despite their non-stars, function well as a unit.
#7: CSB Blazers
This week's result: Defeated Mapua 70-67
Ah, the upset of the week. People have been screaming silently about the newly beefed up B-team of Taft, but it seems it is actually bearing fruit right now. Makes you wonder if the 400-strong CSB crowd (with some wearing "LA SALLE" shirts) smelled something that they'd win that one. Altamirano's outside sniping thwarted a Cardinals comeback to notch CSB's first win against a preceding season's Final Four team since... I dunno. Maybe after the time of Caloy Garcia?
#8: UP Fighting Maroons
This week's result: Defeated UE 69-61, defeated by NU 75-66
Hey... NU defeated UP, so why are they ranked higher? As illogical as this sounds, NU was expected to beat UP, UP was expected to beat UE but NU losing to UST was unexpected. Ah what the heck, let's give them this spot before it takes them 2 years to get back here. Nevertheless, it seems that the expectations last year are happening this year, but I dunno how would their supporters feel about that.
#9: JRU Heavy Bombers
This week's result: Defeated EAC 76-60
Njei and that other Black guy whose name I can't remember because I barely saw him play leaving was fatal -- that supposedly gimme game against Arellano was wasted. If they lost out to EAC I could imagine people calling for the Aerial Voyager's head. Their lack of ball handlers -- their perennial problem, if I may add -- seems to be their weakness in beating the less heralded teams this year.
#10: NU Bulldogs
This week's results: Defeated by UST 73-72 in OT, defeated UP 75-66.
Bobby Ray Parks scored 31 points in their win vs. UP. That means he's the first player to reach 30 points in this season. Although he shown tendencies in lebroning in the clutch, he can redeem himself if he leads the 'Dogs to victory in their next game. Against the Eagles.
The Trash Heap:
#11. EAC: Hey chicks and wannabe chicks! Jonas Paguia, the former PBB Teen housemate, is apparently better than that ultimate Survivor dude! The NCAA needs tix! Save the trees!
#12. Lyceum: Are the Pirates "over their quota"? Their game against Arellano would be another "can-win" for them. The others? Not so much.
#13. DLSU: Wait, why are the Archers aren't here? Answer: They lost this week.
#14. FEU: See above.
#15. Arellano: Need to strengthen their defense, particularly against penetrations (Nene Pimentel loves that word) and rampaging big men.
#16. UE: This will be a loooooooong season for the Defense Minister.
#17. Mapua: What went wrong with the Cards? I thought they netted a big man?
#18. UPHSD: See UE, above, replaced "Defense Minister" with "whomever their new coach is".
Player of the Week: Jeric Fortuna (UST) -- I considered several other people, but only Jeric Fortuna had stellar performances on all (if applicable) games this week. Ravena scored a big fat egg on his debut, and Parks also had a "meh" debut. Among the NCAA guys no one was stellar enough: in Baste, both Abueva and Pascual shared scoring duties and in the CSB-Mapua game, the lone competitive NCAA game of the week outside the Lyceum-EAC game, Jan Tan had the game high 15 points: not exactly player of the week material.
Games to see this week:
July 20 @Filoil: SSC-R vs. CSJL -- No NCAA rivalry is truer than this one.
July 21 @Araneta: ADMU vs. NU -- Parks vs. Ravena... and Slaughter.
July 24 @Philsports: UST vs. AdU -- Potential playoffs matchup?
Note: An earlier version said that Kiefer Ravena set a 2-year record when he scored 30 points in the Ateneo-La Salle game. That was wrong -- Ravena tied the record on most points in a half.
#1: Ateneo Blue Eagles
This week's result: Defeated DLSU 81-72
The Blue Eagles notch this week's #1 with a defeat over La Salle -- presumably, that is a stronger opponent that any of the yet undefeated teams played against this week. Kiefer Ravena trended worldwide for good reason: he was the first UAAP baller to register 23 points in a half since Dylan Ababou did the feat in 2009. Credit the opponent as Kiefer matched up better against the shorter Archers than the burlier Falcons.
#2: San Sebastian Stags
This week's result: Defeated UPHSD 87-60
Can somebody fill me up on this? Did Topex Robinson had already had contact with the Stags prior to his appointment? While his appointment was really sudden, but not really that surprising since it made sense -- Turo Valenzona functioned sorta like Gerald Ford. Wait, who's Gerald Ford... and Turo Valenzona was their head coach???
#3: UST Growling Tigers
This week's results: Defeated NU 73-72 in OT and UE 70-63
Perhaps everyone knew from the get-go that the Tigers can beat this year's Warriors. But the Bulldogs? Wait, who was the blue chip rookie that landed in Espana? Ah, last year's UAAP Juniors' MVP, that's who! And don't forget Jeric Fortuna's shooting. His turnover stats will surely catch up as the tourney wears on.
#4: San Beda Red Lions
This week's result: Defeated Lyceum 89-69
I could've ranked them higher than Baste, but the 20-point win over the guest team was sorta underwhelming when you compare it to the 27-point beat down by the Stags against the Altas. Then again, the Pirates took the Altas' booty. The real battles for San Beda would be against last year's Final Four teams and Letran: those will prove if they are a contender without a Black dude manning the middle.
#5: Letran Knights
This week's result: Defeated Arellano 88-70
Haven't really paid attention to this game even though I watched it, but it seems that Arellano's defenses were too weak -- they let Letran score 88 points even though they put up a respectable 70.
#6: Adamson Falcons
This week's result: Defeated FEU 78-59
Don't let the final score fool you. FEU was at screaming distance (quite farther than a shouting distance), but after FEU let Adamson pull away for good, the Falcons padded the score thanks to useless fouls from the Tams in a desperate bid to get closer. What went wrong for FEU? Despite Garcia, Romeo and Ramos, well... that's it. They're too shallow this year. Adamson, despite their non-stars, function well as a unit.
#7: CSB Blazers
This week's result: Defeated Mapua 70-67
Ah, the upset of the week. People have been screaming silently about the newly beefed up B-team of Taft, but it seems it is actually bearing fruit right now. Makes you wonder if the 400-strong CSB crowd (with some wearing "LA SALLE" shirts) smelled something that they'd win that one. Altamirano's outside sniping thwarted a Cardinals comeback to notch CSB's first win against a preceding season's Final Four team since... I dunno. Maybe after the time of Caloy Garcia?
#8: UP Fighting Maroons
This week's result: Defeated UE 69-61, defeated by NU 75-66
Hey... NU defeated UP, so why are they ranked higher? As illogical as this sounds, NU was expected to beat UP, UP was expected to beat UE but NU losing to UST was unexpected. Ah what the heck, let's give them this spot before it takes them 2 years to get back here. Nevertheless, it seems that the expectations last year are happening this year, but I dunno how would their supporters feel about that.
#9: JRU Heavy Bombers
This week's result: Defeated EAC 76-60
Njei and that other Black guy whose name I can't remember because I barely saw him play leaving was fatal -- that supposedly gimme game against Arellano was wasted. If they lost out to EAC I could imagine people calling for the Aerial Voyager's head. Their lack of ball handlers -- their perennial problem, if I may add -- seems to be their weakness in beating the less heralded teams this year.
#10: NU Bulldogs
This week's results: Defeated by UST 73-72 in OT, defeated UP 75-66.
Bobby Ray Parks scored 31 points in their win vs. UP. That means he's the first player to reach 30 points in this season. Although he shown tendencies in lebroning in the clutch, he can redeem himself if he leads the 'Dogs to victory in their next game. Against the Eagles.
The Trash Heap:
#11. EAC: Hey chicks and wannabe chicks! Jonas Paguia, the former PBB Teen housemate, is apparently better than that ultimate Survivor dude! The NCAA needs tix! Save the trees!
#12. Lyceum: Are the Pirates "over their quota"? Their game against Arellano would be another "can-win" for them. The others? Not so much.
#13. DLSU: Wait, why are the Archers aren't here? Answer: They lost this week.
#14. FEU: See above.
#15. Arellano: Need to strengthen their defense, particularly against penetrations (Nene Pimentel loves that word) and rampaging big men.
#16. UE: This will be a loooooooong season for the Defense Minister.
#17. Mapua: What went wrong with the Cards? I thought they netted a big man?
#18. UPHSD: See UE, above, replaced "Defense Minister" with "whomever their new coach is".
Player of the Week: Jeric Fortuna (UST) -- I considered several other people, but only Jeric Fortuna had stellar performances on all (if applicable) games this week. Ravena scored a big fat egg on his debut, and Parks also had a "meh" debut. Among the NCAA guys no one was stellar enough: in Baste, both Abueva and Pascual shared scoring duties and in the CSB-Mapua game, the lone competitive NCAA game of the week outside the Lyceum-EAC game, Jan Tan had the game high 15 points: not exactly player of the week material.
Games to see this week:
July 20 @Filoil: SSC-R vs. CSJL -- No NCAA rivalry is truer than this one.
July 21 @Araneta: ADMU vs. NU -- Parks vs. Ravena... and Slaughter.
July 24 @Philsports: UST vs. AdU -- Potential playoffs matchup?
Note: An earlier version said that Kiefer Ravena set a 2-year record when he scored 30 points in the Ateneo-La Salle game. That was wrong -- Ravena tied the record on most points in a half.
October 1, 2010
Racing Stripes: The Dawn of a New Empire
Seriously, it'll get worse once Kiefer Ravena graduates.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles are your three-pe... wait, I can't use that since Pat Riley owns the rights. Oh, hasn't anyone emailed Pat Riley yet? The three-pe... you know what is, is plastered on those championship T-shirts.
So I won't make this a rant. Well, maybe it might. For those who said the refs helped them, FEU choked, or that Emman Monfort is Joe Lipa's long lost son, screw you. It was fate, I tell you.
Saw that trey by Ryan Buenafe? That was fate. He missed more three point shots this year than Shaquille O'Neal missed freethrows his entire career. But he nailed it. Swoosh.
The Tamaraws have no answer. RR Garcia was nowhere. Ramos and Cervantes were missing freethrows. Even Romeo, OK, I won't make a Shakespearean joke.
And this is just the beginning. The MVP-financed teams (well, up to this year when MVP found a boatload of cash he started financing other teams) are doing pretty well. Ateneo with its deep coffers can overachieve as long as either Kiefer Ravena signs up (LOL, sign up. It's like professional basketball), or other teams won't get Taiwanese/Chinese/Hong Konger centers. San Beda just swept the NCAA eliminations like Sunshine Corazon's mother. Even the Sys won't be able to match Ateneo now.
And so, with the impending domination of the evil empire, all we can do is for a team to be like the Boston Red Sox. I sure do hope it's not that team that resides in place that has the same name as the salts of malic acid.
BTW, the results of the UAAP Playoffs poll: Which team will win the UAAP Season 73 men's basketball championship?
(1) FEU Tamaraws: 13
(2) Ateneo Blue Eagles: 11
(3) Adamson Falcons: 1
(4) La Salle Green Archers: 1
Forget about basketball, champions naman kami sa cheerdance woohoo!: 0
Thanks for voting!
September 15, 2010
Push the limit ANIMO SPIRIT!
That's money well-spent on the tarp.
"Animo Spirit" (LOL) picture c/o Gorgeous Fish at Flickr.
Spirit Squad picture c/o WWE.
September 13, 2010
In homage to UP Pep... and the Final Four poll.
I had a Twitter flood on the premise of the phrase "UP Pep is so good..." and this had the most retweets.
Seriously, people can't get enough sex.
So, yeah, the Final Four poll, after the jump.
So here's the poll:
Previous poll result: Which team will win the UAAP Cheerdance Competition?
Adamson: 3
Ateneo: 10
La Salle: 4
FEU: 24
NU: 2
UE: 2
UP: 39
UST: 26
Sanshayn-led Cheerios: 2
Photo of the Oblation is under public domain.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)