Everybody is scrambling for the loose ball.(Photo by Roy Afable)
It's my first time to watch some Philippine Collegiate Champions League action. It wasn't exactly a packed house like I expected it but the atmosphere somewhat good. I'm beginning to feel at home whenever I drop by the Arena at San Juan to cover some games. Of course the PCCL is no exception.
Paul Lee is trying to figure what their conversation is all about.(Photo by Roy Afable)
First up, the San Beda Red Lions against the University of the East Red Warriors. Finally I get to see Sudan Daniel go to work. So glad I went to see that game. Coach Frankie Lim is back fresh from his stint in China. He must've missed his team for bit. Daniel looks to be in great shape coming off an injury.
Red Warriors try to D up on the Red Lions.(Photo by Roy Afable)
The University of the East Red Warriors looked to try to get some redemption from their forgetful UAAP season 73 stint. A win against the San Beda Red Lions in the PCCL would perhaps be one step of their goal, to say the least. Sudan Daniel and company wanted to burst their bubble – literally.
UE Pep Squad during half time. (Photo by Roy Afable)
UE scored only 5 points in the first quarter as opposed to the Red Lions 20. In the next 3 quarters it all seemed so bleak for UE – a sign of doom perhaps. Sudan Daniel turned into beast mode killing The Red Warriors big men in the paint chalking up 20 points, 3 blocks and 9 boards. His two-handed flush against his undersized defenders in 2nd quarter speaks for itself. Anthony Semerad chipped in 15 points. They are just two of five starters that scored double figures.
Trying to get pass the San Beda defense. (Photo by Roy Afable)
The Red Warriors’ James Martinez was their high point man with 14 points. Paul Lee wasn’t much of a factor at will with his 11 points. Not exactly what Coach Lawrence Tiongson had in mind. The Red Lions took advantage of their UAAP counterpart’s struggle for rebounding. UE tried to make some runs but it didn’t matter. San Beda’s defense was clearly too much for them. Sure, they made 3 pointers here and there from Martinez and Lee – it was all but futile attempts to keep up with the Red Lions.
San Beda's Sudan Daniel barks out his frustration. (Photo by Roy Afable)
At the end of the day, this was yet another game Paul Lee and gang would absolutely forget. With San Beda’s blowout win over University of the East 86-64 – clearly a no contest – they advance to the quarters of the PCCL to play the De La Salle Green Archers next week.
Pump fake! (Photo by Roy Afable)
Frankie Lim may have felt down when the Pilipinas Smart-Gilas Team got the boot in the Asian Games, there is still something to smile about after all. Heck Sudan Daniel didn’t look like he suffered any injury of sorts. It seems as though he and his team are ready to dominate once again in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League this year.
Coach Tiongson would have to go back to the drawing board and prepare his boys for season 74 of the UAAP.
I thought it was gonna be an easy win for SBC and I was right all along. Time now to get ready for the second game between the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the Mapua Cardinals. I tried to get a shot at Sudan Daniel's dunk in the 2nd quarter -- it was an epic FAIL.
Ateneo Blue Eagles goes for the zone defense on Mapua. (Photo by Roy Afable)
The Defending PCCL Champions didn't look like they started their day right. Since their last game with Lyceum they almost got punk’d by yet another NCAA team – the Mapua Cardinals. The Blue Eagles struggled in the 1st quarter making a lot of turnovers and the Cardinals took advantage of their mistakes.
Ateneo's Eric Salamat hesitating to make his move. (Photo by Roy Afable)
The MIT fans loving the Ateneo’s fumbling plays and Coach Norman Black looking none too pleased with his boys’ performance – albeit their first lead in the 2nd quarter – Ateneo needed to regroup asap.
Spot light on the main event. (Photo by Roy Afable)
At the start of the second half, the struggle continued. Kirk Long carried his team on his shoulders to rack up 23 points, 5 boards, 2 steals and made a couple assists for the Katipunan based squad. Nico Salva wasn’t far behind with his double-double game – 12 points and grabbed 11 boards, to be exact. Not to be outdone, Emman Monfort’s 5 assists helped his teammates get their rhythm along with his 11 points.
Kirk Long gets the rebound. (Photo by Roy Afable)
Mapua almost had the Ateneo Blue Eagles’ number but wasn’t enough – close but no cigar. The Cards’ Alan Mangahas was shooting only 40 % from the field but lead his team with 11 points – the only player that scored in double figures. Mark Sarangay chalked up 9 points but was a beast in the paint with 10 rebounds and teammate Mike Parala almost tied him in the boards with 9. What’s worth noting is that the whole team was on the scoreboard. That’s good stuff for Cardinals’ Coach Chito Victolero at least.
Blue Eagles Main Man Kirk Long hesitated on taking a 3 pointer. (Photo by Roy Afable)
Ateneo’s win over Mapua 65- 56, they booked themselves a ticket to next week’s PCCL Elite Eight slugfest.
Not our ball? (Photo by Roy Afable)
Heck, that was a close one for Coach Norman Black and his Blue Eagles. The MIT Cards almost pulled off a shocker on them. Glad Ateneo won that game.
That wraps up the end of my first crack in watching competetive college ball action PCCL style.Hope to catch more of their games live in the coming days.
No comments:
Post a Comment