RR Garcia's Steps to Success

One of our most favorite point guards in the planet showing off. (Images are from google search, thank you to those who have unwittingly contributed to this.)

Chris Tiu joins PBA Draft - 2012

Good luck, Chris Tiu. Better late than never. If you don't make it, idiretso mo na ang pag-aartista.

"Chris Tiu beat the deadline for the 2012 PBA Rookie Draft yesterday to become one of the oldest amateur players in recent years to sign up for the pro league.

The 27-year-old Tiu, the former captain of the Smart Gilas national team, joins a marquee list of aspirants that includes Cebuano star June Mar Fajardo, NCAA Most Valuable Player Calvin Abueva and Filipino-American Cliff Hodge.

“I realized that God has given us talents for a reason,” said Tiu. “There’s a purpose for it and it should be used the correct way and it should be shared with others. I feel if I just leave basketball, it would be thrown away and put to waste. And I don’t want that.”

Tiu had hoped to continue donning the the national colors, but the Smart Gilas program was discontinued."

Read the full story here: Inquirer

July 28 recap: UST versus NU, Ateneo versus La Salle

Games played last July 28, 2012
Photo by Mark Cristino and ABS-CBN

First Game: UST Growling Tigers versus NU Bulldogs

The shortest guy on the court had the biggest basket of the game. The Bulldogs led for most of the match, but with under two minutes remaining, the Growling Tigers had a 7-0 run, capped by an undergoal stab and a free throw by 5'7 UST point guard Jeric Fortuna, helping UST to a win over NU, 77-71.

Fortuna emerged with the ball after UST's Kevin Ferrer missed a three-point shot, beating an assemblage of six-footers with his quickness, and gave the Tigers had a 75-69 lead with 1:05 remaining after converting his three-point play.

Bulldogs center Emmanuel Mbe was fouled on the next play, but was pulled out of the game after sustaining an injury. NU's backup center JT Rosario converted two free throws in Mbe's stead, to cut UST's lead to four, 75-71 with 58.9 seconds remaining.

UST then missed a chance to score, and Rosario got the rebound, but lost the ball out of bounds, 26.5 remaining. Tigers shooting guard Clark Bautista was fouled on the next play with NU in the penalty, and he sank both free throws to give UST a 77-71 lead with 25.4 seconds remaining.

Jeric Teng drives past
two NU defenders

On the last play of the game, Parks drove to the middle but failed to convert after getting through a mob on the perimeter and finding Abdul standing in front of him and the basket.

Jeric Teng led UST with his season-high 21 points, while collecting eight rebounds. He scored his first 15 points in the second quarter, and gave the Tigers their first lead of the game with his third three-pointer with 3:14 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Parks was brilliant on
both ends of the floor

Bobby Ray Parks had 25 points to lead all scorers, with twenty markers coming in the first half. He only managed one field goal in the second half though, a three-pointer with 2:13 remaining in the fourth quarter.

His offense sputtered in the last twenty minutes, but Parks defended well, highlighted by his monster block on Bautista in the second half. He's doing too much though; Parks is the first option on offense and is also the bulk of NU's transition defense.

First Game Scores:

UST 77—Teng 21, Abdul 11, Mariano 10, Fortuna 10, Ferrrer 8, Bautista 7, Afuang 6, Lo 4, Vigil 0, Pe 0, Daquioag 0.

NU 71—Parks 25, Mbe 13, Alolino 13, Javillonar 11,Villamor 5, Rosario 3, Ignacio 1, Roño 0, Neypes 0, Khobuntin 0, De Guzman 0, Betayene.
Quarters: 15-21, 36-41, 53-60, 77-71

Second Game: Ateneo Blue Eagles versus De La Salle Green Archers

The two LAs were back after missing a game, saving a much-hyped and ballyhooed meeting between two expensive schools from turning into a ho-hum affair, but even with Revilla and Dela Paz back for La Salle, Ateneo still won, 71-61.

The Blue Eagles blasted the Green Archers, 20-8 in the first quarter, and extended the lead to sixteen points, 26-10 early in the second, until LA Revilla exploded on offense, scoring ten in the quarter, the last points coming on a three that cut Ateneo's lead to six, 30-24.

Ateneo's big men then took over with five points to La Salle's two, ending the quarter up by nine points, 35-26, with Eagles center Greg Slaughter making a last-second put back layup. Ateneo guard Kiefer Ravena matched Revilla's first half output of 10 points.

Norbert Torres and Jeron Teng combined for fifteen points in the third quarter to lead a DLSU charge,  outscoring Ateneo, 24-18, to get within three, 53-50.

LA Revilla and one of his
daring drives to the basket

The fourth quarter was a thriller, featuring an entertaining flurry of exchanges, and La Salle still had a chance to win it, after Archer shooting guard Jed Manguera made a three-point shot with 2:24 remaining, Ateneo ahead, 64-60.

The Green Archers only managed a free throw after that though, and Blue Eagles veteran forward Nico Salva scored five of Ateneo's last seven points to give Ateneo the win.

Ateneo center Greg Slaughter led all scorers with 20 points, while LA Revilla had 16 points for La Salle.

Notes:

• Ateneo failed to convert a three point shot in this game, while La Salle failed to hit a three in their previous game, versus FEU.
• LA Revilla was bloody brilliant in the game with daredevil drives, slicing the vaunted Ateneo defense time after time.
• Revilla and Dela Paz missed their previous match, which FEU won by only two points, 48-46. The two LAs combined for 23 points today.

Second Game
ATENEO 71—Slaughter 20, Salva 16, Ravena 16, Chua 6, Tiongson 4, Elorde 3, Buenafe 3, Pessumal 2, Erram 1, Sumalinog 0, Gonzaga 0.

LA SALLE 61—Revilla 16, Teng 13, N. Torres 11, Dela Paz 7, Manguera 6, Van Opstal 2, Andrada 2, Webb 2, Mendoza 1, Tampus 1, Paredes 0, Vosotros 0, T. Torres 0, Gotladera 0, Tallo 0.
Quarters: 20-8, 35-26, 53-50, 71-61

Rodney Brondial - Superman?

In a repeat performance last Thursday, Rodney Brondial flashed his Superman pose in their game against FEU (in their game versus Ateneo, he did the Superman in the first quarter), imitating Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade, who, in turn imitated the incredible Cam Newton, quarterback for the Carolina Panthers of the NFL...

...but the Adamson Falcons haven't won a game yet.

July 26 Recap: NU beats UP, FEU edges Adamson

UAAP Games last Thursday, July 26, 2012, Smart Araneta Coliseum
Photos by Mark Cristino

First Game - NU Bulldogs versus UP Maroons

Bobby Ray Parks, Jr.'s put back slam
in the first quarter

They never had a chance to win, but the UP Fighting Maroons showed the National University that they can at least frustrate them. UP held NU without a field goal in the first five minutes of the third quarter and allowed only five points up to the 2:00 mark in the fourth quarter, but the Maroons failed to make their shots and trim their turnovers, allowing the Bulldogs to win, 67-50.

NU led at the half, 42-18, when UP's defense clicked, limiting the Bulldogs to only 10 points in the third quarter. The Maroons only managed the same number of points though, and they entered the fourth quarter facing the same 24-point deficit, with the Bulldogs leading, 52-28.

With NU relaxing in the fourth quarter, the Maroons managed to trim the lead to 16 points, 57-41, with 4.33 remaining, but couldn't gain momentum as three UP players (Ball, Hipolito, Soyud) fouled out trying to contain the Bulldogs.

NU's Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. had 18 points to lead all scorers, while teammate Emmanuel Mbe had 17. Mike Silungan and Jet Manuel each had 11 points for UP.

Notes:

• Jelo Montecastro of UP, one of the best point guards in the league, is in his final year of playing in the UAAP. Tall, tough, and a good decision-maker, it's sad that he didn't have enough talent around him. He might become a good pro if he manages to add more range to his shot.
• NU is not an elite team until they get a good point guard who can create shots and dish to the open man. Bobby Ray tried to play as a facilitator in the second half, finishing with six assists, but he needs to roam the floor and create trouble without the ball.

First Game Scores:
NU 67—Parks 18, Mbe 17, Javillonar 9, Roño 7, Alolino 6, Villamor 4, Ignacio 4, De Guzman 2, Singh 0, Rosaio 0, Neypes 0, Labing-isa 0. Betayene 0.

UP 50—Silungan 11, Manuel 11, Montecastro 10, Ball 4, Lopez 4, Hipolito 4, Asilum 4, Soyud 2, Mbah 0, Romero 0, Padilla 0, Gamboa 0.

Quarters: 16-10, 42-18, 52-28, 67-50

Second Game - FEU Tamaraws versus Adamson Falcons

Adamson's Brondial (partially covered)
and FEU's Hargrove (15) exchanging
sweet nothings

Adamson wanted some payback for the two straight losses that FEU gave them in last year's Final Four, but Terrence Romeo wouldn't allow it. The former rookie of the year had a game-high 23 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out six assists as the Tamaraws hacked out another thrilling win by edging the Falcons, 65-62.

FEU led by six early in the fourth quarter after Tamaraws point guard RR Garcia made a long three-point shot and Romeo completed a fastbreak, but Adamson center Rodney Brondial had four straight points and shooting guard Marc Etrone made a three-point shot to give the Falcons a one-point lead, 58-57, with 4.44 remaining.

FEU shooting guard Cris Tolomia responded with his own three and a two-point basket, giving back the lead to the Tamaraws, 62-58, with 3:42 remaining. Adamson power forward Eric Camson had a layup to make it a two-point game with 2.36 left, but Romeo drove to the hoop for two points, and got fouled by Etrone, who suffered an injury and didn't come back to the game.

Romeo converted the free throw to give FEU a five-point cushion, 65-60, with 2:13 remaining.

Adamson then had several failed possessions, highlighted by two missed free throws by point guard Jericho Cruz with a minute remaining.

Garcia then missed a three-point shot with 35 seconds remaining, and Camson converted two free throws to cut FEU's lead to three, 65-62.

FEU lost the ball with 16.4 seconds remaining, and Adamson forward RR Cabrera had the chance to send the game to overtime, but failed to convert a three-point shot, allowing the Tamaraws to escape with another close victory.

Adamson's Etrone top scored for the Falcons with 13.

Notes:

• High-flying Adamson forward Alex Nuyles, one of the best scorers in the UAAP, scored only two points while spending most of the game on the bench. He had 12 points in their previous game.
• Brondial and FEU's Hargrove were getting on each other's nerves most of the game, resulting in very physical plays.
• FEU now leads the UAAP with a 3-0 slate, and have won their games by an average of two points.

• 

  Terrence Romeo wants a kiss

  In the TV broadcast, one of the courtside reporters said that FEU coach Bert Flores said something to the effect that his players 'need to concentrate on the game and not their good looks (bawasan ang pagpapagwapo, maglaro na lang).' Terrence Romeo was caught on camera afterward fixing his hair before entering the game.

Second Game Scores:

FEU 65—Romeo 23, Garcia 12, Belo 9, Tolomia 6, Escoto 5, Hargrove 4, A. Bringas 4, M. Bringas 2, Pogoy 0, Cruz 0.

ADAMSON 62—Etrone 13, Camson 11, Brondial 11, Cruz 8, Petilos 7, Cabrera 4, Abrigo 4, Trollano 2, Nuyles 2, Rios 0, Monteclaro 0, Julkipli 0, Agustin 0.
Quarters: 15-15, 35-28, 50-49, 65-62

Ballplayers

"It quickly occurred to me that ballplayers didn't much care for sportswriters and that I didn't much care for ballplayers. They were coddled and pampered and, worst of all, they were jocks like me and tended to be ignorant of the world. I preferred watching ball games from a distance, where it was easier to suffer illusions about the poetry and grandeur of competition, so I gave up the sports beat and became a news reporter at the Oakland Tribune. Every assignment there—murder, mayhem, ribbon cuttings, courtroom drama, meetings and more mayhem—was an education."

- Steve Lopez, The Soloist

Norman and the Referee

Dig this photo by Mark Cristino, featuring Ateneo Coach Norman Black and a UAAP referee during the UST-Ateneo game last July 19, 2012.

For more of Mark's photos, visit his portfolio: Mark Cristino