The second game of yesterday's UAAP Men's basketball games was a match up between the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the Adamson Falcons, the top two teams after the elimination round last year. The game failed to meet expectations though, as four-time champion Ateneo dismantled Adamson in the second half, 73-57.
Adamson was good enough to hang with Ateneo in the first half, behind by only four points, 28-32, but unraveled in the second half when the Blue Eagles clamped down on defense and executed their fast break.
Ateneo and Adamson lost key players this year, but it's clear that the Blue Eagles has a better and more complete team than the Falcons. Gone are Kirk Long and Emman Monfort, the starting backcourt of Ateneo, while Adamson lost a bevy of talent, leadership and toughness in Lester Alvarez, Jerick Cañada, Austin Manyara, Jan Colina and Janus Lozada (Okay, Manyara is soft, but he got better in the second round last year).
The usual suspects dominated for Ateneo, as seven-foot Greg Slaughter scored 17 points in the paint, using an array of hooks, jumpers and even the fastbreak, while Nico Salva took advantage of Adamson lapses, scoring 14 points. Last year's Rookie of the Year Kiefer Ravena scored a quiet nine points.
Adamson Center JR Brondial led the Falcons with 13 points, benefiting from the defensive attention that Alex Nuyles and Eric Camson get, scoring from drop passes and offensive rebounds. Alex Nuyles, one of the better offensive players in the league, got 12 points while taking lesser attempts than the twenty something shots that Eric Camson took to get only 10 points.
It's clear that the Adamson Falcons won't be as competitive as last year's team (they were my favorite to win it all last season, plus they were the only team to beat Ateneo, preventing a Blue Eagles sweep of the elimination round), which covered their bad shot selection, poor execution, crappy ball movement and lack of focus with superior manpower.
The first game was more entertaining, as the UP Maroons (who we always root for a win, because we just love underdogs) gave the La Salle Green Archers a scare by leading 68-67 with less than a minute to go, but rookie Jeron Teng (younger brother of UST's Jeric Teng - we'd love to see that matchup, yes) had a three-point play with 27 seconds remaining, and La Salle held on for a 73-68 win.
Sophomore La Salle starting center Norberto Torres (who had a promising rookie season), led the Archers by pounding in 16 points and 14 rebounds. The Maroons were led by veteran forward Mike Silungan, who had 18 points, while rookie point guard Renzar Asilum had 12 points.
La Salle looks like they can compete for a Final Four berth this year, but it will be tough. UP, on the other hand, might be able to surpass last year's league-worst 2-12 record this year.
The scores:
First Game
LA SALLE, 73 — Torres 16, Teng 15, Revilla 15, Andrada 10, De la Paz 9, Mendoza 6, Webb 2, Van Opstal 0, Paredes 0, Vosotros 0, Gotladera 0, Tallo 0, Manguera 0
UP, 68 — Silungan 18, Asilum 12, Lopez 10, Soyud 8, Padilla 7, Manuel 5, Ball 4, Romero 2, Hipolito 2, Wierzba 0, Montecastro 0, Gamboa 0, Gallarza 0
Quarters: 17-16, 35-29, 56-46, 73-68
Second Game
ATENEO, 73 — Slaughter 17, Salva 14, Ravena 9, Sumalinog 6, Buenafe 6, Tiongson 5, Erram 5, Chua 4, Gonzaga 3, Golla 2, Elorde 2, Porter 0, Pessumal 0, Lim 0, Capacio 0
ADAMSON, 57 — Brondial 13, Nuyles 12, Camson 10, Cabrera 10, Cruz 4, Monteclaro 3, Trollano 2, Etrone 2, Cabigas 1, Julkipli 0, Agustin 0, Abrigo 0.
Quarters: 15-16, 32-28, 55-45, 73-57
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