UAAP Finals 2017:

Ateneo draws first blood, defeats DLSU 76-70

November 25, 2017 – MOA Arena

UAAP Finals 2017: Ateneo draws first blood, defeats DLSU 76-70
Ateneo Blue Eagles
UAAP Finals 2017 News: Ateneo Blue Eagles took Game 1 of UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball Finals over the De La Salle Green Archers, 76-70, this Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Thirdy Ravena and the Nieto brothers led a balanced Blue Eagles attack to upset the breakout game of Archer Aljun Melecio, who dropped 24 points in Game 1. Ravena powered ADMU with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, while Mark and Mike Nieto contributed 11 respectively.

Notes:

Ateneo de Manila University now holds a 1-0 advantage over DLSU in their best-of-three UAAP finals series. Four Blue Eagles scored double digits with Ravena making 12, Mike and Mark Nieto with 11 each and Anton Asistio donning 10 markers.

Isaac Go was the accidental hero for Ateneo, sealing the victory for ADMU with an and-one play off the foul by Archer Kib Montalbo, pushing Ateneo to 76-70 within the last 10 seconds.

➤ The highly physical contest saw Mark Nieto falling to the floor from a wayward elbow courtesy of Ben Mbala. Both Mbala and Chibueze Ikeh were assessed technical fouls for unnecessary taunting in the second quarter. Likewise, Melecio got the unsportsmanlike foul in the same quarter.

➤ Melecio led the spirited Green Archers with 24 points on 5-of-13 shooting from rainbow country, while Rivero gave 10 markers and three caroms for DLSU. UAAP two-time MVP Mbala was held to only 8 points as he nursed his early foul woes throughout the game.

➤ De La Salle University and Ateneo will go at it again in Game 2 this Wednesday, November 29 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Filipino: UAAP Finals 2017 Balita • Pinabagsak ng Ateneo Blue Eagles ang De La Salle Green Archers, 76-70, nitong Sabado Nobyembre 25 sa SM Mall of Asia Arena upang itala ang unang tagumpay sa Game 1 ng UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball Finals. Sina Thirdy Ravena at magkapatid na Nieto ay nanguna sa balanseng atake ng Blue Eagles upang hadlangan ang puwersa ni Aljun Melecio na gumawa ng 24 puntos sa Game 1. Nagtala si Ravena ng 12 puntos, 6 rebounds at 4 assists, maging sina Mark at Mike Nieto na nag-ambag ng 11 buslo bawat isa.
Game Scores:
Quarters: 26-14, 43-39, 60-58, 76-70.

ateneo: 76

Ravena 12, Nieto Ma 11, Nieto Mi 11, Asistio 10, Tolentino 9, Black 7, Verano 5, Go 5, Ikeh 4, Tio 2, Mamuyac 0, Mendoza 0, Porter 0.

la salle: 70

Melecio 24, Rivero R 10, Mbala 8, Tratter 7, Santillan 7, Rivero P 7, Baltazar 4, Montalbo 3, Caracut 0, Go 0, Tero 0, Paraiso 0.

Posted on November 25, 2017 - MOA Arena - Pasay

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

Pilipinas Basketball 2014:

Croatia evades mighty Pilipinas scare, 81-78 OT

August 31, 2014 – Sevilla

Croatia evades mighty Pilipinas scare, 81-78 OT
photo courtesy of FIBA

FIBA World Cup 2014: Team Gilas Pilipinas failed to overcome the Croatian juggernaut in the FIBA World Cup 2014 opener with a stunning 78-81 overtime upset. Bojan Bogdanovic led the Croats with 26 markers, while Andray Blatche and Jeffrei “Negros Sniper” Chan dropped 28 and 17 points apiece.

Notes:

➤ In what appeared to be a highly controversial ballgame between the Asian and European powerhouses, Croatia got the better calls in the crucial moments of the contest.

➤ Jayson “The Blur” Castro was called for a highly questionable flop in the third canto, and who unfortunately also got a bum no-call in the final seconds of the overtime while taking a critical clutch trey.

➤ In the fourth canto, Jeffrei Chan missed a contested trey in the dying seconds leading to a 71-All overtime. It was anybody’s ballgame as the spitfire RP five was trailing 78-79 until the final 5.6 seconds of extra time.

➤ All throughout, the Filipinos stunned a clueless Croatia as the Philippines continually dropped 10 rainbow bombs in the last three quarters.

➤ “We just kept on fighting. We knew Croatia was tough but the players fought all the way,” Coach Chot Reyes said of the Pinoy’s gallant stand.

➤ Filipino: Kinulang ang tikas ng Gilas Pilipinas upang pataubin ng tuluyan ang nahintatakutang higante na koponan ng Crotia sa FIBA World Cup 2014. Umabot ang pukpukan na labanan sa overtime sa iskor na 81-78. Pinangunahan ang Crotia ni Bojan Bogdanovic na nagtala ng 26 puntos, samantalang sina Andray Blatche at Jeffrei “Negros Sniper” Chan naman ay bumuslo ng 28 at 17 puntos bawat isa.
Game Scores:
Quarters: 1Q:23-9 CRO, 2Q:37-31 CRO, 3Q:57-49 CRO, 4Q:71-71 OT:81-78 CRO.

GILAS PILIPINAS: 78

Blatche 28, Chan 17, Pingris 10, Castro 6, De Ocampo 5, Alapag 4, Tenorio 2, Norwood 2, Lee 2, Fajardo 2, Aguilar 0.

CROATIA: 81

Bogdanovic 26, Simon 12, Saric 10, Tomic 8, Ukic 5, Lafayette 4, Rudez 4, Zoric 4, Babic 3.

Posted on August 31, 2014 - Sevilla, Spain

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

Team Pilipinas 2009:

Team Pilipinas bows to arch-nemesis Korea, 69-56

October 6, 2009 – Tianjin

FIBA Asia Championships 2009: In what was thought to be a grudge rematch, South Korea proved too resilient to be defeated as they overwhelmed Powerade-RP Team Pilipinas, 69-56 in the showdown of top teams in Group A of FIBA Asia Championships 2009, Tianjin China.

Notes:

➤ Yang Heejong led the SoKors campaign with 14-points. Oh Sekeun and Kim Minsoo logged in 11 points apiece. Cyrus Baguio, who’s razzle-dazzle plays wowed the crowd, was RP Team’s bright spot with a game-high 16 points. Supposed to be a game of redemption, all things fail to fall into the right place for RP Team at the end of the elimination phase of FIBA Asia.

➤ RP five faces Chinese Taipei next in the second round. Vital problems of the RP squad resurfaced with horrifying effect to their campaign. Although the Nationals held their own in the defensive side, limiting Korea to only 18 percent 3-point total output, blunder after blunder in key plays sealed their chance of chipping the lead off the East Asian champions.

➤ The rebound department was close with Korea only leading with 48 against the 44 of the Pinoys. However, Team Pilipinas recurring problems returned with only 38 percent two-point field goal in 19 of 50 shooting, 15 percent at the rainbow country in 4 out of 27 treys, and the dismal 6 of 11 total free throws.

➤ The battle couldn’t have gotten any closer if not for the momentum-stopper sniping of Mick Pennisi from beyond the arc. Cyrus Baguio also contributed heavily with his crucial one-on-one markers. The game was very close in the 2nd quarter until Korea’s Kim Min Soo waxed hot from the perimeter, to push Korea to their biggest lead of 35-22 with a 12-2 run.

➤ Filipino: Sa inaakalang mabigat na muling pagsasagupa, pinatunayan ng Timog Korea ang katatagan upang manalo at manaig laban sa Powerade-RP Team Pilipinas, 69-56, sa sagupaan ng mga nangungunang koponan sa Group A ng FIBA Asia Championships, Tianjin China.

Posted on October 6, 2009 - Tianjin

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

Opinion

The long and winding road back to the elusive Asian Cage throne

July 19, 2006

The Philippines was once the basketball king of Asia. Thought to be merely invincible in Asia – untouchable as one would say. The class that past Philippine teams showed during the Pre and Post-World War 2 era was simply at par with the world’s best.

(more…)

Opinion:

Philippines - once a Basketball Superpower?

July 19, 2006

» All Time World Basketball Championships Medal Tally «
NationFlagGoldSilverBronze
United Statesus334
Soviet Unionsoviet332
Yugoslaviayugo332
Brazilbrazil222
Serbia and Montenegroserbia200
Argentinaargentina110
Spainspain100
Russiarussia020
Greecegreece010
Chilechile002
PhilippinesRP001
Croatiacroatia001
Germanygermany001

The Philippines remains to be one of the only top Asian nations to have ever landed in the medal tally of the prestigious history of World Basketball Championships. This is such a great feat that the Philippines made it in the history of basketball in terms of world basketball competition (as part of the only top ten world medal achieving nations) and in the history of Asia to be the only country to ever make it to such a notable standing.

➤ Basketball was introduced to the Philippines in 1901, by members of the American YMCA. The Philippine Amateur Basketball League was established in 1910. After that, basketball became a nationally popular sport in the Pearl of the Orient Seas. What many people didn’t know or even heard of is that the Philippines was truly one of the global superpowers in international cage hoops in the past – during its’ prime.

➤ In the 1936 Berlin Olympiad where the RP Team placed fifth, Philippines defeated Mexico 32-30 in the second round and toppled Estonia 39-22 in the third round. In the classification round of the same tourney, the Filipinos defeated the highly touted powerhouse Italy 32-14 and romped past Uruguay 33-23. Curiously, the Philippine delegation never made it to the Medal round (due to a controversial ruling) although it had not lost to any team except to the United States with the score of 56-23.

➤ The Philippine Team was ably led by Ambrosio Padilla (team captain), who later became a senator; the 6’1″ Charles Borck, Jacinto Ciria Cruz, Primitivo Martinez, Jesus Marzan, Franco Marquicias, Fortunato Yambao, Amador Obondo, Bibjano Quano, and Johnny Worrel. Also, the same games were played in a lawn tennis court (which was terribly hampered by a bad rainy weather), and the awards were given by no less than Dr. James Naismith.

➤ During the 1948 London Olympics, the Philippines landed a 12th place finish. The RP team was bracketed to Group B in the eliminations and posted a win-loss record of 3-2. The Filipinos massacred Iraq 102-30, marched past Korea 35-33, and stomped down on China 51-32. It lost its’ elimination assignments to Chile 68-39 and was upset by Belgium 37-35. The Philippines figured in a five-way tie in the elimination round and was ejected from the medal-round because of the point system implemented. In the classification round (non-medal competition), Philippines defeated the recent Olympic champions Argentina with a 45-43 score but bowed down to Belgium 38-34 and Peru 40-29.

➤ The Philippines was tied for 9th place overall in the 1952 Olympiad. The Filipinos found themselves in Group B in the preliminary round with 2-0 win-loss record by blasting Israel 54-47 and Hungary 48-35. The Pinoys advanced to the main tournament and showed its’ might against Canada 81-65, but eventually lost to Argentina 85-59 and Brazil 71-52. The 1956 Melbourne Olympics saw the Philippines bracketed in Group A in the Elimination round and made a 2-1 win-loss performance to land in 7th place over-all. They defeated Thailand 55-44 and Japan 76-61 but horribly succumbed to the USA with a dismal 121-53. In the quarterfinals, the Philippines defeated France with a 65-58 beating but bowed again to the physically playing Uruguay 79-70 and Chile 88-69. In the non-medal round, the Philippines took a sweet revenge to Chile 75-68 but stumbled down to Bulgaria 80-70.

➤ An 11th place finish was the best the Philippines can offer in the 1960 Rome Olympics. In the eliminations, the Filipinos were bracketed to Group D and made a 1-2 win-loss record by defeating Spain 84-82, but lost to Poland 86-68 and Uruguay 80-76. In the classification round, the Pinoys posted a 2-1 win-loss slate by beating down Puerto Rico 82-80 and Bulgaria 2-0 (forfeited), and fell to Hungary 81-70. In the second classification round, the Philippines handily pounded their way through Mexico 65-64 but lost to France 122-75.

➤ In the 1954 World Basketball Championships in Brazil, the Philippines staged the greatest mark in the history of the basketball-crazed nation, by taking the Bronze Medal in a show of power. Overall, the Philippines posted a 5-2 win-loss record and fell behind eventual champions USA and silver medalists Brazil – the hometown favorite.

The USA had the biggest scare in the tournament when they faced squarely with the Filipinos. Opening play in the final round, the U.S. was given a run for its money by the Philippines. Trailing by just three points at the half, 25-22, the Philippines squad rallied at the start of the second half and took a 31-26 lead. However, the USA offense got rolling and with three minutes remaining the USA had control 49-30 before finally settling for a 56-43 victory. The 6-6 forward Kirby Minter led the USA offense with 15 points.

➤ Although the Americans managed to post a strong win-loss slate of 9-0, they will never forget their memorable encounter with the formidable Filipino squad. The Filipinos, on the other hand, was led by Carlos “The Big Difference” Loyzaga – the team captain who won the Mythical Five award in the same tourney – for being the third highest individual scorer over-all.

➤ Loyzaga was also the first basketball player to be inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame. Also present in the line-up were Lauro Mumar, Florentino Bautista, Francisco Rabat, Benjamin Francisco, and the 6’2 Mariano Tolentino. The Philippines beat the favored Uruguay team, 67-63, to clinch the Bronze Medal on November 5, 1954.

➤ This mighty feat until now, remains unsurpassed in the realms of Philippine Basketball and Asia as a whole.

Posted on July 19, 2006

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

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