History takes so many different paths.
Some are difficult, some are easy.
Some are happy and some are regretfully sad.
Poetic, huh?
Defending UAAP champs UP took another step towards achieving greatness when the Fighting Maroons sapped its archrival Blue Eagles with remarkable steady plays in the homestretch to win Game 1, 72-66, of the best of three Final Series of the 85th men’s basketball season Sunday.
Xavier Lucero stood out in defense, blocking a slam attempt by Chris Koon and swatting away Ange Kouame’s follow up try underneath the basket to prevent Ateneo from catching up.
In the process, Harold Alarcon was able to successfully blast away a three pointer to give UP enough breathing space, 61-56, before more than 18,000 shrieking basketball fans jampacking the MOA arena..
The Diliman boys led by as many as 12 points at one time but the Katipunan squad kept on chipping away at the deficit.
Ominously, Tab Baldwin’s pet scorer Forthsky Padrigao hurt himself with cramps in the fourth and never returned to the game.
I thought everything was pretty even in all aspects of the match – offense, defense, substitution. Only the breaks will give the win to any of the two dueling teams.
Clearly one thing that kept UP in the game was a deeper bench.
There was Galinato who ably subbed for Malik Diouf but there was none for Kouame who I thought played above par.
Game 2 will be played at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday as UP aims to set up a singular record of winning two UAAP titles in the same year.
It has been 36 years – since 1986 – when the Fighting Maroons captured its first UAAP crown.
Baldwin needs to employ a new coaching strategy as his counterpart amply knows the former has only big man Kouame to rely on.
JD Cagulangan sealed the win with two free throws.
The scores: UP 72 – Lucro 14, Cagulanga 12, Alarcon 11, Diouf 9, Gonzales 8, Tamayo 7, Galinato 6, Spencer 5, ortea 0, Abadiano 0.
ATENEO – Padrigao 16, Kouame 15, Ildefonso 10, Andrade 10, Koon 9, Lazaro 3, Chiu 2, Gomez 1, Ballunggay 0, Daves 0, Quitevis 0, Lao 0.
Quarters: 28-19, 42-35, 54-50, 72-66.
In the NCAA 98th season championship battle, Letran lost its sting when star point guard Fran Yu was ejected for a disqualifying foul midway in the second quarter.
CSB exploited Yu’s absence as the Blazers struck heavily in the third and fourth quarters to win Game 2, 76-71, and force a winner take all third game in their titular best of three next Sunday.
Will Gozum, declared MVP before the jump ball, partnered with Miguel Oczon in the stretch to seal the revenge victory.
Gozum, along with Miggy Corteza, also keyed a 30-14 explosion in the third to reverse an 11-point deficit and take the driver’s seat, 64-59.
Clearly, the momentum has shifted to St. Benilde’s favor as coach Charles Tiu is now more confident about his boys’ chances at their first ever NCAA crown.
Coach Bonnie Tan will need to draw more from his more experienced senior stalwarts to complete a 3-peat achievement that only former Letran mentor Larry Albano (now US-based) did during the 80s.
The scores: CSB 76 – Gozum 21, Cortez 21, Oczon 15, Nayve 10, Pasturan 3, Sangco 3, CRLOS 3, Cullar 0, Marcos 0, Davis 0, Lepalam 0, Flores 0, Lim 0.
LETRAN 71 – Paraiso 16, Sangalang 11, Reyson 11, Caralipio 9, Yu 6, Santos 6, Javillonar 5, Olivario 4, Ariar 3, Guarino 00, Go 0.
Quarters 20-23, 34-45, 64-59, 76-71. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
