brosigonzales.blogspot.com: Final Four

September 15, Thursday

Ateneo vs. UST

- Blood, Sweat, Tears, and Respect -

- Blood -

- Sweat -

- Tears -

- Respect -

The story about the UST Growling Tigers in this year's Season 74 UAAP Men's Basketball Tournament is not only about Fortuna, Camus and Pido Jarencio, or Blood, Sweat, and Tears - [not to take away anything from the other teams who also did their damn best] - - -It is about Respect.

Not at all seeded to make it to the Final Four, [Most people expected last year's quartet of ADM, FEU, AdU, DLS to end up in the Magic 4], Pido's boys surprised everyone, and at the end of the eliminations, had secured a hard earned Final Four Ticket.

The UST Growling Tigers had overachieved -- and even scared the hell out of Norman's boys -- almost forcing an overtime - had not Fortuna missed a last second three-pointer, and possibly arranging a knockout match vs. the formidable Blue Eagles on Sunday, September 18.

The Blue Eagles prevailed, in that twice-to-beat match, but only by a measly

3 points.

Here are a few more interesting moments from that match.

Slaughter blocks Karim Abdul.

Salva swoops in for two.

Long plays Sharp D.

Chua blocks Fortuna.

-After this block Monfort got the ball and streaked to the basket,

only to be blocked by Chris Camus, after which,

UST regained possesion of the ball-

FEU vs. Adamson

- Day of the Tamaraw -

- Chest Bump -

- Mr T -

As expected, the FEU-Adamson match filled the Coliseum to the rafters. [The tickets to the ADM-UST game and FEU-AdU were sold separately] 'Twas a sea of Blue with White, and Yellow with Green as early as 2:30. The Adamson community felt this match was just going to be a formality os sorts, supremely confident that after their Falcons humiliated the Blue Eagles last Sept.10, that they [the Falcons] were the team to beat now, and with twice-to-beat advantage, it [the Last Finals Slot] was already in the bag.

- Too late the slam -

The expected Adamson rally came, as Nuyles finally hit his stride, with a whole lotta minutes to play, but the Tamaraws simply did not let this one go They had the likes of Garcia, Romeo, and Ramos to help them keep their composure - and they did - eventually force a knockout match on this Sunday.

But not if the Battle Scarred Tamaraws could help it. Nuyles and Company mustered only 7 points in the 1st Quarter, and it was almost 3 minutes into the 2nd Quarter when the Falcons got out of that hole. The Tams had made sure that the Firey First Quarter Falcon Show would not be "aired" [excuse the pun].

The Adamson hoopsters had their looks but the ball would simply rim out, they scrambled for the loose balls, challenged every rebound [offensive and defensive] - but he ball would always end up in the hands of a Tamaraw.

It came to a point when Eric James [Camson] almost lost his cool against Gryann Mendoza in a rebound play in the 2nd Half. Leo's boys simply could not believe that Bert's undermanned crew were controlling the tempo of the match.