UP Fighting Maroons Basketball

28. 09.

FEU reigns supreme in women’s basketball
By Merck Maguddayao

Offense wins games. Defense wins championships.

The Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws played impeccable defense to sweep the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons, 2-0, with a 52-46 victory in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines women’s basketball tournament finals today at the San Juan Arena.

The Lady Tamaraws, winning their fourth consecutive game versus the Lady Maroons this season, clinched the women’s championship after 11 years. On the other hand, the Lady Maroons bagged their second straight runner-up trophy.

“Sabi ko sa mga players, laruin na natin ang last 20 minutes ng season instead na magpraktis uli tayo ng isa pang linggo,” said Lady Tamaraws head coach Michael Oliver, who won his first championship as head coach after a dismal fifth place finish last season.

The game started dull, though, for the Lady Tamaraws, as the Lady Maroons displayed its superior athleticism offensively and defensively. Inspired by a booming block from guard Danielle Bautista on FEU’s first shot, the Lady Maroons jumped to an early 10-16 lead in the first quarter.

The Lady Tamaraws then responded in the second canto, with shooters Raizza Palmera and Bernadette Mercado converting three perimeter shots to tie the score at 16. However, Lady Maroon rookie Kryzza Casino sparked a UP run with a daredevil layup to put UP in front, 20-26.

In the second half, the Lady Tamaraws played with a smaller lineup as Finals Most Valuable Player Mercado scored six straight points to spark a quick 8-0 run. Palmera and guard Josie Positos then furthered FEU’s torrid shooting, scoring four each in another 8-0 run in the latter part of the third period. The Lady Tamaraws allowed the Lady Maroons to score three points in the quarter as FEU surged to a 40-29 lead.

In the payoff period, the Lady Maroons opened a 9-0 run anchored on Bautista and forward Sihaya Sadorra to contract FEU’s lead, 42-38. However, the Lady Tamaraws continued playing an airtight zone defense while converting long shots, capped by a cold-blooded three from forward Chovi Borja in the last two minutes en route to the championship.

Palmera and Mercado led the Lady Tamaraws with 15 and 11 points respectively while Mythical Five members Sadorra and Fatima Tolentino scored 13 apiece and hauled a combined 31 rebounds to lead the Lady Maroons

“We played small ball nung second half because we want a quick reacting defense to tone down UP’s athletic drives,” explained Oliver. “Sa lahat ng nakalaban namin this season, sa UP talaga kami nahirapan for we can’t match their athleticism. Kaya we have to outsmart them by fielding an odd lineup na gugulat sa kanila sa second half.”

FEU (52) – Palmera 15, Mercado 11, C. Borja 9, Positos 6, Reyes 4, Rivera 4, Sernal 2, Miag-ao 1, Astrero 0, M. Borja 0, Leviste 0

UP (46) – Tolentino 13, Sadorra 13, D. Bautista 8, Casino 4, Paz 3, Tomelden 3, Cainglet 2, Stevens 0, Del Rosario 0, M. Bautista 0, Robelo 0

Quarter scores: 10-16, 20-26, 40-29, 52-46

23. 09.

Lady Tams snatch Game 1 vs. Lady Maroons
By Merck Maguddayao

The Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws barely escaped the last quarter onslaught of third-seeded University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons, 54-52, in a pulsating Game One in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines women’s basketball Finals in the San Juan Arena today.

Up by ten points at the start of the fourth quarter, the league-leading Lady Tamaraws got spared from an upset as the Lady Maroons failed to convert crucial free throws and potential game-winning shots in a number of instances.

“We really had bad breaks sa fourth quarter kasi sablay ang mga free throws namin at hindi na-sustain yung opensa namin. Buti na lang, we held on with our tough team defense kaya kahit paano na-contain namin ang UP,” said Lady Tamaraws head coach Michael Oliver after the game.

Lady Tamaraw shooter Bernadette Mercado tallied 13 points, three assists, and three steals to lead a balanced FEU attack while Lady Maroon captain Sihaya Sadorra led UP’s charge with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Fresh from grueling Final Four matches, both teams scored sparingly in the opening canto. However, the Lady Tamaraws’ shooting began to click later in the quarter as guards Love Miag-ao and Marilou Borja converted seven perimeter points to clinch an early 13-6 lead for FEU.

In the second quarter, the Lady Tamaraws continued their consistency in offense as Miag-ao collaborated with Mercado for nine points to keep the Lady Maroons at bay, 26-15, to end the first half.

Down by a huge margin, the Lady Maroons found life in the third quarter with Sadorra exploding for 13 points off hustle plays as UP contracted the lead to four points in a few occasions. However, a buzzer-beating three-point shot from Marilou Borja put the momentum back as the Lady Tamaraws closed the quarter leading, 41-34.

An early trey from Mercado and an acrobatic reverse lay-up from forward Chovi Borja propelled the Lady Tamaraws to a double-digit cushion in the payoff period. Undaunted, the Lady Maroons fought back as Sadorra, Fatima Tolentino, and Danielle Bautista attacked the basket to cut the lead to five, 54-49.

In the last two minutes, both teams missed several penalty shots and played erratic offense as the Lady Tamaraws seemed to take the win home. However, a surprise three-point shot from Lady Maroon point guard Camille Tomelden cut the lead to two, 54-52, with 19 seconds left.

Off four missed free throws from the Lady Tamaraws and a chance for the win, Lady Maroon guard Jedil Robelo threw an airball from the three-point line as UP suffered its third defeat from FEU this season.

This season’s Finals duel is a match-up of runner-ups, with the Lady Tamaraws and the Lady Maroons bagging the silver trophy in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Game Two is set on September 24 at the San Juan Arena starting at 1 pm.

FEU (54) - Mercado 13, Miag-ao 8, C. Borja 6, Rivera 6, M. Borja, Positos 5, Reyes 4, Palmera 4, Sernal 2, Leviste 0, Supnet 0

UP (52) - Sadorra 17, Tolentino 16, Tomelden 7, D. Bautista 4, Cainglet 3, Paz 2, Casino 2, Robelo 0, Del Rosario 0, M. Bautista 0

Quarter scoring: 15-6, 26-15, 41-34, 54-52

20. 09.

UAAP Season 71 Women’s Basketball Finals

UP Lady Maroons vs FEU Lady Tamaraws
FEU defeats UP 54-52
September 20, 2008, 1pm
Arena, San Juan

Game 2: Saturday, September 27, 2008 at 1pm at the Arena, San Juan

* thanks to nokia of peyups

19. 09.

Lady Maroons re-enter Finals
By Merck Maguddayao

Defense is the best offense.

The University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons lived with this adage by repulsing the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses, 50-46, in the last game of the University Athletics Association (UAAP) women’s basketball tourney Final Four today at the San Juan Arena.

Down by as much as seven in the opening quarter, the Lady Maroons fought neck-and-neck through sheer hustle and team defense, limiting the Tigresses to a six point output in the last period.

“We played tough team defense by caging (UST guard Marichu) Bacaro. We really have to stop her scoring, otherwise, di kami mananalo rito,” said a jubilant Lady Maroons Head Coach Eric Castro. The Lady Maroons is now on their second Finals appearance in as many years.

The game started slowly for the Lady Maroons as Bacaro instantly scored six points. UST finished the quarter leading, 8-15.

In the succeeding canto, the pair of Danielle Bautista and Fatima Tolentino started scoring from inside and out to trim the lead to one, 14-15. The Tigresses fought back and put the lead to five as reserve center Paula Bombeo scored six quick points off inside dumps. However, Lady Maroon center Fatima Tolentino neutralized Bombeo’s blitz by scoring six unanswered points to keep UP within striking distance, 24-26.

In the second half, both teams traded baskets with the Tigresses draining treys and the Lady Maroons scoring from the post. UP took the lead in the middle of the quarter with guard Andrea Stevens scoring five straight points. Bacaro, meanwhile, replied with six points off dribble drives to tie the count at 40 leading to the deciding period.

With both seasons on the line, the two squads played intense defense but the Lady Maroons played better offense with forward Sihaya Sadorra and Bautista scoring six and three points respectively.

Unfazed, the Tigresses retaliated with guard Nikki Leonardo and Bacaro scoring two treys. However, both players committed two costly fouls in the last stretch with the former tagged with a flagrant foul and the latter getting fouled out of the game, which eventually dumped UST’s campaign for good.

Tolentino displayed her interior domination with 17 points and 18 rebounds while Sadorra contributed 16 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks to lead the Lady Maroons. Bacaro, on the other hand, finished her UAAP career with 18 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists for the Tigresses.

The Lady Maroons will next face the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in a best-of-three Finals affair to be played on Saturday, September 20, at the San Juan Arena at one o’clock.

UP (50) – Tolentino 17, Sadorra 16, D. Bautista 6, Stevens 5, Paz 4, M. Bautista 1, Tomelden 1, Cainglet 0, Del Rosario 0, Casino 0, Robelo 0

UST (46) – Bacaro 18, Buenacosa 9, Leonardo 7, Bombeo 6, Gregorio 5, Laud 1, Fermin 0, Obrador 0

Quarter scores: 8-15, 24-26, 40-40, 50-46

17. 09.

UAAP Season 71 Women’s Basketball Final Four

UP Lady Maroons vs UST Tigresses
UP defeats UST 50-46
September, 17, 2008, 1pm
Arena, San Juan

Two straight wins by the UP Lady Maroons over the UST Tigresses.

Finals starts Saturday, September 20, 2008, 1pm at the Arena

Congratulations! Good luck on Saturday!

* thanks to nokia of peyups

16. 09.

UP vs. Ateneo Round 2

Debut of UP Fighting Blacks

View the Full Gallery of the UP vs. ADMU game here

15. 09.

UAAP Season 71 Women’s Basketball

Let us give our all out support for our UP Lady Maroons, the knockout game vs. UST will be held at the Arena in San Juan on Wednesday, September 17, 2008, 1PM.

Good luck on Wednesday!

15. 09.

UAAP Season 71

DLSU defeats FEU 67-62

ADMU defeats UE, 70-50

It’s Ateneo Blue Eagles vs. De La Salle Green Archers in the finals

Another 2 or 3 Ateneo vs. La Salle games for free, hehe

13. 09.

UAAP Season 71 Women’s Basketball

UP Lady Maroons vs UST Tigresses
UP defeats UST 52-39
September 13, 2008, 9am
Arena, San Juan

Lady Maroons cage Tigresses, force rubber match anew
By Merck Maguddayao

The University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons played choking defense in the second half to rout archrival University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tigresses, 52-39, in the second game of their Final Four duel in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines women’s basketball tournament at the San Juan gym today.

Employing a boxing one and a 3-2 full court trapping defense in the second half, the Lady Maroons allowed the Tigresses to score a mere 11 second half points, the lowest in the tournament so far. Furthermore, UP’s defense caused Most Valuable Player contender and ace Tigress Marichu Bacaro to score only 11 points coming off a 31 point output in the previous game, while forcing the high-flying guard to commit 12 turnovers.

The game started with both teams exchanging baskets as Lady Maroon guard Danielle Bautista scored eight first quarter points. The quarter ended with UP barely ahead, 15-14.

The subsequent quarter saw the Lady Maroons committing numerous turnovers off UST’s zone defense. This resulted to eight fastbreak points for the Tigresses while the Lady Maroons scored only nine points, most of which came from foul shots. The first half ended with UST regaining the lead, 28-24.

After the halftime recess, both teams played airtight defense, stopping each other’s fastbreak attempts while scoring simply came from set plays. The Tigresses maintained the lead at the end of the third canto, 34-32.

In the payoff period and on the verge of being eliminated, the Lady Maroons wowed the Tigresses by playing full court trap as guard defender Andrea Stevens scored four instant points off steals to inspire UP’s run. The Lady Maroons also played sheer hustle both offensively and defensively, allowing them to get more second chance opportunities.

At the five minute mark, ace Maroon Sihaya Sadorra dished three pivotal assists to open teammates as UP rolled over to a 14-point lead. The Lady Maroon captain likewise played excellent defense, snatching four possessions from the Tigresses. Having scored only two points in an eight minute stretch in the quarter, the Tigresses never fought back as the Lady Maroons forced a do-or-die in their last Final Four match next Wednesday.

Sadorra led the Lady Maroons with 9 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 steals, and a block while forward Rem Buenacosa supplemented Bacaro’s off-game with 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Tigresses.

UP (52) – Tolentino 14, D. Bautista 12, Sadorra 9, Stevens 6, Cainglet 4, Tomelden 4, Paz 3, M. Bautista 0, Del Rosario 0, Robelo 0, Casino 0

UST (39) - Bacaro 11, Buenacosa 10, Fermin 8, Gregorio 6, Bombeo 2, Leonardo 2, De Leon 0, Obrador 0