The big red machine and the long bombers

Today, San Beda College goes for only the third “three-peat” in NCAA history, while Jose Rizal University tries to break a 36-year title drought. The finals have been physical and intense, and Game 3 at the Araneta Coliseum will be no different.

In a frenetic series, new heroes have arisen for each team, while some of those expected to rise to the occasion have been disappointing.

Let’s look at what has made a difference in the series thus far.

Rebounding. In Game One, the Red Lions dominated the boards, 49 to 33, and came away with a 72-68 win. In Game Two, the margin was even bigger at 55 to 34, but the Heavy Bombers escaped with the victory.

San Beda has to maximize its size advantage. Head coach Frankie Lim is fond of a frontline of 6-8 Sam Ekwe, 6-6 Jake Pascual and 6-4 Bam Gamalinda, or the burly 6-4 JR Taganas. These combinations create mismatches against the thin frontline of JRU, and feed the San Beda fastbreak that has decimated opposition in the past. The only problem for San Beda was that, in Game Two, Ekwe and Taganas both fouled out, leaving their frontline decimated.

Cohesion. Perhaps the one advantage of Jose Rizal University to counteract the physical advantages of San Beda. The interior passing and perimeter play of the Heavy Bombers create space from which the Bombers can, well, bomb away. In particular, the seldom-used tandem of centers Jay Nocom and JR Sena has been able to break the Red Lions’ double-team in the low post.

Outside shooting. Jose Rizal University’s domain, but not as much as during the regular season. In Game One, JRU hit 7 of 23 from three-point range, compared to San Beda’s 4 of 17. In Game Two, the Bombers knocked down only 1 of 9 and San Beda, 3 of 15. Mark Cagoco’s shooting was conspicuously absent from JRU.

Defense. As a team, San Beda is better, especially in the long court. Individually, and in a half-court setting, JRU has been stifling. Since the series started, San Beda’s guards have displayed a penchant for dribbling into trouble, and with the bigger, heftier guards of San Beda, they have turned the ball over far too much. Game One saw the turnover ratio at 14 for JRU and 18 for SBC. The turnovers in Game Two were 13 and 22, respectively. Of particular note is the stonewall D of Maui Pradas against Ogie Menor, denying him the quick first step that he almost always finishes. Last year’s finals MVP Menor only scored seven and nine points in the Finals. And it was JRU, in fact, that found its running game.

Bench contributions. Controversial rookie Jake Pascual has been a revelation for San Beda in the series. His helping defense and all-around excellence made a big impact in Game One. However, he started Game Two, and looked lost. Bam Gamalinda, a big support throughout the season, was nowhere to be found in the fourth quarter of Game Two. For JRU, Nchotu Njei has been the teams outstanding defender. His jolt of energy of the bench has lifted the bone-weary Bombers time and again.

Intensity. When San Beda wants it, they are almost impossible to stop. But JRU has more to prove, and head coach Ariel Vanguardia has something to prove against Frankie Lim, who still refuses to shake his head more than a year after their altercation at the San Juan Arena last season. If JRU can sustain its intensity, and their crowd gets behind them, San Beda will have to have its wits about it.

Once the ball goes up in the air later, expect a flat-out physical contest. And whoever loses his cool first, loses.