UAAP Saturday: Upset-conscious UE and Ateneo on a roll

MANILA, Philippines – The Saturday, September 14, UAAP men’s basketball games were a study in contrasts and probably offered views of team fortunes. The University of the East Red Warriors, behind the blazing guns of Rey Suerte, stunned De La Salle, 89-88, for their first win in four tries, leaving DLSU to fall to 1-2.

Ateneo blitzed punchless Far Eastern University, 63-46, to go to 4-0 while the Tamaraws fell to 1-2.

I loved UE’s daring win. They held off the Green Archers (who were without Jamie Malonzo for the game) for much of the game until they came roaring back behind Justine Baltazar and Aljun Melecio. 

UE led, 81-78, with two minutes to play then Melecio stole the ball off Suerte and scored for an 81-80 count. A turnover by John Apacible saw Encho Serrano score on an and-one for an 83-81 lead with a minute to play. Hue’s Harvey Pagsanjan missed and Suerte grabbed the offensive board. Baltazar blocked the attempt. On third servings in that possession, Baltazar was whistled for a foul on Neil Tolentino, who went out with a minor injury. Chris Connor came in his place and hit two pressure-packed free throws to tie the game with 42 ticks left. 

After Serrano restored the lead with two free throws of his own, 85-83, Suerte fired a triple to give UE back the advantage. Melecio hit a long triple over Alex Diakhite to give DLSU an 86-85 lead with three seconds left.

Suerte hit another triple in the endgame to stun La Salle.

Right before Suerte’s second to the last triple, UE’s active consultant Lawrence Chongson did not call for a timeout. It was a gutsy non-move. 

Suerte scored a game-best 31 points, echoing performances from past UE pistoleros such as Roi Sumang and Paul Lee. UE torched La Salle with 11 treys while Neil Tolentino got one over his former team, scoring 19 points.

For the Ateneo-FEU game, I knew that the Blue Eagles would steamroll FEU. They didn’t particularly impress in the preseason. There have been flashes of brilliance for individual players but the spark that was there in previous season with players like Jasper Parker, Arvin Tolentino and Prince Orizu has not been replicated by this bunch.

I have opined that Alec Stockton can be one of those, but he is averaging only six minutes a game. I think Ken Tuffin’s play has regressed. He has been positioned as a role player to find his spots on the floor to shoot. But I think with his length, he can get to the rim. It is tough because this is — I think — his second to the last year and we haven’t seen him grow from about a year ago. 

Cani has not had a good preseason and that has carried over this UAAP campaign.

Again without that heady veteran play, it will be too much to ask Royce Alforque, Xyrus Torres, LJ Gonzales, or even Pat Tchuente (who had to go through with the thought that he wasn’t the first choice reinforcement for this team.

In contrast, Ateneo got huge performances from up and down their roster. They will be in the same boat as other teams caught in the middle next year when they lose five top veterans but they will worry about that next season). Right now, this was a game that can put them on a roll. With Adrian Wong finding his old deadly form, that helps Tab Baldwin’s team. 

They will not have those individual players who will put up a ton of points (they could, but not in their current system). William Navarro’s efforts cannot be quantified by his stat line. Ditto for Gian Mamuyac.

They may not have spot on shooters like Anton Asistio and Jolo Mendoza, but so far, the Blue Eagles have found a way to get it done.

After a close game against UST, they found their rhythm against FEU. And this could propel them all the way to that much anticipated encounter with UP to end the first round.