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IN the first game of Season 87′s Finals, the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Stags went up against not just San Beda College, but themselves as well, ultimately losing both battles.
Losing their composure in the final moments of the fourth quarter while hamstringing themselves all throughout with turnovers, the defending champion Red Lions were able to take a 23-11 fourth quarter advantage and the 75-63 win in the NCAA’s big dance last October 24 at the Araneta Coliseum.
“Dalawang laro na lang, dapat-all out,” said reserve shooter Mar Villahermosa, who played just 11 minutes off the bench but still managed to tally 15 points. “Sabi nga ni coach, kung anong naiwan sa cabinet, dapat ilabas na namin.”
With the table reset, 52-all at the onset of the fourth quarter, San Beda initially struggled, turning the ball over after stealing the initial inbounds and then missing two transition scores. But after Calvin Abueva missed a triple, Baser Amer drove down the lane before kicking the ball out to an open Villahermosa for a triple that got a 10-3 run going, putting the Red Lions up 62-55 with six minutes left to play. The two teams swapped two scoreless possessions before Ian Sangalang nailed a jmper with 4:29 on the clock to trim the deficit to five. Amer continued his aggressive play, however, finding Dave Marcelo for a layup and then scoring on his own over Anthony del Rio, to pump his team’s advantage to nine, 66-57.
Forced to burn their last timeout, the Stags had 3:06 left to make something happen. But, off the break, Abueva was whistled for a flagrant-one foul for throwing an elbow at Amer while setting a screen. San Beda was unable to capitalize, as Amer split his charities, and the team couldn’t score on the bonus possession. A Sangalang putback off a missed Lyle Antipuesto triple cut the lead to eight, 67-59, with 2:21 left, but Villahermosa nailed yet another big time triple with two minutes left in the game, boosting their lead to 12. On the ensuing Stags possession, Abueva drove hard to the rim, only to get soundly denied by Marcelo. Furious over the lack of a call, neophyte San Sebastian head coach Topex Robinson protested to no avail and earned himself a disqualifying foul that sent him to the showers early. A charity by Rome de la Rosa and a putback by Jake Pascual then extended the Stags’ agony to 73-59 with 1:33 left, sealing the game and pulling the Red Lions to within a game from their fifth crown in six years.
“Again, just like the finals last year, nandoon nanaman yung mga cheap shots. Hindi ata talaga matatangal sa kanila yun eh,” complained San Beda head coach Frankie Lim after the game. “I told my guys that we have to look at the bigger picture. We’re here to win a championship and not hurt other people. Let’s focus on what we do best and win the game.”
Villahermosa top-scored for both teams with his 15 points, missing all but one of his eight attempts from the field. Marcelo provided the muscle underneath with a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds, plus two swats. Pascual played sterling defense on Abueva for most of the game while also adding 14 markers and three more rejections, and rookie floor general Baser Amer stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
The numerous contributions from different Red Lions were more than able to blunt an ineffective game by King Lion Garvo Lanete. The normally deadeye shooter played just 25 minutes, scoring a mere six points in the process as he went just 3-for-14 from the field. Lim explained that Lanete had been under the weather the past few days, and chalked up his misfires to Lanete being “off timing.”
In the first quarter, aggressive play by Jovit dela Cruz, among others, had the Stags rolling early, 8-2. However, San Beda was able to catch up and take the lead thanks to five straight turnovers by San Sebastian, as del Rio and Ronald Pascual alternated poorly timed passes. The Red Lions were able to score 11 unanswered before Abueva got the Stags back on the scoreboard. The reigning champions also squandered a few opportunties of their own as well in the early goings. Abeuva was whistled for his third foul at the 3:16 mark of the first quarter after Robinson gambled on leaving him in. Coupled with Sangalang’s second personal just three minutes into the game, the Stags’ offensive options were limited, to say the least. Instead, players like Antipuesto and del Rio were able to nail jumpers, keeping San Sebastian in the thick of things, 20-all at the end of the first quarter. Sangalang was then called for foul number three at the 6:36 mark of the second, forcing the San Sebastian coaching staff’s hand and putting Abueva back in with three personals. Despite that, “The Beast” was able to leave his imprint on the game and towed the Stags to a three-point halftime edge.
After a four-game slump that coincided with San Sebastian’s end-of-season decline, Pascual managed to lead the Stags in scoring with 14 markers on 6-of-14 shooting, though he missed all four of his outside attempts. He also had 11 rebounds in 33 minuts. Abueva, who was named the season’s Most Valuable Player prior to the game, was held to 12 points, missing 13 of his 19 attempts, but hauled down 16 caroms. The Stags’ problem, however, was turnovers as they committed 30 in the game, with Pascual and Abueva accounting for eight each. Surprise starter Antipuesto dropped 11 markers, while 2011 Defensive Player of the Year Sangalang was hobbled by fouls, producing just 10 points and six rebounds.
After getting six transition points in the first quarter, San Sebastian was held to just six for the remainder of the game. San Beda, for its part, had zero fastbreak points in the first quarter, but scored 15 from then on, including seven in the pivotal final period. The free throw numbers also heavily favored the Red Lions, with the defending champs getting 25 attempts as against the seven of the Stags.
Prior to the start of the game, the NCAA handed out its annual awards in a simple ceremony Letran Knight Raymond Almazan was adjudged Most Improved Player. Josan Nimes of the Mapúa Cardinals claimed Rookie of the Year honors, while the Mythical Five was comprised of Kevin Alas and Almazan of Letran, Lanete, Abueva and Sangalang.
With San Sebastian having won a title in 2009 and San Beda capturing the crown a year after, many see this season’s series as the tiebreaker between the two squads. “[I told the team] I want you guys to be happy but not too happy because hindi pa natin napapanalo ang game number two. Let’s get the second win and let’s all go crazy,” Lim recalled after the game. The Red Lions will have a chance do just that on Wednesday, October 26, when Game 2 kicks in at 11:50 a.m., also at the Big Dome.
The scores:
San Beda 75 – Villahermosa 15, Marcelo 14, J. Pascual 14, de la Rosa 11, Amer 9, Lanete 6, A. Semerad 4, Caram 2, D. Semerad 0, K. Pascual 0
San Sebastian 63 – Pascual 14, Abueva 12, Antipuesto 11, Sangalang 10, J. dela Cruz 7, del Rio 5, Miranda 2, Vitug 2, Maiquez 0, Balucanag 0
Quarter scoring: 20-20, 35-38, 52-52, 75-63
Source: Adrian Dy, inboundpass.com
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IN the first game of Season 87′s Finals, the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Stags went up against not just San Beda College, but themselves as well, ultimately losing both battles.
Losing their composure in the final moments of the fourth quarter while hamstringing themselves all throughout with turnovers, the defending champion Red Lions were able to take a 23-11 fourth quarter advantage and the 75-63 win in the NCAA’s big dance last October 24 at the Araneta Coliseum.
“Dalawang laro na lang, dapat-all out,” said reserve shooter Mar Villahermosa, who played just 11 minutes off the bench but still managed to tally 15 points. “Sabi nga ni coach, kung anong naiwan sa cabinet, dapat ilabas na namin.”
With the table reset, 52-all at the onset of the fourth quarter, San Beda initially struggled, turning the ball over after stealing the initial inbounds and then missing two transition scores. But after Calvin Abueva missed a triple, Baser Amer drove down the lane before kicking the ball out to an open Villahermosa for a triple that got a 10-3 run going, putting the Red Lions up 62-55 with six minutes left to play. The two teams swapped two scoreless possessions before Ian Sangalang nailed a jmper with 4:29 on the clock to trim the deficit to five. Amer continued his aggressive play, however, finding Dave Marcelo for a layup and then scoring on his own over Anthony del Rio, to pump his team’s advantage to nine, 66-57.
Forced to burn their last timeout, the Stags had 3:06 left to make something happen. But, off the break, Abueva was whistled for a flagrant-one foul for throwing an elbow at Amer while setting a screen. San Beda was unable to capitalize, as Amer split his charities, and the team couldn’t score on the bonus possession. A Sangalang putback off a missed Lyle Antipuesto triple cut the lead to eight, 67-59, with 2:21 left, but Villahermosa nailed yet another big time triple with two minutes left in the game, boosting their lead to 12. On the ensuing Stags possession, Abueva drove hard to the rim, only to get soundly denied by Marcelo. Furious over the lack of a call, neophyte San Sebastian head coach Topex Robinson protested to no avail and earned himself a disqualifying foul that sent him to the showers early. A charity by Rome de la Rosa and a putback by Jake Pascual then extended the Stags’ agony to 73-59 with 1:33 left, sealing the game and pulling the Red Lions to within a game from their fifth crown in six years.
“Again, just like the finals last year, nandoon nanaman yung mga cheap shots. Hindi ata talaga matatangal sa kanila yun eh,” complained San Beda head coach Frankie Lim after the game. “I told my guys that we have to look at the bigger picture. We’re here to win a championship and not hurt other people. Let’s focus on what we do best and win the game.”
Villahermosa top-scored for both teams with his 15 points, missing all but one of his eight attempts from the field. Marcelo provided the muscle underneath with a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds, plus two swats. Pascual played sterling defense on Abueva for most of the game while also adding 14 markers and three more rejections, and rookie floor general Baser Amer stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
The numerous contributions from different Red Lions were more than able to blunt an ineffective game by King Lion Garvo Lanete. The normally deadeye shooter played just 25 minutes, scoring a mere six points in the process as he went just 3-for-14 from the field. Lim explained that Lanete had been under the weather the past few days, and chalked up his misfires to Lanete being “off timing.”
In the first quarter, aggressive play by Jovit dela Cruz, among others, had the Stags rolling early, 8-2. However, San Beda was able to catch up and take the lead thanks to five straight turnovers by San Sebastian, as del Rio and Ronald Pascual alternated poorly timed passes. The Red Lions were able to score 11 unanswered before Abueva got the Stags back on the scoreboard. The reigning champions also squandered a few opportunties of their own as well in the early goings. Abeuva was whistled for his third foul at the 3:16 mark of the first quarter after Robinson gambled on leaving him in. Coupled with Sangalang’s second personal just three minutes into the game, the Stags’ offensive options were limited, to say the least. Instead, players like Antipuesto and del Rio were able to nail jumpers, keeping San Sebastian in the thick of things, 20-all at the end of the first quarter. Sangalang was then called for foul number three at the 6:36 mark of the second, forcing the San Sebastian coaching staff’s hand and putting Abueva back in with three personals. Despite that, “The Beast” was able to leave his imprint on the game and towed the Stags to a three-point halftime edge.
After a four-game slump that coincided with San Sebastian’s end-of-season decline, Pascual managed to lead the Stags in scoring with 14 markers on 6-of-14 shooting, though he missed all four of his outside attempts. He also had 11 rebounds in 33 minuts. Abueva, who was named the season’s Most Valuable Player prior to the game, was held to 12 points, missing 13 of his 19 attempts, but hauled down 16 caroms. The Stags’ problem, however, was turnovers as they committed 30 in the game, with Pascual and Abueva accounting for eight each. Surprise starter Antipuesto dropped 11 markers, while 2011 Defensive Player of the Year Sangalang was hobbled by fouls, producing just 10 points and six rebounds.
After getting six transition points in the first quarter, San Sebastian was held to just six for the remainder of the game. San Beda, for its part, had zero fastbreak points in the first quarter, but scored 15 from then on, including seven in the pivotal final period. The free throw numbers also heavily favored the Red Lions, with the defending champs getting 25 attempts as against the seven of the Stags.
Prior to the start of the game, the NCAA handed out its annual awards in a simple ceremony Letran Knight Raymond Almazan was adjudged Most Improved Player. Josan Nimes of the Mapúa Cardinals claimed Rookie of the Year honors, while the Mythical Five was comprised of Kevin Alas and Almazan of Letran, Lanete, Abueva and Sangalang.
With San Sebastian having won a title in 2009 and San Beda capturing the crown a year after, many see this season’s series as the tiebreaker between the two squads. “[I told the team] I want you guys to be happy but not too happy because hindi pa natin napapanalo ang game number two. Let’s get the second win and let’s all go crazy,” Lim recalled after the game. The Red Lions will have a chance do just that on Wednesday, October 26, when Game 2 kicks in at 11:50 a.m., also at the Big Dome.
The scores:
San Beda 75 – Villahermosa 15, Marcelo 14, J. Pascual 14, de la Rosa 11, Amer 9, Lanete 6, A. Semerad 4, Caram 2, D. Semerad 0, K. Pascual 0
San Sebastian 63 – Pascual 14, Abueva 12, Antipuesto 11, Sangalang 10, J. dela Cruz 7, del Rio 5, Miranda 2, Vitug 2, Maiquez 0, Balucanag 0
Quarter scoring: 20-20, 35-38, 52-52, 75-63
Source: Adrian Dy, inboundpass.com
San Beda! 
