UAAP: Tams punish Maroons

Tams punish Maroons, inch closer to top seed

FEU bench shames UP's, 36-4

By Josiah Israel Albelda

5 September 2010

No upset this time. Call it no mercy.


Far Eastern University inched closer to securing the top seed after crushing still-winless University of the Philippines, 70 - 48, for their 11th victory in the 73rd UAAP men's basketball tournament Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.


There was no letting up for the Tamaraws as they bucked a slow start to drop a crippling 24-2 bomb bridging the first and second quarters that took the fight out of the luckless Fighting Maroons, which crashed to their 13th straight loss.


The win, likewise, served as a buffer for the Morayta-based five, who will meet rival and defending back-to-back champion Ateneo de Manila on Saturday.


"Mahirap pala if you play a non-bearing game and you have four players running for the Mythical Five," coach Glenn Capacio told reporters of his team's lackluster start.


"Nawala kami sa sistema."


Leading MVP candidates Ryan Roose Garcia and Aldrech Ramos, and standouts Terrence Romeo and Reil Cervantes are all slugging out for awards this season.


Fortunately for the Tamaraws, their bench, spearheaded by Gryann Mendoza and Pippo Noundou, stepped up big time and outscored the unproductive Maroons second-stringers, 36 - 4. 


"Happy ako kase nag step up ang second stringers ko," Capacio added.  


UP's four bench points was the lowest in seven years, the last when National University managed only two markers against the Blue Eagles in August 28, 2003.


The Maroons didn't help their cause by shooting awfully awful from beyond the arc, draining only two of 23 attempts in the worst shooting performance of the season.


Also reflecting the Diliman squad's struggles is the fact that only five out of the 12 players who entered the game broke into the scoreboard.


Now, they face the prospects of yet another fruitless season. As a matter of fact, they are staring at the reality of a second 0 -14 card in four years.


UP locks horns with a rejuvenated University of the East side next Saturday as they try to avert a sweep - a complete turnaround after not a few pundits put them into Final Four consideration in the preseason.


Injuries, bad luck and a horde of other reasons, however, sent the Maroons into their worst year in recent memory.


Four players did not dress up for the game due to - you got it right - injuries: Mark Lopez, Woody Co, Carlo Gomez and Miggy Maniego.


The scores: 


FEU (70) - Garcia 12, Cervantes 9, Mendoza 8, Noundou 8, Romeo 7, Bringas 6, Ramos 6, Knuttel 6, Cawaling 5, Guerrero 2, Exciminiano 1, Cruz 0, Sanga 0


UP (48) - Padilla 17, Sison 14, Reyes 9, Pascual 4, Juruena 4, Silungan 0, Saret 0, Manuel 0, Evangelista 0, Reyes 0, Hipolito 0, Gingerich 0


Quarterscores: 7 - 8; 28 - 18; 47 - 36; 70 - 48

UAAP: Capacio rues officiating, calls for changes

Capacio rues officiating, calls for changes

Montinola says no to elevating issue to UAAP Board

By Josiah Israel Albelda

An obviously dejected Far Eastern University coach Glenn Capacio walked into the press room, still reeling from a bruising match his Tamaraws just had with a resurgent University of the East side.

The ex-PBA defensive ace didn't wait for reporters to ask questions and minced no words.

"Wala ba kayong magagawa para mag-improve ang officiating sa UAAP?" he rued. "Kase kawawa yung coaches dito e. Nagpreprepare ka for ilang months tapos gaganituhin ka lang?"

"Hindi biro-biro yung stress na binibigay nila sa amin niyan."

Capacio didn't hide his frustration, citing that the game was actually over in the first half but the referees allowed the Red Warriors to slowly climb back into the game and get a shot at pulling the rug from under the referees.

"Di ko alam kung anong plano nila," he said. "Alam naman ng lahat ng nanonoood kung ano yung nangyayari. Kaya sana may magawang pagbabago para gumanda yung liga."

"Naaawa lang ako sa players ko, nagpapakamatay sa loob ng court," added the three-year coach. "Kulang na lang sipain kami sa loob bago matawagan ng foul."

Even with what was happening, Capacio said that he just told his players to focus on the game, give their best and simply not mind the "bum calls."

The Tamaraws, especially birthday boy Reil Cervantes, responded well, canning two crucial baskets in overtime as the league leaders upended the Red Warriors, 83 - 77.

FEU team manager Anton Montinola, meanwhile, told Bilog ang Bola that he is not keen on elevating the issue to the UAAP Board.

"The game is over," he shared. "The commissioner is highly competent. He will review the tape and act accordingly." 

There is no report yet if the Commissioner's Office will mete suspensions on the team of referees led by Arnulfo Bermeo as it did earlier in Season 73. ###