By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - July 12, 2008
Defending champion De La Salle and University of Santo Tomas try to recover from disappointing losses last weekend when they go up against similar dangerous rivals today in the 71st UAAP basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The Green Archers tackle Far Eastern University at 4 p.m. while the Growling Tigers collide with the University of the Philippines Maroons in the first game at 2 p.m.
To avoid getting into a 0-2 hole, the Archers have to play tough and smart from start to finish to ward off the expected strong challenge from the Tamaraws.
And to do that, veterans JV Casio, Rico Maierhofer, and James Mangahas and rookies Joshua Webb and LA Revilla have to double their efforts to deny the Morayta-based cagers a second straight win.
Casio finished with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting while Maierhofer had 16 points and grabbed eight boards in their 79-73 loss to Ateneo.
One thing going for Glen Capacio’s wards is that they are coming off a razor-thin 74-71 victory over Adamson University last Saturday.
In that game, FEU overcame a three-point deficit with one minute remaining through the heroics of Jens Knuttel whose huge triple capped the team’s brilliant come-from-behind win.
Last year’s top rookie JR Cawaling is expected to have another strong performance while Riel Cervantes, Mark Barroca, John Alisbo, and team captain Benedict Fernandez will try to help FEU’s cause as well.
Meanwhile, coach Pido Jarencio hopes for another monster efforts from reigning Most Valuable Player Jervy Cruz and Dylan Ababou – both toughened by their stint in the recent PBL tournament.
The two had a strong game in its 78-73 loss to University of the East as Cruz scored 26 points and 22 rebounds while Ababou finished with 15. Big man Chester Taylor will try to equal his 10-point, five-rebound effort he tallied during that game.
Veterans Francis Allera and Japs Cuan are also capable of delivering the goods for the España-based squad.
The Maroons are coming off a morale-boosting 86-72 thrashing of National University that ended a long losing streak. The Fighting Maroons, whose school is celebrating its centennial anniversary, is coming off a winless campaign last season.
Martin Reyes will lead the Diliman-based squad once more after pouring 21 points over the Bulldogs last Sunday. Helping his cause are Mike Gamboa, Andrew Marfori, Jay Agbayani, Magi Sison, and Paul Sorongon.
Both DLSU and UST will play their first game since being involved in the new identification card ruling imposed this season.
The Green Archers were slapped a technical foul even before the start of the game against Ateneo after the coaching staff failed to wear the prescribed ID. The Taft-based school claimed that Jarencioalso failed to wear an ID last Saturday but was not assessed a technical.
Meanwhile, juniors’ basketball action also resumes today at the Blue Eagle gym with Ateneo High School going up against Adamson in the curtain raiser at 9 a.m.
In other games, UST takes on NU, defending champion De La Salle-Zobel battles UE, and UPIS takes on FEU-FERN.
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