After all the build up and anticipation for an impending W, it was another upset for the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons as they failed to shrug off the big I-N-C-O-N-S-I-S-T-E-N-C-I-E-S in their armor: assist and defense.
UAAP's first game tussle yesterday between the Maroons and the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors again went down-the-wire with the Recto-based squad prevailing 81-72 in the final minute of regulation.
It was a game of rallies with the Maroons starting strong and falling 11 points behind at the half. The third period, arguably UP's strongest suit, saw the Diliman-based team blister to a 14-2 run.
At one point in the 4th quarter, UP was up by 10 markers until UE's sweet-shooting Val Acuna made three straight triples evening the playing field.
When the going gets tough, the tough gets going, so they say. Unfortunately, UP wasn't the tough cookie yesterday as they forgot to make the extra passes and softened the 2-3 zone that pressured UE's point guards in the third period.
And then it was all UE as their veterans Elmer Espiritu and Paul Lee took over. A backdoor eye-in-the-sky play with Lee passing and Espiritu laying in the spheroid broke the horse's back.
To recall, the Warriors escaped with a 77-69 overtime win against the Maroons during the first round of UAAP's 72nd Season thanks to the three point heave of Acuna sending the game to overtime.
The Warriors was led by Lee's 21 points, Acuna's 17 points and Espiritu's 16 points and eight rebounds. Meanwhile, Mark Lopez top-scored for the Maroons with 14 points and 7 rebounds.
NOTE:
Let me just point at one glaring stat: UP, who shares the #1 spot with ADMU in the assist board, only had one assist in the 4th quarter. UP has to realize that they don't have a go-to-guy in the mold of a James Yap (EU) or Mac Cardona (La Salle), who can create his own shot.
Yes, Lopez has some hops and Woody Co can burn the net from outside the arc, but I certainly didn't see them asking for the ball and making crucial shots in the dying seconds of the game.
Because they didn't swing the ball around, and they failed to find the open guy, it was easier for UE's defense to clamp down on their shooters. Mind you, this season they have pretty decent ones in Co, Mickey Reyes and Martin Reyes, but what can they do without the rock?
Still, I think all is not lost for UP. Although they only have three wins so far this season, one cannot deny the mark improvements in their game. Nowadays, they're showing signs of mental toughness, fighting off double-digit leads and even frustrating powerhouse teams Ateneo and La Salle. All they have to do is be more CONSISTENT and capitalize on their strength, which is passing.
Other game:
La Salle: 68 UST: 64
©Grace Ramos
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