Tams stun Eagles in Game 1

Far Eastern University showed that it is much hungrier in winning the national title beating UAAP champion Ateneo, 75-70, in Game 1 of the 2009 Philippine Collegiate Champions League finals at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Tamaraws clearly saw a perfect replacement to Mark Barroca in first-year guard Ryan Roose Garcia by continuing his scorching ways from Monday's win over San Sebastian to beat the back-to-back winning Blue Eagles.

Garcia, who rose from FEU's Team B roster and a former member of the RP Youth Team, led the Morayta-based squad with 22 points and eight boards along with four assists while Paul Sanga, Reil Cervantes and Pipo Noundou added 15, 14 and 12 points respectively.

With the Eagles controlled of the game from the tipoff, even leading by as much as 14, 26-12, early in the 2nd period but found themselves trailing in the dying minutes of the final quarter no thanks to the perfect 5-of-5 shooting clip of Garcia.

The Eagles struggled in the fourth even as they were held scoreless for over four minutes that paved the way for the Tams to tie the count at 64-all.

FEU gained its second lead of the game, 69-67, courtesy of two free throws from Pipo Noundou with 2:45 remaining in the game. From there, Ateneo misfired majority of the attempts inside the twilight zone, something that FEU capitalized on to snatch the momentum. 

“Nung 1st quarter, alam ko na ang focus nila on defense ay kay RR [Garcia] dahil sa magandang pinakita nya nung last game naming. Natuwa ako at nakuha niya [RR] ang rhythm nya nung 2nd half.” Said Coach Glenn Capacio. 

When asked on how he sees RR in the likeness of Barroca, Capacio added, “Pareho silang magaling pero magkaiba sila ng style [sa paglalaro]. Si Mark [Barroca] kasi is more of a two guard. Si RR [Garcia] naman, iniinvolve nya ang teammates nya. Wala ng ibang patutunguhan si RR sa nilalaro nya kung hindi pataas.”

Graduating guard Jai Reyes led Ateneo with 18 points, four boards and four assists with Nico Salva and Oping Sumalinog adding 14 and 11.

Revenge was served in the curtain-raiser after San Beda, despite a depleted lineup, defeated the San Sebastian Golden Stags, 91-85.

In a fitting farewell, graduating players Bambam Gamalinda, JR Tecson and Jerome Villanueva whiplashed the Stags, who fielded in a complete lineup but with a down-trodden morale due to their heartbreaking OT loss to FEU last Monday.

A see-saw battle in the first three quarters was maneuvered by the Red Lions in the last quarter where they led by as much as 12 points over the boys of coach Ato Agustin. Rome dela Rosa was slapped an unsportmanlike foul in the 2nd period after sticking out his foot on a hustle play involving Pamboy Raymundo. The incident ignited a heated exchange from Rome Dela Rosa and Anthony Del Rio, who was then given a warning.

Turnovers hurt the Stags as they committed 20 against San Beda’s 12. San Beda on the other hand felt the absence of their dominating import Sudan Daniel in the paint as they were outrebounded by the Stags, 51-38.

Leading by 12 under four minutes remaining, the San Sebastian Stags threatened to snatch the game after closing in by four points, 85-89 on a triple coming from Jimbo Aquino with 39 ticks left.

Ian Sangalang turned the ball over in their last play that sealed the win for the Red Lions. 5 Red Lions scored in double figures with Jake Pascual’s double-double performances of 19 points and twelve boards leading the pack.

Garvo Lanete had 11 points and nine assists for San Beda.

Jimbo Aquino, the only graduating player from the Golden Stags’ camp led the NCAA Champs with 20 points and four boards with rookie Ronald Pascual adding 10 points and eleven boards.  

The scores:

First Game

SAN BEDA 91 - Tecson 19, Pascual 19, Gamalinda 18, Lanete 11, Solera 10, dela Rosa 8, Villanueva 6, Lim 0, Soliman 0, Caram 0.

SAN SEBASTIAN 85 - Aquino 20, Sangalang 12, Najorda 10, Raymundo 10, Pascual 10, Abueva 8, Maconocido 7, Bulawan 4, del Rio 3, Semira 1, Gatchalian 0.

Quarters: 24-24; 44-41; 66-63; 91-85.

Second Game

FEU 75 - Garcia 22, Sanga 15, Cervantes 14, Noundou 12, Cawaling 10, Ramos 2, Guerrero 0, Exciminiano 0, Vinluan 0, Knuttel 0, Manalo 0.

ATENEO 70 - Reyes 18, Salva 14, Sumalinog 11, Baclao 7, Golla 6, Buenafe 6, Salamat 6, Long 2, Chua 0, Austria 0, Monfort 0.

Quarters: 12-24; 37-39; 54-60; 75-70.