UP did what they could in the 4th to try and keep their heads above water. At the very least they did not allow Ateneo to add on to the lead. NCAA Round 1 Wrap
The first round of the 84th NCAA senior basketball tournament ended the way it started -- with a dose of board room-influenced decisions.
Last year’s losing finalist Letran succumbed to back-to-back champion San Beda, 67-71, Wednesday but still emerged on top with a 6-1 (win-loss) slate after the first round.
Game Day Wrap: Ateneo-UP, DLSU-NU
UP did what they could in the 4th to try and keep their heads above water. At the very least they did not allow Ateneo to add on to the lead.
But trading baskets was not enough for Season 71's hosts in the pay off period and UP dropped down to 1 - 3 while Ateneo went on the notch their 4th straight win and remain the only undefeated team in the league.
Game Day Wrap: UST-UP, DLSU-FEU
Five players in double figures is a rarity in college hoops, but certainly a welcome one for UST Coach Pido Jarencio as his Tigers broke into the win column for Season 71 against a UP Fighting Maroons that was given a reality check by Season 69's champs.
With 50 percent shooting from the field and scoring 21 points off the 22 turnovers of UP, it was a perfect way to get a first win and look forward to better things as the season progresses. Among the 5 top scorers of UST, it was veteran Dylan Ababu that showed the way with an awesome 20 point performance on 7 for 10 shooting from the field.
NCAA power rankings
A new NCAA season was unveiled again just two weeks back. From seven teams last season, the league is now back with an eight-team cast thanks to the return of its prodigal son, Philippine Christian U, from a one-year suspension.
For the first time here, www.abs-cbnNEWS.com staff is holding its own version of the NCAA power rankings each week. And as usual, the teams that were hyped to figure atop the heap are, expectedly, atop the heap.
Japeth's future
Japeth Aguilar was supposed to play for the Philippine team in the 30th William Jones Cup, which opened in Taipei Thursday. But since the organizers made it next to impossible for the Philippines to join, the opportunity to see Aguilar's development up close will have to wait.
Nevertheless, the forward Ateneo Blue Eagle is looking forward to a much better NCAA season after being injured and benched last season.
Game Day Wrap: UE-NU, Ateneo-Adamson
It was a knockout 3rd quarter run for UE that did in the Bulldogs aspirations of sticking close in the game. The Warriors exploded from beyond the arc as they went 5 for 8 from 3-point land in the quarter. NU on the other hand could hardly buy a basket as the tides were turned and they were held to only 27% FG shooting. UE blasted 30 points in the 3rd to only 13 for NU.
On the other hand the Warriors were coming off a fairly impressive opening day win vs the UST Tigers over the weekend and were looking to begin a winning streak anew.
Game Day Wrap: Ateneo-La Salle, UP-NU
One veteran's promise to come back and one rookie's promise to come in certainly paid of for the Blue and White on Sunday. The Ateneo Blue Eagles survived a back and forth battle with archrival DLSU Green Archers to get a jumpstart to their Season 71 campaign.
Chris Tiu, on his 5th year of duty for Ateneo, combined with steady play from top blue-chip recruit Ryan Buenafe to come out of the gates of Season 71 with a morale-boosting win. It did not come easy for Coach Norman Black's boys as it was an extremely tight game that had 15 deadlocks and 12 lead changes.
Who can stop San Beda?
Saturday's opening of the 84th NCAA season was another demonstration of the might of the San Beda Red Lions. The back-to-back defending champions manhandled host Mapua, 85-56, in front of a huge crowd at the Araneta Coliseum.
In the off-season, the Red Lions kept busy with their recruitment and participation in pre-season tournaments, where some health problems with some players hampered their progress. They also spent two weeks in California in strength training and scrimmages to better prepare for the season.