So many things have happened during the first five weeks of the UAAP season, with close games and number of crowds to non-stop controversies and off-court incidents and speculations.
Last night, we listed our first round awardees in the NCAA but now is the turn of the UAAP to get some citations in time for the start of the second round action.
Most Valuable Player: Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Ateneo Blue Eagles
While Jervy Cruz is leading the pack in the statistical points' race after the first round, Al-Hussaini has made a surprising performance for the league-leading Blue Eagles. The Fil-Kuwaiti standout is averaging close to double-figures at 14.6 points and 9.9 rebounds.
Perhaps the best output of the first round came from him after scoring 33 points and 20 rebounds that saw him score 18 of the team's 20 points at one point of the contest versus FEU. Too bad they lost but still, it is one of the single best individual outputs in the league.
Honorable Mention: JV Casio (La Salle), Dylan Ababou (UST), Rico Maierhofer (La Salle). Jervy Cruz (UST)
====================================================
Most 'Malamya' Player: Marcy Arellano, UE Red Warriors
Arellano was expected to put up a strong season for UE after a strong stint with the PBL's Burger King Whoppers. But thus far, the only things he can do are his 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists numbers.
His shooting, which has been his main weapon since earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2004, has been off and good thing James Martinez and rookie Paul Zamar are hitting well from the outside. It would be interesting to see how he will fair up come the second round.
Bote Na Lang 'Di Ako Na-Mention: JR Cawaling (FEU), Khasim Mirza (UST), Bader Malabes (La Salle), Jerick Canada (Adamson)
=====================================================
Rookie of the First Round: Ryan Buenafe, Ateneo Blue Eagles
Undoubtedly the best rookie of the first round and the former San Sebastian Staglet is as good as advertised, averaging 8.9 points (tops among rookies) in 21 minutes of action.
He doesn’t play like a rookie and has a much higher maturity to go with it.
The problem though is that teams have learned to respect Buenafe and probably he has also been affected by the hype that surrounded him. But nonetheless, if he improves his game in the coming games or even in the next few years, he’ll be one hell of a player.
Honorable Mention: Maui Villanueva (La Salle), Paul Zamar (UE), Clark Bautista (UST), Jeric Fortuna (UST)
=====================================================
Coach of the First Round: Glenn Capacio, FEU Tamaraws
The Tamaraws are off to their best UAAP start since probably the 2005 championship season. Capacio has made Benedict Fernandez into a potent scorer while making Aldrech Ramos and Riel Cervantes a huge presence in the pivot. And when the Baracael incident ensued, he coached the team through the distractions that earned them a tie with La Salle for second place (although they were stunned by winless NU last Sunday).
Honorable Mention: Norman Black (Ateneo), Franz Pumaren (La Salle)
===================================================
Stat Line of the First Round: Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Ateneo Blue Eagles
Al-Hussaini was truly unstoppable against FEU scoring 33 points and 20 rebounds. And the thing is, he didn’t dominate the way usual offensive-oriented big man would do, he just grabbed the offensive boards, moved around the court and the points came. It’s just a travesty that Al-Hussaini got no support whatsoever from the rest of his teammates and lost by six points.
Honorable Mention: Jervy Cruz (26 points, 22 rebounds vs UE), Peejay Barua (26 points, 6-for-8 3pt shooting vs NU), Benedict Fernandez (24 points, 8-for-13 shooting, six rebounds vs UST)
====================================================
Quote of the First Round: Glenn Capacio, FEU Tamaraws
"Basta buhay lang si Macmac, para na kaming nagchampion," Capacio said twice in their two wins following the Mac Baracael shooting. Maybe this line would be used every often if in case they win a UAAP title.
Honorable Mention: FEU's Anton Montinola making a "*" comment on DLSU's win against them in relation to referee Bryan Tabanag’s suspension, Franz Pumaren's countering Montinola's comments (which can be read on GreenArchers.ph, and why we in the print didn't make a story out of it? Because it might and eventually could turn into an ugly verbal war)
=====================================================
Game of the First Round: FEU Tamaraws vs UE Red Warriors (July 26)
The game was an emotional one for FEU because of the Mac Baracael incident and despite being distracted they pulled through to get a slim 71-69 win over UE as Benedict Fernandez and Mark Barroca stepped up for the Tams.
It’s just too bad that even this game was a part of the never-ending saga of controversies that the UAAP dealt with in the first round. Marlon Adolfo shot a ball with no time left on the shot clock with the Red Warriors up by three points with three minutes to go, which forced UE to file a protest, to no avail.
Honorable Mention: Ateneo vs La Salle (July 6), FEU vs Ateneo (July 31), Adamson vs UE (July 20), NU vs FEU (August 3)
===================================================
The Best On-Court Controversy of the First Round: The ID rule
The first controversy of the season is the most dubious distinction of the first round. While the rule has good intentions on having coaches follow the rules on wearing identification cards, it’s unfair for DLSU, or any other team for that matter, to be slapped with a technical foul when that infraction hasn’t have any effect on the game at all.
Taken the quote from UAAP officials, “games are won on the court” and unfortunately having teams granted two technical free throws because of an ID isn’t a good way to promote the saying.
Honorable Mention: UE protest with 100,000-peso cash bond to pay, referees' getting suspended
====================================================
'I Hope We Won't See This Ever Again in the UAAP' Citation: Mac Baracael shooting 
Seriously speaking, read between the lines hopefully none of these players with dreams and potentials of playing basketball would be ever involved in this situation again.
=====================================================
Best Uniform: FEU Tamaraws
They have reverted back to a much more darker green colors to remind us the heydays of Arwind Santos and even going further to Ronald Magtulis, Rysal Castro, and Celino Cruz. Those colors truly fit the Tamaraws and the FEU letterings contribute well to the simplicity.
Honorable Mention: UE Red Warriors, UST Growling Tigers, NU Bulldogs (yes, the jerseys are growing on me)
=====================================================
Worst Uniform: De La Salle Green Archers
Their green colors have come from dark green (Renren Ritualo era), to La Salle green, to a light green which would remind you of a color of a guava that you can buy in the market. Maybe the shift to Adidas was not a good move.
Honorable Mention: Ateneo having black colors in their blue and white decals
====================================================
Best Crowd: UE fans
In fairness to traditional-like cheers of Ateneo and La Salle, and to the other fans going to the venue, UE is like the JRU of the UAAP, they always root to their lungs and has a bit of unique cheers to go with it.
Honorable Mention: Ateneo, La Salle, UST, and FEU fans
====================================================
Least Crowd: NU fans
Hopefully, NU fans can come up with a group of fans called ‘The Dog Pound’ and they will shout “HU LET DA DOGS AWT?!” during games to reflect on their monicker. Despite the low turnout, their fiesta-like band adds flavor to a drum-dominated UAAP tournament.
Honorable Mention: UP fans
====================================================
Best Annoying Scalpers: ULTRA scalpers
They will quickly come to your attention, especially if you just came down from your own car or a taxi or tricycle. The usual question would be "Sir (or Mam) Ticket! Sang side niyo gusto?" and if they saw you with a UAAP ID, the annoyance resumes with them remarking "Baka may extra ticket ka dyan?"
====================================================
Sound of the First Round: "Burger! Burger!"
A new feature by ABS-CBN Sports and sponsored by McDonalds. They would always feature a former player in attendance and then some voices would come out and say "Burger! Burger!” ika nga sa tagalog “Pacheeseburger ka naman!”
Honorable Mention: Rolly Manlapaz and his distinctive role as a coliseum barker (he can be annoying at times though mostly going overboard with his “THIELEEHHH!!”) -> [so true!! hahaha.. :))]
====================================================
'Cheap promotional plug' Award: Head and Shoulders Crucial Stop Replay
As evidence by the additional corporate sponsors in slow-mo replays this year, ABS put up this Head and Shoulders Crucial Stop replay. The problem though is that most of those 'crucial stops' are long heave passes that are easy turnovers and also the likes of Dylan Ababou losing the ball in the air while attempting a shot, what the hell?
====================================================
‘We miss Sev Sarmienta’ Award: No Sev Sarmienta in UAAP broadcasts
Sev Sarmienta isn’t covering the games on television for ABS-CBN; rumors had it that he became frustrated of one incident. His loss has gravely affected their TV coverage with their current commentators struggling to pick up the slack.
from UBelt.com (by Jonas Terrado) - http://ubelt.com/blogs/jonasterrado/viewpost.aspx?id=845
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
in fairness, totoo lahat ah. hahaha.. :))
yung sa ULTRA Scalpers, grabeh, ilang beses ko na silang nakadaupang-palad (lalim noh!). tuwing na lang pumupunta ko sa ULTRA para manood, lagi na lang may lalapit sakin at mag-aalok ng ticket. eh problema naman, ang mahal ng benta nila! halos doble nung dun sa ticket box. tsaka di naman nagkaka-ubusan ng tickets eh. so bat ako bibili sa kanila?
tas yung dun sa 'coliseum barker' daw, hahaha talaga. TRUE!! :))
minsan nga naiirita na ko pag nakaka-shoot si Thiele eh. kasi lagi na lang "THHIIEEEELLEEEEEE" ang naririnig sa TV. :))
pati yung "Burger! Burger!" na yun, nakakaasar pakinggan. kairita. :))
o seryoso naman.
Honorable (?) Mention ang UP sa Least Crowd ah. dapat bang matuwa na kahit pano eh na-mention naman tayo sa awards? :-|
0 comments:
Post a Comment