Newcomer Fatima University came from 20 points down to outlast perennial contender New Era University 78 - 77 in overtime, giving head coach and former PBA player Rency Bajar his first official victory in the NAASCU.
Both teams came out very tentative and overeager, as the first period turned into a mess of turnovers, sloppy passing, and slipping and sliding, compounded by humidity in the ancient Pasay Sports Center. Early afternoon rains did nothing to help alleviate the slipping and sliding. The first period ended at a grade school-age group like score of 9-4 in favor of New Era.
With rotund 6'3" center Mike Lopez, 5'9" guard Jun Castillo and shifty 6'2" swingman Symon Santos on the firing end, the Hunters of head coach Adonis Tierra errected the 30-13 lead late into the second period. Tierra's boys just barely missed the Final 4 last season and are dark horses again this season.
That lead ballooned to as much as 44-24 late in the third period, as Bajar's boys just could not seem to sustain any kind of run. Anytime the Phoenix threatened, the Hunters had an answer. Lopez and burly 6'4" power forward Boy Sevilla were even taunting the Phoenix players as well as the Fatima gallery with roughhouse tactics and swinging elbows.
In the payoff fourth period though it became an altogether different contest. Better defense and rebounding for the Phoenix got the key stops on one end, but poor foul shooting threatened to blunt their rally. 6'2" forward Easy Lover "Ace" San Juan, 6'2" forward-center Randy Basco, 5'8" pointguard Lester Panes, 6'3" center Ralph Monserat and 6'1" swingman Paolo Guidaben, put together a searing rally that erased the New Era lead. Guidaben hit the go-ahead trey from the corner with Santos in his face to make it 62-61 for Fatima. He then made it 64-61 with a steal and a transition layup.
Stunned shitless, New Era sued for time and were all over the referees. By this time the roughhousing duo of Lopez and Sevilla had fouled out after numerous warnings by the game officials. Santos tied the count with a last-second layup at 65-all after Panes missed three out of four freethrows on the Fatima end sending the game into overtime.
In the extra period it looked like it would be more of the same. Possessions were being bled for and freethrows were being missed. Santos made it 75-all with time under a minute and a half. Fatima however just proved steadier in the dying seconds, and they made sure no miracles would be forthcoming for the Hunters to hang on for the final count.
Bedlam ensued when the final buzzer sounded, as the upstart Phoenix completed one hell of a debut against an experienced and talented foe. "We showed na may puso tayo, na hindi tayo bumibitaw, but we also have to learn from our mistakes," said Bajar in the post-game huddle.
AMA, the Season 6 champion, is up next for the Phoenix.
 |
Reply With Quote
