UAAP Report Card: Tamaraws Give Zero Fs
The word we’re looking for is “parity.”
That’s a good way to explain the chaotic array of wins and losses that many UAAP teams have run into since we issued our first report card. The fanbases of these collegiate squads are often at odds with one another, but if there’s something that unites these fervent supporters, it’s the experience of going on an emotional roller coaster.
Win big and look like a title contender during the weekend, then suffer a humiliating setback the next playdate. Sound familiar?
With the exception of a certain team—you know who I’m talking about—every UAAP squad is within arm’s reach of the others in the standings. It’s been a wildly unpredictable season thus far, and in the pandemonium that has unfolded, the team that has won most consistently will get top marks in our latest set of grades.
Class is in session, dear students of the game. Let’s do this.
Ateneo Blue Eagles
The Grade: B+
They say basketball is a game of runs, and Ateneo is a great example of that adage. Following a humbling defeat to UP on Sept. 19, the Blue Eagles won two consecutive games, getting the better of Adamson and beating NU by 11. Then, in a sequence reminiscent of last year’s Round 1, Ateneo’s momentum was halted by successive losses: a thrilling duel with longtime rival La Salle and a 23-point beatdown at the hands of FEU.
When the Blue Eagles are rolling, their ball movement is prolific (18 assists apiece in their two wins) and their scoring depth is on point, as they demonstrated in the win over NU when they had five players with double-digit scoring. In their two-game skid, however, the Eagles’ 3-point shooting went from subpar (30.4% against DLSU) to horrendous (9.1% against FEU).
Plus, they allowed the Archers to shoot 34 free throws while the Tamaraws took a whopping 42 bonus shots. Say what you will about the officiating, but the Blue Eagles definitely need to review their defensive execution.
Honor Roll
Jared Bahay continues to build his case as the best point guard in the UAAP today, averaging 13.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, and 5.5 apg over the past four games. The frontcourt combination of Shawn Tuano and Drew Bongo also deserves credit for lighting up the scoreboard when opposing defenders focus too much on Ateneo’s guards.
Homework
In their two losses, the Blue Eagles got burned by shooters: They allowed La Salle to shoot 45.5% from deep, and they lost the battle of perimeter scoring in the FEU game (30-12). Containing perimeter points should be a priority for Ateneo as they close out the first round of eliminations.
UST Growling Tigers
The Grade: B
When you’re going through pulsating affairs—like, say, the past three games on UST’s slate—perhaps the wisest reaction you can choose is the stoic demeanor of coach Pido Jarencio: head down, hunched over, indicative of a state of deep prayer.
The Growling Tigers’ guru was spotted in this contemplative mood multiple times in that thrilling Oct. 10 showdown, but ultimately, the basketball gods sided with Reinhard Jumamoy and the NU Bulldogs. Instead of UST capping off their furious rally with an overtime win, it’s their flaws that are thrust under the spotlight now: turnover woes (19.0 miscues per game in this latest stretch) and slow starts (23 points in the first half of the Adamson game, 27 in the first 20 minutes against NU).
UST continues to be a juggernaut on the offensive glass, but extra possessions shouldn’t be equated with extra points. The Growling Tigers need to work on their ball security—something that haunted them even in their win over UE—and their first-half execution so that they can live up to their own Final Four expectations.
Honor Roll
Are we surprised that Collins Akowe is averaging a double-double this season (14.7 ppg and 11.3 rpg over the past three games)? This is exactly what we expected from the reigning UAAP Rookie of the Year, who remains a force to be reckoned with in the paint. Amiel Acido once again deserves his flowers for making all-around contributions to the team; while Landyn Jumawan, who scored a team-high 22 points in that overtime encounter with NU, gets a shoutout as well.
Homework
It’s not rocket science, folks. UST needs to take better care of the ball. Solving the turnover problem can go a long way in preventing sluggish starts.
UP Fighting Maroons
The Grade: B
It’s hard to shake off the stink of two blowout losses, but the UP Fighting Maroons did enough to not flunk their latest test.
Against NU and FEU, the Maroons were a middling team that showed little urgency on the defensive end and collapsed in the face of runs. The same squad that’s constantly touted for its depth could hardly put together a lineup to stop the bleeding as the Bulldogs and Tamaraws went on a rampage.
Then came the La Salle game. Against its rival of the past three seasons, UP made the right roster tweaks: starting Veejay Pre, fielding Dikachi Ududo instead of Francis Nnoruka, giving minutes to Elliot Dimaculangan. For the first time this season, UP had a strong start on both ends of the floor—a development that cushioned the blow of a fierce DLSU rally in the fourth quarter. The Maroons appear to have stumbled on a winning formula, and stringing together Ws is the next task.
Honor Roll
Sometimes, it’s as simple as the biggest stars showing up. For as much attention as Rey Remogat is attracting when he has the ball—and he’s been getting hunted by bigger scorers on the other end as well—his offense has picked up over the past two games (12 against FEU, 20 against La Salle).
Surprise, surprise: When Veejay Pre is on the floor at the same time as Remogat, defenses have to pick their poison. The La Salle game showed how well these two stars can complement each other, with Pre dropping 19 points against the defending champions. Pre also happened to shoot 7-for-17 from the field just like—wait for it—Remogat.
Homework
This past weekend, UP showed drastic improvement in their first-half execution. Now, they have to remember how to sustain leads in the endgame—something that nearly cost them the game when La Salle outscored them 48-38 in the second half on Sunday.
DLSU Green Archers
The Grade: B+
If there’s one thing that the Green Archers have established this season, it’s their clutch gene in the fourth quarter. In this latest four-game stretch, La Salle successfully fended off Ateneo and almost pulled off a comeback win against UP with their endgame execution.
La Salle’s championship composure in crunch time is admirable, but they’ll have to work on some areas to improve their chances in their title retention bid. They’re the second-worst rebounding team in the league, and their losses to FEU and UP were precipitated by subpar starts (as they trailed by exactly 14 points at halftime in both games).
Also, we all know how stacked DLSU is, but Jacob Cortez will have to shoot more efficiently than 30.8% when he’s going up against opponents not named UE. La Salle needs its Cool Cub to put up better shooting clips as Round 2 beckons.
Honor Roll
A showdown with rival school Ateneo and a slugfest with familiar foe UP? For senior guard Jcee Macalalag, it’s just another Wednesday and Sunday. Playing his final year in Taft, Macalalag has come up big as a versatile scorer this past week, putting up 15 points versus the Blue Eagles and dropping 17 points in the UP game. In those two games, Macalalag shot a combined 11-for-14 from the field. Impressive.
Homework
Once again, dealing with free throw woes is a thing in the La Salle camp. And I’m not just talking about performances like the Archers’ 23-of-34 free throw numbers against Ateneo. In each of the two losses to FEU and UP, La Salle took less than 15 bonus shots. For a team equipped with multiple shot-makers, that’s not going to cut it.
UE Red Warriors
The Grade: C+
For one crowd-pumping stretch during the UE-Adamson game on Oct. 11, it looked like the Red Warriors were in prime position to notch their first elimination round win in two years. UE was so locked in on defense that they held the Soaring Falcons to three points(!) in the third quarter, cutting down a 22-point halftime deficit to just eight off a DJ Robles jumper.
In the fourth quarter, though, it was a familiar refrain: UE let their opponents get into their groove again, and it was all downhill from there. Once again, hearts were broken all over Recto, and the Red Warriors have yet to taste victory since they knocked off the NU Bulldogs on Oct. 26, 2024.
Oh, and the Red Warriors were blown out 112-87 by La Salle and defeated 98-87 by UST. Hang in there, Coach Paulo Hubalde.
Honor Roll
I wish I had more substantial things to say about UE other than “Toper Lagat is a bright spot.” Coming off that 30-piece against the Green Archers, Lagat came up with 22 points on 46.7% FG shooting in the Adamson game. Other than Lagat, I can’t really point to any other reliable offensive weapon on the Red Warriors’ lineup. The ceiling (or, more aptly, the floor) of this roster is something that UE’s management will have to address with urgency.
Homework
Review the tape of that third-quarter push against Adamson. UE’s defense in that 10-minute stretch—forcing turnovers, contesting shots with gusto—is a step in the right direction. Keep chipping away, boys.
Adamson Soaring Falcons
The Grade: B
Talk about a team of extremes. Against a stacked UST squad on Oct. 3, the Adamson Soaring Falcons put on a masterclass of shutting down a team in the halfcourt. Then, faced with the challenge of the defiant Red Warriors this past Sunday, Adamson regained its composure in the fourth quarter and held on to their lead to go above .500 once again.
But then, the deficiencies are glaring. There’s that three-point third quarter against UE, and there’s also the 16+ turnovers in the losses to Ateneo and NU. To the Falcons’ credit, they have figured out a great deal of their identity by this point: a team that can lock up a team’s offense and throw away the key. As for their own scoring production, though, the San Marcelino boys will have to avoid those droughts that tend to give their opponents confidence.
Honor Roll
Matthew Montebon continues to look like a beast, and over the past few games, he’s gotten some valuable help from the wings. Matty Erolon poured in 17 points against UST, while Ray Allen Torres scored a team-high 14 points in the NU game.
Adamson has capable scorers, see? They just have to put all the pieces together, day in and day out.
Homework
Execute better in the halfcourt. To make a push for the Final Four, Adamson can’t be a “live by the three, die by the three” type of team. Getting consistent paint touches and unlocking the midrange game can add layers to the Falcons’ offense.
NU Bulldogs
The Grade: A
Six games into the elimination round, the NU Bulldogs continue to be one of the most well-balanced teams in the league, hurting opponents in the shaded lane and from the perimeter. Collapse in the paint, and shooters like Paul Francisco and Mac Alfanta will go off. Extend the defense to the perimeter, and the massive trio of Mo Diassana, PJ Palacielo, and Kenshin Padrones will score at the rim.
As far as signature wins go, the Bulldogs already have two: the 72-64 evisceration of UP on Sept. 26 and the Game of the Year candidate on Oct. 10 against UST. The evidence shows, dear students, that NU can prevail in both blowout encounters and tightly contested events. Now, that’s a scary team.
Honor Roll
Reinhard Jumamoy deserves to be in the spotlight by his lonesome. The Bulldogs’ court general is stuffing the stat sheets, facilitating the team’s offense, and getting buckets when NU needs it the most. Years from now, the UAAP’s media distributors will be replaying the highlight of that 3-point shot off the glass in the extra period against UST. As for Jumamoy’s fired up reaction and clasped hands in grateful prayer? Put that on a reel.
Homework
Protecting leads is an area for improvement that reared its ugly head in the Oct. 3 loss to Ateneo, as well as the thriller against UST. Though NU won one of those games and lost the other, staying locked in on both ends of the floor is something they’ll have to fine-tune if they want to stay atop the standings.
FEU Tamaraws
The Grade: A+
In a highly competitive tournament where most squads are still trying to establish their identity, the FEU Tamaraws have distinguished themselves as the most consistent team in the field.
In the early goings of Season 89, the Tamaraws are the only team that can claim to have pulled off a four-game winning streak. Coach Sean Chambers has translated FEU’s roster continuity into a hard-nosed, well-synchronized ensemble that has taken the UAAP by storm.
The Tamaraws do it with depth. And they do it with rebounding. And they do it by seizing control early in the game, protecting and building on leads, and responding to runs. Shall I go on?
The first round isn’t over yet, but I think it’s safe to say that FEU is as dangerous as they’ve ever been in the Chambers era. Whether it’s against a perennial finalist or a less-heralded team, the host school has shown the complete opposite of hospitality in their bid to make a Final Four return.
Honor Roll
So Kirby Mongcopa is playing in just his sophomore year? No jinxes for this Dumaguete City native, as he has outperformed the likes of Veejay Pre and Luis Pablo these past four games. Also, Jorick Bautista is looking like a solid PBA Draft selection at this point, thanks to his catch-and-shoot greatness and his secondary playmaking.
Homework
The only thing that FEU needs to do is to keep their foot on the gas pedal. That’s it.
