Post Game Analysis (SBC vs UPHSD): The Sleeper Has Awakened

The portent of things to come weren't yet apparent as we started very flat as usual with a slow start by our starters. Jett Vidal's two threes gave them an early lead and caused us to shift into running mode as Baser and Ola was sent in; we tied the game at 3:09 left. Both teams employed stifling defense and scores were kept down. Perps got the first quarter, edging us 10-9.

The second quarter was no different as it was a drag-out defensive combat by both teams. But the Perps managed to get away with a couple of threes, and they once more outscored us to take the second, 22-17. We only scored 8 points in the second period as the Perps forced turnovers against us. By halftime, we already had 14 turnovers, with Ola accounting for 6; that was due to Omorogbe's steals of entry passes to him; he had five of the Perps' total of 6 and all of his were against Ola.

The third quarter saw us turn to our running game as we doubled our 1st half total with 18 points. Ola started to work down low as he weighed in for 7 points; Baser Amer, Jake Pascual and Art dela Cruz made their presence felt as well with inside incursions and an occasional jumper. However, Omorogbe, George Allen and Vidal also got going and the Perps almost tied our scoring in the third with 17; that was enough for them to take the quarter, 39-35.

The fourth quarter saw us finally doing the right things at the right time; Ola was able to make his presence felt even more as he in tandem with Baser Amer kept us afloat with his inside scoring and bonus plays. Amer, Caram and Jake Pascual also scored in the pivotal overtaking run. It was not yet truly over as Jett Vidal tied the game with less than a minute left. But we made the decisive stops and Baser and Ola gave us the game with charities to finally eliminate the hard fighting Perps, 56-52.

Ola was the only Red Lion to score double figures in scoring with 23; his best performance to date occurred in the fourth as we found a way to get him the ball down low and he scored nine points on and-1 plays. He made 6 out 8 attempts from the field and was near-flawless from the line with 11/12. He also grabbed 14 rebounds, and blocked two shots. He had only one turnover more in the second half as he finally took good care of the ball and imposed his will down low.

Baser Amer scored nine points but six of them was in the critical fourth from teardrop shots and charities that iced the game. He unbelievably was second among ALL players in rebounding with 10 defensive and a total of 12. The last one to do such a feat was another great Bedan point guard, Borgie Hermida. Amer also stole the ball thrice and blocked one shot in the second half.

Our outside shooting deserted us; most of our conversions were layups, put-backs and charities. We attempted nine threes and converted none of them. The defensive assignments may have taken a toll on our shooters: the Perps were also ready for them as they covered our perimeter well; Melo Lim, tasked to shadow Jett Vidal, wasn't able to duplicate his three-of-four performance against the Stags. Baser fared worse, converting none of his four attempts. The Perps however relied too much on outside shooting as they attempted 28 threes to make eight. Their combined shooting clip was 19 of 70 attempts for 27 percent.

We won the battle of the boards, 52-41 out of this we were able to convert 13 points on putbacks and bonus FTs. We also turned the ball 24 times, one of our worst this season; the Perps were able to convert 12 points off them, particularly in the 1st half. Though the Perps coughed up the ball less, we however got back the 12 points we gave away from our TOs.

We shut down Jett Vidal with some success, as his scoring dropped from 28 in the 1st meeting to 20 in the 2nd down to 15 this game. Volume shooter to the end, he shot 3/12 3-pointers and 3/11 twos; he muffed two critical free throws off an SBC technical that might have changed the outcome. We totally shut down Earl Thompson who made none today; Omorogbe and Allen made up for that though, and gave us anxious moments the whole game.

It would seem that we gave the Perps a nice sendoff; on the contrary, they fought for their lives and took it to us and we had to dig deep to fight them off. That will serve us in good stead next week.

NOW our title defense will TRULY begin.

The Scores:

San Beda  56 - Adeogon 23, Amer 9, Dela Cruz, 7, Caram 6, Pascual J 6, Dela Rosa 5, Pascual K 0, Lim 0, Koga 0, Mendoza 0, Ludovice 0

Perpetual Help  52 - Vidal 15, Omorogbe 15, Allen 9, Alano 5, Elopre 4, Babayemi 4, Arboleda 0, Thompson 0, Paulino 0, Jolangcob 0

Quarterscores: 9-10, 17-22, 35-39, 56-52

source: Mr. Mon Latorre, San Beda Red Lions FB page