Game Analysis Vs. LPU (JUNE 24)

Déjà vu. Last year we lost to Perpetual after that momentous Super Sunday. 

This year we lose to the Lyceum Pirates in our second game out, getting outshot, outhustled and falling into a big hole but fighting back in the fourth only to come up short, 66-70.

SBC Boxscore: Amer 18, Adeogun 11, Abarcar 9, Koga 8, dela Cruz 8, A. Semerad 5, DJSemerad 3, dela Rosa 2, Villaruz 2, Pascual 0, Bonsubre 0, Mendoza 0. 

Quarterscores: SBC 22-18, 35-28, 56-48, 70-66

LPU jumped the gun at us by scoring the first two shots, 0-4. Baser Amer answers with a long baseline jumper 2-4. LPU scores five straight points, three coming off a wide open three from Taladua. Art dela Cruz scores on a short jumper and Amer scores on a fastbreak off a dela Cruz outlet pass, 9-12. We trade baskets at 11-14 before Shane Ko once more attacks our defense with another floater, 11-16. However, Francis Abarcar buries a three, Amer scores off a delaCruz feed and Abarcar again scores on a split as we overtake the Pirates,17-16. Free throws from Ola Adeogun and a three from Ant Semerad sandwich two charities by LPU,and we take the first,22-18. 

The second quarter was the team’s Waterloo as we only scored a measly six points while the Pirates rained 17 on us. Ola scored five while DJSemerad could only split his charities. The defense was a step slow, and the Pirates had an unusually high shooting percentage. We had no outside shooting and our bigs, particularly Ola, were double teamed once they got passes own low. The Pirates had four blocks by this time against only one from us. Our game was flat and lacking energy; errors hounded us all throughout. The Pirates closed the half leading 28-35.

LPU once more jumps the guns in the third with a Shane Ko basket off Ola, 28-37. We make a 7-0 counter run with an Art del Cruz follow-up, a Baser Amer fastbreak two and a three-pointer to come within two, 35-37. However, LPU’s Baltazar buries a three to end the run; Ola muscles in for two in reply, 37-40. But Shane Ko scores on a floater and Baltazar again sinks a three to up their lead, 37-45. Abarcar replies with twin charities but LPU again scores on a 5-0 run, 39-50. Richie Villaruz scores his first points for the season on a jumper and Abarcar scores again on a split. Koga and DJ Semerad score but LPU answers back to take the third 48-56.

We had no answer for their outside shooting as they were a step ahead. Our interior defense was shredded. And we had to bleed for our points. 

LPU put us in dire straits in the fourth as they built their lead to fifteen; all their shots seemed to fall in, whether inside or out. It appeared to be all over at the six-minute mark as Rome dela Rosa, Koga and Ant Semerad’s efforts were answered in kind by the Pirates, who led, 56-68. 

However, with 3: 47 left, the Red Lions suddenly came to life as Baser Amer, Ryusei Koga, Ola Adeogun and Art delaCruz made a 10-point run and the team made defensive stops to come within two, 66-68 with 40 seconds left. But Ola fouls out at this critical moment and with 14 seconds left Baser Amer launched a three point shot that missed. The Pirates grabbed the rebound and sealed the deal on Shane Ko charities,66-70. Ko led the Pirates with 23 points on 9/13 shooting.

Lots of things went wrong for us. But this is not the first time this happened. Most likely we were also scouted well.

It’s back to the drawing board again. Time to rest, recuperate, and re-evaluate.

But hey, we’ve been through this before.

Stay the course guys.

Thank you to Sir Mon Lattore