For the first time since 2017, the De La Salle Archers are back in the UAAP men’s basketball finals after blasting the National University Bulldogs 97-73 in their Season 86 Final Four encounter at the Araneta Coliseum Saturday. Ilonggo Mark Nonoy from La Carlota, Negros Occidental exploded for 20 points including 4 triples while MVP frontrunner Kevin Quiambao fired 17 points while hauling eight rebounds. Evan Nelle added 15 with Mike Philips scoring 11 and grabbing 10 boards. The Archers were just too much for the Bulldogs, even leading by 24 points in the second half. Jake Figueroa finished with 19 points alongside 9 rebounds for the Bulldogs with Mike Malonzo chipping in 13. La Salle won their ninth straight game dating from the elimination round. La Salle will battle University of the Philippines on Wednesday with a hope of finally ending its title drought. In 2017, La Salle with two-time MVP Ben Mbala lost to Ateneo in three games. The Archers’ head coach Topex Robinson said,“This could be the year for La Salle”. Animo!
Ateneo bows out
While bitter rival La Salle goes to the Finals, the Ateneo Blue Eagles bowed out of the championship for the first time in eight years. The UP Fighting Maroons routed the Blue Eagles 57-46 in the other Final Four game to arrange a showdown with De La Salle. Coach Tab Baldwin, who steered Ateneo to four championships, said it was hard to continue with their dynasty, with new faces in the team that included Mason Amos, Chris Koon, Jared Brown and Kat Ballungay. The Blue Eagles almost didn’t make the Final Four and had to beat the Adamson Falcons to reach the semifinals. Reigning MVP Malick Diouff was just unstoppable scoring 12 points with 16 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocks. Francis Lopez also scored 12 points with 10 rebounds for the Fighting Maroons. The Blue Eagles could not find their groove all night with Chris Koon as the only double-digit scorer with 10 points. Kain Ballungay finished with 8 markers and Mason Amos firing 6. Ateneo, thus, ended its Finals appearances streak of six straight seasons.
Bataan Death March Ultramarathon
As I write this column, the Bataan Death March Ultramarathon fires off from kilometer 0 in Mariviles, Bataan. 83-year old Ernie Ledesma hopes to become the oldest finisher of the lung-busting race, covering 102 kilometers, finishing at the train station in San Fernando, Pampanga. Retired general Jovie Narcise organized the first ultramarathon in the country.Jonel Mendoza and yours truly organized the first ultramarathon in Cebu in 2010 with runners starting at Mt. Manunggal in Balamban and finishing at the Cebu Provincial Capitol.
Notes: As I was finishing this column, flash report from Pampanga said Wilfredo Mauricio was the first finisher in 10:29:40.