Warriors relive glory years

MANILA, Philippines - University of the East’s blend of young and old played in the mold of the once mighty Warriors and claimed a man-sized upset of defending champion National U, 81-68, to win the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup crown at The Arena in Pasig City yesterday.

The Warriors, who had marginal successes since their 1985 UAAP victory although they ruled this tournament five years ago, leaned on a strong finish over the Bulldogs lacking in ferocity minus two of their stalwarts out on fouls midway in the final quarter and claimed the decisive win that virtually boosted their stock in the coming UAAP cage wars.

They overhauled an eight-point deficit in the third period by outscoring the Bulldogs, 34-13, in a swashbuckling fourth quarter performance to nail their first crown since winning this pre-season tournament five years ago.

For UE coach Boyzie Zamar, it all boiled down to execution.

“I’m no magician,” said Zamar in the din of frenzied celebration following his team’s dramatic win. “I told the players before the game to bring their big heart for us to win and they did.”

Roy Sumang came through with a near triple-double effort with 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists, punctuating his superb all-around game with a couple of conversions from isolation plays. He went on to cop the league’s Master MVP trophy.

“This individual award will be meaningless if we didn’t win the title,” said Sumang, who played high school ball for Letran. “Just what I’ve said, we’re sick and tired of losing so we hope to bring our winning ways in the UAAP.”

The last time UE ruled this event was five editions ago with Dindo Pumaren at the helm. Interestingly, the last member of that team who remains with the current squad is JM Noble.

After winning the crown, Zamar and the Warriors said they are now training their sights on the 76th UAAP season which starts June 29 at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

“The UAAP is a completely different thing but it’s nice to enter the season with a big victory here,” said Zamar, whose wards thus matched La Salle’s two victories in the Filoil tilt.

It was a sorry setback for NU, which led majority of the way but lost its grip after Bobby Ray Parks Jr., the reigning back-to-back UAAP MVP, and Emmanuel Mbe fouled one after the other midway in the fourth.

The loss also ended the Bulldogs’ amazing 21-game streak dating back from last year’s staging.

With Parks and Mbe out, the Bulldogs sputtered in offense while enabling the Warriors to penetrate NU’s defense that simply broke down in the absence of the power-playing, tough-defending duo.

In the battle for third place, reigning NCAA three-peat champion San Beda turned back Santo Tomas, 74-70.

Baser Amer led the Lions with 15 points while Rome Dela Rosa, Ola Adeogun, Kyle Pascual and Arthur dela Cruz chipped in 13, 12, 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Sumang and Parks also led Alfred Aroga, also of NU, Ateneo’s Keifer Ravena and Adamson’s Rodney Brondial to the Gatorade Mythical Five with Aroga named as Gatorade’s Defensive Player.

It was actually a double setback for NU, which also bowed to San Beda, 64-60, in the juniors finals with the perennial champions Red Cubs nailing their fourth straight championship.

Jayvee Mocon, who was named Master Juniors MVP, shot 14 points and hauled down 10 rebounds to power the Red Cubs to victory.

In women’s play, Trish Piatos exploded with 16 points, including the game-winning shot with 2.7 seconds, as La Salle edged Far Eastern U, 62-60, to capture the women’s crown.

Meanwhile, San Sebastian’s Ranzel Yong and Michael Calisaan, National U’s Mark Dyke and Letran’s Gerdy Alacre joined Mocon in the Gatorade Mythical Five while the women’s Gatorade Mythical Five was composed of FEU’s Camille Sambile and Vangie Soriano, La Salle’s Ara Abaca, UST’s Lore Rivera and CEU’s Shaddy Ogunsemuyen.

Abaca was the women’s Master MVP while Ogunsemuyen the Gatorade Defensive Player.