Monday, September 13, 2004
USJ-R ends 2-game losing skid in Cesafi
By GLENN C. MICHELENA
Sun.Star Correspondent
SPITFIRE Vernini Tangarorang may have succeeded in carrying the University of San Carlos Warriors to an upset win over the University of Cebu Webmasters last week, but last night he ran into a brick wall named Luke Justiniani.
The 6-foot Justiniani’s unforgiving defensive job on the 5-foot-5 Tangarorang, coupled with the late-game offensive explosion of Ian Saladaga and Herbert Ar-rellano, powered the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars to an 81-69 victory over the Warriors last night In the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. basketball at the USC Gym.
Baby Jaguars
The Jaguars’ win, their second in four games, snapped their two-game losing skid and capped a pleasant run by the USJ-R basketball program in yesterday’s quadruple-header as their Junior comrades – the USJ-R Baby Jaguars – made a breakthrough by posting their first-ever win of the season.
The Baby Jaguars ended their three-game slide with a thrilling 73-71 victory over the University of Southern Philippines Baby Panthers, while Don Bosco Technology Center made a 145-49 demolition job of the Cebu Eastern College Dragons. The University of the Visayas Baby Lancers, meantime, got back from their first loss to UC last Saturday with 100-71 victory over the Cebu Institute of Technology Wildkittens.
The day’s most remarkable story, however, remains the Jaguars’ spectacular closure of USC.
Down by one after the half, USJ-R rode on an unusually smooth offensive execution and Justiniani’s blanket job on Tangarorang to post a 57-52 thirdquarter lead, before Arellano, Saladaga and Justiniani laid down the finishing blow in the final quarter.
Arellano scored 12 fourth-quarter points, including back-to-back 3-pointers in the final minute that allowed the Jaguars to take a 79-69 lead with only 50 seconds to go, while Saladaga and Justiniani provided the backup firepower as USJ-R rolled away with the win.
USJ-R’s punishing offensive wind-up notwithstanding, the most pivotal factor in their victory was Justiniani’s unforgiving defensive job on Tangarorang, USC’s lightning-quick point man who single-handedly shot down the UC Webmasters last week.
Tangarorang scored 16 points in that game, including USC’s last five points, and virtually dismantled the UC defense with his speed and passing ability.
Shut down
Wary of Tangarorang, coach Jun Tan moved Justiniani to the point from his customary shooting-guard position and assigned him to shut down Tangarorang at all costs. Mission accomplished.
“I always thought we needed a big point guard who can score in order to exploit Tangarorang’s size on the offensive and defensive end,” said Tan.
“Luke (Justiniani) did a marvelous job in shutting down Tangarorang’s drives and outside jumpers, as well as his passing vision. That was a big factor in our win tonight.”
Not only that, Tangarorang had an agonizing time in defending Justiani. Tangarorang surrendered 16 Justiniani points and piled up the bad shots, turnovers, and botched passes en route to a dismal six-point performance.
(Juniors) DBTC (145) – Perez 29, Garcia 20, Enterina 19, Cañada 18, Timbal 13, Acha 10, Bosque 10, Sumalinog 8, Lim 6, Suarez 6, Malig-on 2. CEC (49) – Uy 14, Alegado 10, Lee 10, L. Yap 6, Cisneros 3, Haw 2, Angcay 2.
USJ-R (73) – Villaher-mosa 19, Bibera 18, Rosales 8, Suliman 5, Importante 5, Imai 5, Macasero 3, Dei-parine 2, Manalili 2, Caba-nig 2, Abatayo 2, Caparros 2. USP (71) – Rivera 23, Hermosa 14, Olsen 9, Fer-raren 7, Alburo 6, Sabaldan 4, Diez 2, Bautista 2, Dysam 2, Tiro 2.
UV (100) – L. Cabahug 22, Lasala 17, Nudalo 9, Avila 8, Bucao 7, Quintaña 6, Maunes 6, Lura 5, Cañada 4, Avila 4, Cabanilla 4, Belocura 4, Cabahug 2, Herruela 2. CIT (66) – Abia 22, Sapanta 15, dela Cerna 12, Alvarez 8, Diaz 4, Dimaapi 2, Labagala 2, Rebaño 1.
(Seniors) USJ-R (81) – Saladaga 21, Justiniani 16, Arellano 15, Lozano 12, Pogoy 7, Malinao 4, Cali-nawan 3, Murillo 3. USC (69) – Sugian 22, Loyola 14, Ramirez 9, DeIparine 8, Igao 7, Tangarorang 6, Lanosa 2, Sharma 1.
(September 13, 2004 issue)
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