Tag: preseason

Preseason win ‘nothing’ as Maroons focus on real target: UAAP crown

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UP Fighting Maroons’ Francis Lopez in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

University of the Philippines (UP) retained its status as the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup champion, but it didn’t matter too much for the Fighting Maroons even though they hurdled a familiar, bitter foe.

“To be honest, nothing really. This is just the preseason, like I said, and this is nothing for us,” reigning UAAP Rookie of the Year Francis Lopez said after the Maroons put together a second half comeback for a 69-66 triumph over La Salle on Wednesday night in San Juan City.

It is no secret where the Maroons have their eyes on—a drastically bigger target: Another UAAP crown.

“We just tried to win today and go home cause we have a lot of things to work on,” Lopez, the tournament’s Defensive Player of the Year, nonchalantly said. “This is not really our goal, but we just thank God, [because] we worked really hard for this. Our goal is the UAAP, not this one, so it’s just another game for us.”

UP has become a powerhouse team in the UAAP in the last decade or so, clinching its second championship in 2022 and coming close to adding to that in the next two years only to fall short to Katipunan neighbor Ateneo and then to La Salle.

And UP is not making it a secret that those consecutive heartbreaking seasons are the Maroon’s motivation to be better, the wounds still fresh even for the fans who filled the Filoil EcoOil Centre on Independence Day.

“We’re on a roller coaster. We gotta be consistent about what we do, what we plan about and coach Gold (Monteverde) keeps telling us that we just gotta be consistent,” Lopez said. “If the shots are not going in, you just continue, especially on defense.”

While consistency still has to be worked on by UP, its heart and hunger to win games were exuded by the Maroons, who aren’t wasting any time to improve. They are set to start a training camp in Serbia that will last until June 30 before flying again to South Korea.

“I’d say not even 50 percent,” Lopez said when asked about the readiness of UP. “We have a lot of things to work on like consistency, mostly, and like what coach Gold keeps saying, keeps on telling us, to not be complacent as well.

“So whatever team we face, we can’t be complacent. And that’s what we did tonight (Wednesday).”

Tams bag bronze in preseason tilt, show signs of things to come

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Far Eastern just sent a message to the field of the coming UAAP men’s basketball season that the Tamaraws will be a far different team when the real battle comes.

“We’re not out to just be like wait for our turn, diba? We wanna get out, we’re here, we’re playing, every game is [dedicated] to the FEU community,” rookie head coach Sean Chambers said after steering the Tamaraws to the bronze medal of the Filoil EcoOil Preseason tournament.

Far Eastern showed its grit and never-quit attitude here throughout, highlighting it on Wednesday afternoon with an 80-78 nipping of NCAA power Letran, 80-78.

With the arrival of Chambers, regarded as one of the best PBA imports ever while playing for defunct Alaska, the Tamaraws are looking to turn things around after a disappointing seventh-place finish in Season 86 behind former star LJay Gonzales.

And the former TNT Tropang Giga assistant coach feels nothing but gratitude for having the chance to help the talented Tamaraws.

“I am truly, truly blessed and honored to be part of the FEU organization,” Chambers, who was not shy to admit that he still has a lot to learn with regard to UAAP rules, said. “I feel a complete sense of honor to be back here in the Philippines and get this opportunity.

“This [tournament] is amazing for me because it gives me a slight [idea] of what the UAAP is gonna be like,” he said. “I believe it’s only one way to continue and go up.”

Nothing but praise

Mainstay Jorick Bautista is still a reliable contributor on the offense end for Far Eastern, dropping 21 points on the Knights, while graduating guard Royce Alforque provided leadership for the younger Tams apart from finishing with 19 points and five assists.

“I am just amazed with [Alforque’s] work ethic, his determination and I think his leadership is gonna be so invaluable for us … I know we’re playing with a lot of young guys, but the talent level is amazing,” Chambers said of his ace, who has worked hard after an injury.

Chambers also had nothing but praise for incoming rookie forward Veejay Pre, who posted 13 points and 10 rebounds. He expects the young gun to be an asset when Season 87 unfolds.

“Veejay is gonna have a long career playing basketball,” Chambers said. “I think what’s most impressive about Veejay is that he’s such an amazing kid, too, like he’s such a great guy. He’s one of the hardest working guys everyday, he’s focused on everything.”

Another cog to look forward to is Senegalese big man Mohamed Konateh, who feasted off the boards to come up with 21 rebounds apart from 11 points.

Although it is only a preseason tourney, the Tamaraws believe that the bronze they earned is a sign of better things to come.

“Absolutely,” Chambers said when asked if Far Eastern can build on this. “I told the guys last time that we lost to UP that we’re not playing for show. We wanna continue to work on ourselves and let the chips fall where they fall, and we are out here trying to win.”