By the Numbers: July 3-7

By Paolo Mariano Posted Jul 8th 2013

Week 2 of UAAP Season 76 was even better than opening weekend. We witnessed a pulsating overtime game, an inspired late rally that just fell short, a crazy game-winner off a four-point play, and of course, the yearly skirmish between Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University, with the Green Archers snapping their six-game losing streak to their nemesis. Perhaps overshadowed by that entertaining game is Far Eastern University (FEU), which has stormed to a 3-0 lead in the team standings, proving preseason prognoses wrong.

1997

The year when Ateneo also started the season with a 0-3 record. It’s difficult to fathom now but the Blue Eagles were once considered the whipping boys of the UAAP. That 1997 team, which actually lost its first four games, was coached by Perry Ronquillo and bannered by the likes of John Verayo, twins Brian and Brandon Sison, and current assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga. Two years later, the squad advanced to the Final Four for the first time.

54

The number of points scored by La Salle in the second half versus Ateneo yesterday. After bleeding for only 28 markers in the opening quarters, the Green Archers went on a scoring romp after the break, tallying 31 and 23 points in the third and fourth period, respectively. The Blue Eagles, on the other hand, only managed a combined 33 markers. Guard Almond Vosotros led the finishing charge, scoring 14 of his team-high 19 points in the second half.

36.6

The combined scoring average of FEU’s Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia in their first three games. Clearly, there’s no better backcourt in the league today than the Tamaraws’ prolific duo. They’ve led the Green and Gold to a 3-0 slate and are both among the early scoring leaders with Romeo spearheading the pack with 21.3 PPG and Garcia at the 10th spot with 15.3 PPG. Their offensive production is close to half of the team’s league-leading 81.0 PPG. 

13

The number of offensive rebounds grabbed by University of the East’s (UE) Charles Mammie versus National University last Saturday. It was the most by any player since 2008 when UST’s Jervy Cruz caromed 12 against, curiously, the Red Warriors. Mammie finished with 20 boards, also the most by any player this season. The 6-foot-8 behemoth from Sierra Leone has averaged a double-double of 11.0 PPG and 16.0 RPG in his first two games in the UAAP.

3

The number of current UAAP players who suited up for the RP Youth Team in the 2012 FIBA-Asia Under-18 Championship. They are rookies J-Jay Alejandro (NU) and Kyle Suarez (University of the Philippines) and second year forward Kent Lao (UST). The team, coached by Olsen Racela, finished sixth among 16 teams with a 6-3 record. Also part of the squad are Kris Porter and Mark Olayon, who played for Ateneo and UE, respectively last season.