By JOAHNA LEI E. CASILAO and MA. LEANDREA A. TAMARES
THE FACULTY of Arts and Letters (AB) basketball teams dominated in their opening games in this year’s Thomasian Goodwill Games, with the men’s team sweeping the Alfredo M. Velayo (AMV) College of Accountancy, 72-58, while the women overcame the Institute of Information and Computing Sciences (IICS), 50-18.
AB Men’s readable passes and lack of rebounds in the first quarter allowed AMV a 10-point lead. The team decreased the deficit to four points through more aggressive attacks, 16-12.
Nicko Bahia and Paul Lopez led AB’s offense in the second quarter with two three-pointers each, forcing four deadlocks. AMV could not regain their footing and allowed AB to take the lead and end the quarter, 34-28.
AB’s 15-point lead in the third quarter was cut to half after AMV tightened their defense. The team maintained the eight-point lead through offensive and defensive rebounds despite the struggle, 52-44.
The men in blue’s offense, coupled with good passes, proved too strong for AMV’s tight defense. Foul-riddled plays narrowed AMV’s deficit.
“[P]ara sa akin, nag-step up lahat, lalo na ‘yung veterans namin, ‘yung mga senior. Tapos sa mga rookie namin […] kahit quality minutes lang ‘yung play nila, pero ‘yung effort na pinakita nila sa akin, okay,” Coach Carlo Tomacas told the Flame.
AB Women’s overpowered IICS on the back of Celine Cordero’s 14 points, followed by team captain Micah Atienza with seven points. Rain Mabanag and Yen Durano garnered six points each.
Cordero swept IICS early in the game with a three-pointer, ending the first quarter at 19-0. Mabanag and Trizia Oliver further widened the gap in the second half, ending the game at 50-18.
Mabanag suffered a knee injury, but will still be able to play in the next game.
“Sa tingin ko ‘yung naging advantage namin is ‘yung tiwala namin sa isa’t isa, ‘yung pagkagusto namin [na] manalo. Bawat team kasi may skills and sari-sariling strategy pero kami kasi may puso, na kahit alam namin na marami kaming naging lapses and pagkukulang, nandoon ‘yung tiwala sa team and naniniwala kaming kaya namin,” Atienza said.
AB’s Women’s will face the College of Rehabilitation Sciences on Tuesday, Mar. 5, while AB Men’s will battle the College of Education on Wednesday, Mar. 6, both at the P. Noval Court. F
