SSC-R sends JRU back to earth

• The SSC-R Golden Stags have assured themselves a twice-to-beat advantage in the F4 as they beat JRU 84-78 courtesy of clutch baskets from leading NCAA MVP candidate, Jimbo Aquino and Jonathan Semira.
• This game looked like the charity game between Smart-Gilas and Powerade. Much like Powerade, JRU is composed of individually talented players but was content on going one-on-one on every play in their game against the Stags. On the other hand, SSC-R emulated the fluidity and teamwork demonstrated by Smart-Gilas. Coach Ato Agustin was able to design plays that gave his players, especially Jimbo, easy scoring opportunities. Both Wilson and Cagoco did not hit a single 3 pointer in the game despite being known as deadly shooters from beyond the arc. Letting those guys come off a couple screens ala Ray Aleen would have opened up a couple looks for them and might have resulted to a couple of conversions. Having Sena move around before he posts up like how Yao does would have made the Stag's defense less prepared for him. I know these guys are much more talented than their counterparts from the Stags but they're going to spend a lot of energy just to create a shot for themselves if you isolate them too much. I think it's ok to let Njei and Wilson go one-on-one occasionally as they have proven they can score on anyone in the NCAA but it's part of Coach Ariel's job is to make his players' job easier. Jimbo Aquino is such a phenomenal scorer like Wilson but you rarely see Ato Agustin let me create his own shot. A lot of the points Jimbo scores are from movement w/o the ball. I don't know want to put all the blame on Coach Ariel V because his players might have done a lousy job in executing their plays or worse, they might not even executed them at all. JRU is not going to win the title if they continue to play this way. They've got to help each other. I think if you only count only the top 8 (most coaches usually use a rotation of only 8-9 players in the playoffs players) of each team in the NCAA, JRU will emerge as the best team man-for-man. (If you count the whole team, SBC is the most talented team. Unforunately for them , you can only use a maximum of players at a time.)
• I know JR Sena is much better known his finesse but he's got to use his wide body to attack the thinner big guys of the Stags. He's got to avoid taking those fadeaway jumpers and resort more to attacking the basket strong.
• One reason why JRU was the last team to taste their 1st loss in the second round was the emergence of their younger players in Lopez and Agas. I didn't even notice the Lopez was already playing. He's a very energetic guy off the bench but he needs to play smarter. He's got to maximize his athletism. Agas had his moments in the game but I think he's capable of much more. Then again, guarding Jimbo Aquino might have taken a toll on his energy level
• Etame Joe made a special appearance in this game. He even scored the 1st basket. He wasn't much of a factor in the game but I believe he's not yet 100% so it's going to be interesting to see how much can he help JRU in the Final 4.
• There was in incident in the 3rd iquarter that resulted to a couple of Ts, Bulawan's ejection and Abueva fouling out. Hayes fell on the floor as he drew a offensive foul from Abueva. Hayes then stood up in Abueva's face and he made it look like he was just picking himself up from the floor. Abueva was irritated with Hayes' action so he shoved him away and was called for an unsportsmanlike foul, his 5th and final foul. Bulawan, who was about to enter the game on the next deadball situation rushed to his teammate's aid and was ejected for entering the court despite not being part of SSC-R's current 5 on the floor. I'll have to agree with Bill, it's not like he didn't know the rule. The rule is kinda silly but it's there to prevent any altercations from getting bigger. Abueva needs to keep his temper down because SSC-R was very lucky to win this game w/ their 2 big men and he will be a key part in SSC-R's Championship hopes.
• JRU was not able to capitalize on the absence of 2 of Stag's big men. I didn't see JRU eagerness to win the game. As the commentators said, JRU thought they already won the game when the ejections were already handed out.