The STANDS - An INQUIRER Sports Newsletter September 27, 2024

 

September 27, 2024

John Abate and the UE Warriors rock the UAAP with an upset of La Salle. (UAAP PHOTO)

Hey there sports fan, The PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinals has just started so let's get into that once action really picks up—or the issue about the tournament format further heats up. Although, to kick things off, you can try to answer this trivia question:  Which player holds the record for most assists in the PBA? Check out the answer at the end of this email. For now, let's head over to the varsity scene starting in the UAAP, where a major upset rocked the men's basketball tournament and an end of a long losing run was finally ended. And those feats emanated from one campus: University of the East. The Red Warriors defeated defending champion La Salle to send the first tremors across the men's division, and coach Jack Santiago said one of the major benefits of that victory was felt inside the UE dugout.  The defeat stunned the Green Archers, for sure, but Topex Robinson reached for a team rule to help his team get over the upset and bounce back into the win column with a close triumph over stubborn Far Eastern U. The Lady Warriors, on the other hand, ended a 40-game slide by holding off the Lady Archers. That win featured a record-breaking and -tying feat that we'll discuss later. Over at the NCAA, while people are taking notice of teams like St. Benilde, San Beda and San Sebastian, Perpetual Help is making some noise, largely due to a super rookie who is benefiting from his decision to stay home. The Altas, which is using this season to lay down the foundation of a program under new coach Olsen Racela, have somehow notched victories that pushed it near the top of the standings early in the league's centennial season. Meanwhile, if you want suggestions on good sports reads for the week, I have a few. There's a story about friends who have seen their school go through the worst of times and are now hoping for the best this season. There's the story on National U's Lady Bulldogs focusing more on a different number other than their 5-0 start to the women's tournament.

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Luisa San Juan now shares a UAAP record with a very legendary name. (UAAP MEDIA)

Meanwhile on Plus... Sean Chambers' young Far Eastern U Tamaraws could have easily been 4-1 (win-loss) in UAAP men's basketball this season. Instead they are 0-5, including four losses where breaks did them in. Cursed? The legendary PBA import and now college coach doesn't think so. La Salle's Luisa San Juan broke a women's record for three-pointers in a single game and tied two men for the UAAP event record. One of those men, a legend in every way, took notice. The UP Maroons are gobbling up the opposition and it seems like only a match against defending champion La Salle will test them. How does UP keep sharp while awaiting that duel with the Archers? A win against NU was revealing. What we're up to next: We'll continue covering the UAAP basketball scene, both men's and women's. We'll also do a deep dive on the PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinals as the four series gets deeper into their showdowns. We'll also continue monitoring the NCAA and keep an eye on a preseason volleyball tournament. Number of the Week: 3 Players who have hit at 10 triples in a single UAAP game. Luisa San Juan of La Salle was the latest to do so.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “It's going to be a highlight of their season, playing against us.” —Topex Robinson, La Salle coach, on FEU giving his team a scare in a recent UAAP match.

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Robert Jaworski. That's the answer to the trivia question above. Think you can ace the rest of our weekly sports quiz? head over to our Viber community and try the test out! Buy the Inquirer at newsstands, subscribe to our digital edition, Inquirer Plus, visit our online site and follow us on socials (Twitter: @inquirersports; FB: facebook.com/inquirersports) for more stories and updates—or to send us questions or suggestions of stories you'd want to read. See you next Friday! Francis Francis T. J. Ochoa is the Sports Editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. For comments, suggestions and questions, hit him up on Twitter (@ftjochoaINQ).