91-89 win. almost choked the game away they were ahead by 7 with a minute left.
boxscores: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/UAEO/2401843/bs.html
although its in youtube, i havent watched any full game yet. but based on highlights, Heading seems to have a good tournament so far. Mamai and Escandor has their moments as well. how is Balti faring? he is usually not an option in the offense last few times he played international ball, but if he able to defend opposing wings\bigs? able to rebound or atleast box them out?
I think Balti is not getting enough mins. & opportunities to score as he is playing the same position as the imports - Howard, Robertson & Blatche. And we all know the caliber of those players, they are all NBA-caliber bigs despite Howard being old now & Blatche both old & overweight.
Also, Kevin Quiambao who plays both the 3 & 4 spots is playing like a world import so its really hard for Balti to earn some playing time.
While everybody is talking about Quiambao, I think Jordan Heading is showing some good performance especially in this win over Tripolli-Libya a few hours ago. Heading perhaps played his best game so far in this tournament in this win over the Libyan team.
I say Heading should be playing for Gilas in the coming 1st window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers. He is proving that he deserves to be in the national team with the way he is playing in Dubai.
I have always said Heading should be our top SG. He is not only a good 3 pt shooter, he is a decent all around guard. Decent ball handler and passer. Decent defender.
As for Balti, his defense is there but his 3 pt shot is being exposed. He has good looks but he simply doesnt make it. Balti is more of a finesse PF. He needs to go to the gym and practice his 3s. Against bigger and taller guys its hard for him score on the half court. He will be open at the 3 but he needs to make it.
KQ usually plays SF or SG. His handles are not that smooth. But decent enough when combined with his shooting and passing. I thought it was impossible but KQs shooting has surpassed his passing. This actually validates the UAAPs level of competition. By defeating all the good FSAs in UAAP and winning both the championship and MVP and yes playing like at times like an import in a club tourney, this shows that the level of comp in the UAAP is really up there. And maybe even better as an international game indicator than the PBA.
stop it! any pba team will cream a uaap team even with a fsa in tow
Exclude Blackwater and Terrafirma because they won't. Northport maybe but not those two.
That's when the chant "uwiaan na,uwiaan na".very annoying and kinda disrespectful,if they have lost there should be a counter pointing at those people "malas kayo,malas kayo."The I believe that we can win would have been better.
Exclude Blackwater and Terrafirma because they won't. Northport maybe but not those two.
nah those teams will still cream any uaap team, a pba bench player is far better than a uaap bench player and these uaap teams only have at best 2-3 players from their starting 5 who will make it to the pba, once they go to the benches it will be a massacre.
Blackwater and Kia will not perform better than Ateneo during that year they did well in the Jones Cup if they were the ones sent instead.
Look how the stronger ROS team struggled last year. Different opponents but more or less the same caliber as the teams Ateneo faced.
Blackwater and Kia will not perform better than Ateneo during that year they did well in the Jones Cup if they were the ones sent instead.
Look how the stronger ROS team struggled last year. Different opponents but more or less the same caliber as the teams Ateneo faced.
What time is the quarterfinals?
That’s normal in sports… the fans are having fun in Dubai..
off topic:
Will this SGA squad can win EASL title this season if they allowed to join? EASL allowed 2 World imports and 1 Asian import / naturalized players… currently SGA has 3 World imports, As Blatche, I will consider him as naturalized player spot… So only 2 between Howard, Robertson and Moore will allowed to suit up (I think Moore will be odd man out there) plus local guys such as Heading, Quiambao, Baltazar, Cagulangan, etc… can they win at all against teams in Japan, Korea , Taiwan (and even China)?
I just don't like that chant,the "I believe that we can win" is more appropriate to any Philippine team,always the underdog but a heart of a fighter.
What rules will be used? If it is PBA rules then Ateneo, Lasalle or UP will have trouble beating NLEX and Northport… they might win vs Terrafirma, Blackwater or current Converge team but it is not easy because in terms of physical attributes, PBA teams will have that advantage… gugulangan Lang nila yan at matatakot na sila because of fear intimidation… Smart Gilas led by college stars before like Casio, Tiu, Barroca, etc.. was the example of that.. they didn’t won the title despite having massive advantage in import slot (since Douthit is 6’10 against 6’5 imports restricted by PBA).. PBA teams used their experience advantage vs Gilas.. they just enter the semis because no one can match up prime Douthit in the PBA at that time…
KQ is just the latest UAAP player being recruited by international groups. I think its safe to say the UAAP, with an unlimited height FSA all year long and rules probably closer to Fiba, has an environment closer to international competition. I think we should gradually move out of gulang basketball. Its a bit embarassing that players who went from college and skipped the PBA play better internationally than many PBA stars.