The Arena, San Juan
August 15, 2014
Paniamogan Slinger
The NCAA will hold a benefit All-Star Game, a slam dunk competition and a three-point shootout on Aug. 15 (Saturday) at The Arena in San Juan City where the 90-year-old league gathers its best and brightest stars all in one roof.
I mean ALL, not just Filipinos. Take a look at the participants below as endorsed by the all the coaches.
And it’s for a cause.
Meaning, the proceeds of the one-day festivities will go to charity. Management Committee chair Paul Supan of Season 90 host Jose Rizal tells us the money that will be generated from this will specifically go to orphan kids of Hospicion de San Jose, NCAA athletes representing our national teams abroad and NCAA personnel in need. So for those with hearts of gold, please come and watch the games and lend a helping hand.
While I’m intrigued by the All-Star Game and slam dunk event, the three-point shootout interests me more. Why? Because, one, it is the most unpredictable among the three and, two, I just plain love it. So I ask you, who do you think will win it among the current participants? While San Beda’s Anthony Semerad and Perpetual Help’s Harold Arboleda could be the clear favorites, I may go with this guy named Philip Paniamogan of Jose Rizal. Heck, I will probably bet my house on this gunslinger from Cagayan de Oro.
Stats and percentage wise, Semerad and Arboleda were astonishing. Semerad shot 21 of 43 or an impressive 49 percent while Arboleda made a league-high 30 booming triples out of 62 attempts for 48 percent. But Semerad and Arboleda are spot up shooters.
That’s why I’m going with Paniamogan, he went only 23 of 71 and 32 percent but I see him drain threes in a hurry with hands on his face. Imagine if his free? So any takers?
By the way, Paniamogan is the NCAA Press Corp’s ACCEL Quantum/3XVI Player of the Week backed by Bactigel hand sanitizer, Doctor J Mighty Alcohol and Mighty Mom Dishwashing. And here’s the group’s press release:
PHILIP Paniamogan was named the NCAA Press Corps-Accel Quantum Plus/3XVI Player of the Week after steering Jose Rizal University to solo third spot at the end of the first round.
Paniamogan waxed hot in the second half as the Bombers subdued Mapua, 87-78, last Monday.
JRU, which last made to the Final Four in 2011, will enter the crucial second round trailing behind defending champion San Beda College (7-1) and second-running Arellano University (7-2).
Paniamogan, who is averaging 18 points this season, beat St. Benilde’s Jonathan Grey and Emilio Aguinaldo’s John Tayongtong for the weekly plum supported by Bactigel hand sanitizer, Doctor J Mighty Alcohol and Mighty Mom Dishwashing.
“Gusto talaga naming makabalik sa Final Four kaya pinagbubutihan ko yung laro ko,” said Paniamogan, who also had three rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in 36 minutes of play.
Scoreless in the first 20 minutes of play, Paniamogan found his shooting touch in the last two periods by drilling in 26 points to lift the Bombers to their fourth consecutive win and sixth overall in nine matches.
JRU exploded for 30 points in the third period to take a 68-63 advantage and posted the game’s biggest lead at 82-68, as the Cardinals could not put the clamps on Paniamogan’s outside snipings.
P.S.
Sportsmaryosep was chosen as one of the judges in the slam dunk competition and very thankful it. I was also wondering if I could push my luck even further and also be the judge in the Ms. NCAA 2014 set earlier at 10:30. Can I?
Follow Sportsmaryosep on Twitter: @JoeySVillar
(Photos courtesy of season90.ncaa.org.ph)
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