YOU would think a week marked by controversial game-winners, protests and close calls couldn't get any more dramatic -- until Far Eastern University bad boy Arvie Bringas borrowed a throwback move from Philippine basketball's rough-and-tumble years and launched the spit that triggered quite a spat in the UAAP.
Here's the week's most memorable moments in the country's premier college league.
HONOR ROLL
Ryan Buenafe
The comebacking Ateneo forward could have easily made the horror roll after getting ejected from the Eagles’ bruising encounter with the Far Eastern University Tamaraws last Wednesday. But Buenafe bounced back when he scored a career-high 24 points in a 77-67 win by the defending champions over bitter rival La Salle -- his best game so far after sitting out the entire season a year ago.
Jeron Teng
The rookie guard scored only nine points, but it included the biggest shot of the game against University of Santo Tomas. His jumper to clinch a thrilling 53-51 win over the Tigers on August 29 gave the Archers their fourth straight victory until the streak was snapped by the Blue Eagles days later.
RR Garcia
There's no doubt that the former league MVP is back in form. Not only did Garcia hit the game-winning layup in a controversial 77-75 FEU win over National University last Sunday, he also dished out nine assists, including the pass to Terrence Romeo that led to a crucial three-pointer in the end game.
Chris Javier
Chris Javier was the unlikely hero in University of the East’s 79-76 victory over University of the Philippines. He converted a three-pointer from the left corner -- the first of his UAAP career --to give newly-installed UE mentor Boycie Zamar his first victory in his coaching return.
UST
The Tigers just kept finding a way to win, and they showed it once again at the expense of hard-luck Adamson Falcons. Led by Jeric Teng, the Tigers finished the game with a closing 11-3 spurt to frustrate the Falcons, 83-79, in another classic come-from-behind win.
Jericho Cruz
Even though the Falcons lost to University of Santo Tomas last Saturday, Cruz became just the fourth player this season to reach the 30-point plateau after finishing with 33 to show the way for his team.
HORROR ROLL
Arvie Bringas
It was the spit felt around the UAAP as Bringas did the despicable act on Ateneo’s Justin Chua last August 29 in the Tamaraws' 77-64 loss to the Blue Eagles. Bringas has since been meted one-game suspensions by both the league and his school, but he still faces the possibility of a severe penalty as Ateneo athletic director Ricky Palou is seeking stiffer sanctions for Bringas for his actions.
MOA's malfunctioning shotclock
You would expect everything to be in order at the state-of-the-art MOA Arena, but a women’s basketball game had to be shelved on Sunday as the brand-new arena's shot clock malfunctioned. Fortunately, the clock was repaired just in time for the seniors basketball games to push through as scheduled later that day.
NU
Had the Bulldogs not turned the ball over in the last second of their game against the Tamaraws, RR Garcia would not have scored a wide-open layup that brought the Tamaraws to an unlikely victory. The Bulldogs are still protesting the win.
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