Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Guarding Paul Desiderio was never strange for Ron Dennison.
The two were teammates in high school at University of Visayas and both entered the UAAP at the same time in Season 76 and this familiarity helped Dennison put a stranglehold on Desiderio.
Desiderio, the University of the Philippines’ stalwart headed into the Sunday matchup against Far Eastern University averaging 21 points a game, and Dennison made sure Desiderio would not reach that mark.
“We were teammates in high school, so I knew how he moved,” said Dennison in Filipino after FEU trumped UP, 78-59, at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “I just played straight-up clean defense.”
READ: FEU rolls to 3rd straight win, routs UP
With Dennison hounding him, Desiderio struggled from the floor, scoring ust nine points on 4-of-12 shooting, and converted only one of his five attempts from long range.
Desiderio also came off a career performance in a stunning win over defending champion La Salle with 30 points.
READ: Desiderio struggles, praises ‘great defender’ Dennison
Dennison also made his presence felt on the offensive end with 16 points and three assists while also grabbing seven rebounds.
The two also had an interesting duel last season in the first round when Dennison got ejected.
“Last year, he one-upped me with that flop so during the game he started acting again but I didn’t let him do the same thing again,” said Dennison.
And, just for the record, Desiderio is 0-7 against Dennison.