La Salle is Number Two!

From 4th place, La Salle jumped the gun on two hapless and clueless teams to secure the other coveted twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Final Four. La Salle blasted Ateneo 72-55 last Thursday, Sep 15 and then beat UE yesterday in their replay match 79-67.

The game, which should not have taken place at all, was a very important game not just to UE and DLSU, but also with Ateneo. Ateneo can be relegated to fourth with a La Salle win, and 3rd if UE triumphs. With it's loss last Thursday however, ADMU's hold on the other twice-to-beat slot has already slipped from their grasp.

The controversial game, with the UAAP board overturning the Technical Committee's decision in handing the 2nd round win to DLSU last Sep 1, seemed to have "conspiracy" written all over it. La Salle has never gained the board's favor since forever. For those who were not aware on what happened, here it is in a nutshell:

After Arellano’s basket (giving the UE Red Warriors a 2 point lead with 1.8 seconds left in regulation), the UE gallery goes wild and celebrates prematurely. JV Casio, La Salle’s marvelous shooter, quickly inbounds the ball and rifles a pass to Joseph Yeo, whose desperation shot is off. By this time the UE crowd is in near-rabid mode, and debris rains on the court. Everyone thinks the game is over.

But DLSU coach Franz Pumaren insists he called a timeout. Commissioner Joe Lipa confers with the table officials and decides that a timeout had in fact been called, and that there were still 1.8 seconds left in the game.

This was enough time for DLSU to set up a play and Cholo Villanueva's jumper all but did that, sending the game into overtime. We all know what happened in overtime.

There are certain points that irritate me in this situation. 1. The Technical Committee already decided in La Salle's favor. What is the use of the TC if it will always be overturned by the UAAP board. 2. The TC are composed of individuals who have knowledge in basketball, the board are not. 3. La Salle is always the target in board decisions, with 5 schools voting for a replay (Ateneo, NU, UST, FEU, UP).

Ok, the win vindicated whatever conspiracy was set up. But triumphs are attained in the hardcourt, not in their airconditioned boardrooms. Why must La Salle always go thru the eye of a needle to just prove their excellence? Sure beats me?