I'm so glad the UAAP Basketball season is over.
Well, I am very very pleased that my Green Archers won the plum after a one-year absence, mind you. I hope this season shuts up all those naysayers out there.
With all the excitement of the previous month, my heart needs to rest. If it were weaker, I may have had suffered a heart attack already [kow - knock on wood]. I'm so glad I'm cutting out on cholesterol-heavy food.
Anyways, to those reading my blog and find it lacking in various subjects, my apologies. I'll try to write about a wider spectrum of ideas from now on. Thanks for indulging me the last 3 months for writing only about LaSalle / UAAP.
Hmm, so what's a nice topic?
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Monday, October 08, 2007
The Road to the Championship
To say that De La Salle's road to the championship was difficult is the understatement of the year.
First, they came back from their one-year suspension, the decision of the UAAP board of which some argue as unfair. After all, LaSalle itself was the whistleblower in this. They didn't need to tell that 2 of their players had falsified DECS papers. But they did tell on them, in the spirit of honesty and transparency, in sportsmanship and competition. We had to give up the 2004 Championship, which we would have won anyway because no other team can match us then. I dare every other collegiate institution to check their own ranks and come clean.
In the eliminations, they were beaten twice by both UE and Ateneo, once by UST - the 3 other teams in the Final Four.
La Salle had to fight for every basket with Ateneo in their 3rd meeting, which gave them the 2nd spot and the twice to beat advantage.
Then, they had to go 2 games again with the same Ateneo squad, losing the heartbreaker of a first game by just a point, then soundly beating them in the 2nd game to finally advance to the Finals, where they feel right at home.
You could say a miracle happened after that. UE, who swept the elimination round (14-0), played their last game Sept 13 and earned the first Finals slot. Then they had to wait out for an opponent, which seemed like an eternity -- 3 weeks without any games is indeed just that for a UAAP team. La Salle finally came in with enough emotional momentum to, would you believe, dictate the Finals matches? UE was supposed to control the series. UE seemed unstoppable on paper, with its 2nd unit equally as strong as their 1st five. La Salle's bench was depleted with the injury of Marko Batricevic before the start of the conference, the suspension of Brian Ilad, and with Rico Maierhofer playing hurt. But you cannot coach toughness and heart to a team. You can not teach experience to a squad. UE didn't have that. UE, even after going 14-0, was a child in the Finals. Their last Finals appearance was in 1990, which they lost, yup, you guessed it, to the Archers. So their 16-0 Season dream vanished. This year is La Salle's year! No UAAP board, no Anton Montinola, no LaSalle-bashing can put us down!!! Today is when we take our rightful place in the basketball land.
So thanks to all the other teams for making this season one of the best in recent memory. Thanks to UST for proving that you could not have one Season 69 if La Salle were around. Thank you to Ateneo for giving us one hell of a series - 5 games - and helping us prove that 2 is indeed greater than 3. Thank you to UE for accepting defeat with grace. Thank you to Coach Franz Pumaren for being unfazed in some of the more hopeless situations and fighting and winning right back. Thank you to all the players, the graduating ones: TY and Cholo, next years leaders, JVee and Rico, and to the rest of the boys. We will be back next year to defend our title.
Now, shut up already and let us sing our Alma Mater song, for crying out loud!
Hail, Hail
Alma Mater,
Hail to De La Salle!
We'll hold your banner high and bright,
A shield of green and white,
We'll fight to keep your glory bright,
And never shall we fail,
Hail to thee our Alma Mater!
Hail! Hail! Hail!!!
First, they came back from their one-year suspension, the decision of the UAAP board of which some argue as unfair. After all, LaSalle itself was the whistleblower in this. They didn't need to tell that 2 of their players had falsified DECS papers. But they did tell on them, in the spirit of honesty and transparency, in sportsmanship and competition. We had to give up the 2004 Championship, which we would have won anyway because no other team can match us then. I dare every other collegiate institution to check their own ranks and come clean.
In the eliminations, they were beaten twice by both UE and Ateneo, once by UST - the 3 other teams in the Final Four.
La Salle had to fight for every basket with Ateneo in their 3rd meeting, which gave them the 2nd spot and the twice to beat advantage.
Then, they had to go 2 games again with the same Ateneo squad, losing the heartbreaker of a first game by just a point, then soundly beating them in the 2nd game to finally advance to the Finals, where they feel right at home.
You could say a miracle happened after that. UE, who swept the elimination round (14-0), played their last game Sept 13 and earned the first Finals slot. Then they had to wait out for an opponent, which seemed like an eternity -- 3 weeks without any games is indeed just that for a UAAP team. La Salle finally came in with enough emotional momentum to, would you believe, dictate the Finals matches? UE was supposed to control the series. UE seemed unstoppable on paper, with its 2nd unit equally as strong as their 1st five. La Salle's bench was depleted with the injury of Marko Batricevic before the start of the conference, the suspension of Brian Ilad, and with Rico Maierhofer playing hurt. But you cannot coach toughness and heart to a team. You can not teach experience to a squad. UE didn't have that. UE, even after going 14-0, was a child in the Finals. Their last Finals appearance was in 1990, which they lost, yup, you guessed it, to the Archers. So their 16-0 Season dream vanished. This year is La Salle's year! No UAAP board, no Anton Montinola, no LaSalle-bashing can put us down!!! Today is when we take our rightful place in the basketball land.
So thanks to all the other teams for making this season one of the best in recent memory. Thanks to UST for proving that you could not have one Season 69 if La Salle were around. Thank you to Ateneo for giving us one hell of a series - 5 games - and helping us prove that 2 is indeed greater than 3. Thank you to UE for accepting defeat with grace. Thank you to Coach Franz Pumaren for being unfazed in some of the more hopeless situations and fighting and winning right back. Thank you to all the players, the graduating ones: TY and Cholo, next years leaders, JVee and Rico, and to the rest of the boys. We will be back next year to defend our title.
Now, shut up already and let us sing our Alma Mater song, for crying out loud!
Hail, Hail
Alma Mater,
Hail to De La Salle!
We'll hold your banner high and bright,
A shield of green and white,
We'll fight to keep your glory bright,
And never shall we fail,
Hail to thee our Alma Mater!
Hail! Hail! Hail!!!
DLSU is the 2007 Champions!!!
La Salle Sweeps East In Final Series
Two games, right when it matters most. The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers are definitely back in the UAAP basketball supremacy as they swept the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors in their best-of-three Finals series with a convincing 73-64 victory on October 7 at the Big Dome.
Finals Most Valuable Player Joseph Evans “JV” Casio led the way for the Green and White community as he was exceptional chipping 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.
Pocholo Villanueva played his last year with a bang as he rewarded himself with an MVP award. He contributed 14 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.
La Salle totally dominated the game as they only let UE lead in the first quarter and after spurring with an 8-1 advantage, the Taft-based squad tightened up and never looked back.
Casio and Villanueva came to life in the fourth. Casio buried a 3-pointer in the 8:20th minute mark to further increase the DLSU cushion to five points after UE managed to cut the lead with back-to-back 3 point shots from James Martinez and Mark Borboran. Red Warrior Mark Fampulme posted the scare back against the Green Archers as he brought down the lead of the Archers to 2 at 55-53, 8:03 minutes left in the regulation.
Villanueva converted his charities after a Paul Lee foul to further increase the lead at 57-53.
Lee was exceptional despite fouling out in the game as he converted four straight points, two of which were free throws from OJ Cua’s foul. Lee was the main gunner for UE with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist.
Casio split his freebies that gave La Salle a 3-point cushion over UE at 62- 59.
TY Tang’s rebound less than two minutes left in regulation was crucial as he fished another foul from Lee, forcing the latter to commit his fifth and final foul. The former converted his freebies to increase the lead of the Archers at 64-59.
Borboran missed his free throws after a Cua foul. Casio nailed buzzer-beater 2-pointer less than a minute left. Borboran converted 12 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists.
Marcy Arellano converted with a field goal to cut the UE bleeding at 66-61.
Casio connected with two more free throws coming off a Jorel Canizares foul 40.7 ticks left. The Archers were on top by 7 points at 68-61.
Arellano was also fouled out giving Cua the opportunity to shoot 2 freebies, 24.1 ticks left.
Casio split his free throws to give La Salle a further icing on the cake.
Martinez converted the last field goal for the Warriors.
Rico Maierhofer wrapped the victory of the Archers with his 2-free throws.
Canizares was the main man for the Recto-based squad in the third quarter. He nailed a field goal that gave the Red and White squad a lift as they cut the Archers’ lead by 3 at 46-43.
Bader Malabes completed his free throws that gave La Salle a 5-point bubble at 48-43.
Tang shot his freebies 9 seconds left giving La Salle a 7-point margin at the end of the third quarter.
La Salle was in total control of the second quarter as it posted the biggest lead of the game at 30-16 with Villanueva completing his free throws, 2:43 minutes left in the half.
La Salle was still on top in the second quarter at 34-23 outscoring the Warriors 19-12.
UE blasted with an 8-1 advantage courtesy of its veterans, Elmer Espiritu, Borboran and Kelvin Gregorio.
La Salle managed to crawl back slowly fishing fouls from Martinez, Lee and Rudy Lingganay.
The Taft-based squad was in the lead 15-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Villanueva was very happy being crowned as the Finals MVP alongside JV Casio. He is leaving La Salle through graduation with a Finals stint under his belt and an MVP award. Cholo said “It was really a sort of redemption for our part with this win and it’s a pretty game to end my college years and I thank God for it. We were out for a Season but we came back, we proved to them that we are one and we stand for what we believed in.”
Friday, October 05, 2007
La Salle halts UE's winning season!!!
GONE
TY Tang unleashed 17 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, while fellow veterans JV Casio and Cholo Villanueva added 12 and 11 points, respectively, as the Archers took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series the Warriors were fancied to dominate.
Rico Maeirhofer, who has recovered from a sprained ankle he sustained two weeks ago, split his charities with 14 seconds remaining in the contest to shatter a 63-all tie forced by Mark Borboran’s three-pointer from way out.
That, however, turned out to be the marginal basket as the Warriors fumbled on their make-or-break play – another Borboran attempt from behind the arch on top of the key.
“Man for man, we’re no match against them. But we have the experience and the veteran savvy to offset our disadvantages,” said La Salle coach Franz Pumaren whose Archers came off two tough Final Four matches with the Ateneo Eagles.
The Taft-based quintet, which came into the final the clear underdogs after getting swept in the elimination round by the Warriors, goes for its own sweep Sunday, also at the Big Dome.
A decider, if necessary, is on Wednesday.
UE, which last won 22 years ago during the days of Allan Caidic and Jerry Codiñera and which took a three-week long layoff after sweeping the elims, actually had two chances of stealing Game 1 but a three-point try by Borboran and Marcy Arellano’s tip in the dying seconds missed their marks.
Maierhofer plucked the rebound as the final buzzer sounded, triggering off a wild celebration from
But the Archers, also out to redeem themselves from a season-long suspension last year, showed experience and grace under pressure are what it takes to win championship games.
That more than made up for La Salle’s setback in the rebounding department where the Warriors plucked a whopping total of 60 boards, including 29 on the offensive end as against the Archers’ 31.
That, however, hardly mattered.
It was also UE’s lowest scoring total of the season.
“I know they dominated the boards but we found some ways to offset it,” said Franz Pumaren, who steered
Borboran, playing on final season, led the Warriors with 13 points, including a triple over the outstretched arms of Villanueva that knotted the count with 34.8 ticks left.
But the veteran Warrior couldn’t drain an uncontested three-point shot at endgame that could’ve lifted the UE side.
The Recto-based cagers actually threatened to rip the game apart in the early going, but each time, the Archers displayed a big fighting heart behind Villanueva, Tang, Casio and Maeirhofer.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Ateneo-La Salle: Too big for the Philippines
Ateneo-La Salle: Too big for Philippines
THE GAME OF MY LIFE By Bill Velasco
Monday, October 1, 2007
THE GAME OF MY LIFE By Bill Velasco
Monday, October 1, 2007
On Sept. 23, the New York Times published an article on the rivalry between Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle, written by Fulbright scholar Raphael Bartholomew, a graduate of Northwestern who earned a grant to come to the Philippines in November 2005, to write a book about basketball. Almost before he was off the plane, he was bombarded about comments on the most compelling rivalry in Philippine sports.
"People said, 'You haven't seen anything untIl you've seen La Salle-Ateneo,'" explains the 6'4" Bartholomew, who played basketball for Northwestern. "They said that the games were so intense, and people from all levels of society were so loud, they were just losing it, and the stadium would be packed beyond belief."
According to Vic Sison of the Ateneo Sports Hall of Fame (ASHOF), the rivalry began even before the 1930's, when members of high society studied at what were considered the best schools in the country.
"You became a La Salle alumnus, and your children will go to school, and your grandchildren will follow," explained Sison, who himself is enshrined in the ASHOF as an outstanding football player. "The same with Ateneo."
The good-natured ribbing that followed defeat of one school at the hands of the other school pricked the pride of the members of the alta sociedad, and it became increasingly unacceptable to lose.
"The competition became very strong because these people were very close together," he adds. "They belonged to the same social strata. They mingled with one another in business and other affairs. And when it came to sports competition, it was the best against the best."
In the 1950's, things picked up a notch, as both schools used their intellect to craft cheers that played up their school's attributes, while subtlely (or often not so subtlely) degrading the other's.
"It was building competition, not only on the playing floor, on the playing field, but in the stands," Sison elaborates. "Every time Ateneo and La Salle would play each other – in whatever sport – where there was an audience represented by both schools, there would be that build-up of intense emotion."
Despite the absence of the rivalry for over a decade when Ateneo left the NCAA to join the UAAP, today's game has actually amplified the one-upmanship. Now, every Ateneo-La Salle game is on the evening news, in the morning papers, and bannering Internet headlines round the clock. After a year of waiting, Rafe Bartholomew finally got his first taste ot the blue-green war this July.
"Senators, foreign diplomats, Cabinet ministers, a smattering of Forbes's 40 richest Filipinos, movie stars and enough professional basketball players to play five-on-five. They are the elite of Philippine society, and they all gather at Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City to watch the men's basketball rivalry between the universities Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle," Bartholomew wrote in the New York Times. He also characterized the teams' contrasting images: the Green Archers with their shaved heads, tattoos and attitude, and the Blue Eagles with their clean-cut, good boy image, which also fueled the animosity between them.
"I think it has exceeded expectations," Bartholomew gushed. "The noise, the crowd, everybody moving together, and at the end of the games, pumping their fists and singing the school songs. Nothing could have prepared me for it. There's really no way to explain it without experiencing it. People are so passionate, they're screaming for every pass, every tip. Not just every score. They're celebrating possessions. It's something I've never seen before anywhere."
And with the first four games having been decided by a total of just seven points, the quality and unpredictability of the games has been heightened.
"The games have become more physical, faster and more technical," Sison says. "The players are bigger, and the quality has improved. And when the quality of the games improve, the passion in the rivalry improves with it."
"It doesn't matter if one team seems weak on paper," Bartholomew reflects. "Even if one team doesn't have its usual squad. You can throw all the records out the window. If it's a La Salle-Ateneo game, you don't know what's going to happen."
And according to Sison, it's a passion that will never die out.
"When you leave an Atenean and a La Sallite in a room together, one will always think that he is number one, and the other is number two. They simply refuse to lose to each other. It's as simple as that."
Truer words were never spoken.Archers avenge 3 losses, eliminate Eagles!
Archers make Eagles extinct, reach final
In the end, no big shots came from Chris Tiu of Ateneo. Cholo Villanueva delivered them for La Salle with a Big D to boot.
Villanueva came through with clutch baskets in the fourth quarter and shackled Tiu all game as the Archers finally put away the Eagles, 65-60, yesterday in their sudden death for the second final berth in the UAAP men's basketball tournament at the packed Araneta Coliseum.
Playing his last season as an Archer, Villanueva pumped in nine of his 13 points in the final period while neutralizing Tiu in the other end as the Taft-based squad took a step closer to making a successful return from a one-year suspension.
"It's nice to be back in the finals," said La Salle coach Franz Pumaren moments after steering the Archers to the final for the first time since losing the crown to the Far Eastern U Tams three seasons ago.
The Archers face a well-rested University of the East side on Thursday at the start of the best-of-three showdown for this year's crown.
The Dindo Pumaren-mentored Warriors swept the two-round elims to clinch the first championship berth.
The final will also mark the first time that the Pumarens will clash in a championship game.
"It has been long overdue, we're finally facing each other in the finals," said Franz, who will be appearing in the finals for the eighth time since taking over the coaching reins from Jong Uichico a decade ago.
Rico Maeirhofer sealed the emotional win with a foul shot that sent half of over 23,000 fans into frenzied celebration and the other half into tears.
Tiu, who scored a couple of crucial shots in a 76-75 Ateneo squeaker Thursday to force the rubber match for the No. 2 spot, failed to come up with even one this time as he was held to just two points in the last quarter.
Credit that to La Salle's no-nonsense defense.
The Archers, in fact, held the Eagles to just two field goals in the final period and a season-low total output.
"This is the only game in the season that we responded to the challenge by playing good defense," said Pumaren.
Their failure to control the defensive board, particularly in the closing minute, proved costly for the Eagles, last year's losing finalist to the UST Tigers but out of this year's championship despite beating the Archers thrice in a record-tying five games this year.
Ateneo swept elimination round meetings, an 80-77 win in overtime in the first round an 89-87 triumph in the second, lost to La Salle, 70-69, in a playoff for the twice-to-beat advantage before forcing a fifth and final duel with a 76-75 triumph on Tiu's endgame brilliance.
It turned out to be the last.
"I told Cholo and even TY (Tang) before the game that this will be their last game against Ateneo because they'll be graduating, and they rose to the challenge," said Pumaren.
The Archers dictated the pace early under deafening roars from both sides as they led by as many as nine points in the first quarter, 15-6.
A 14-1 blast bridging the first and second quarters turned things around for the Eagles, who wrested the lead at 20-16 as Eric Salamat took over.
Simon Atkins, a rookie out of reigning UAAP high school champion La Salle-Zobel, fired a jumper and a triple to spark a closing run that gave the Taft-based school a 29-26 upper hand at the break.
Maeirhofer, the MVP in both the Nike and Fil-Oil tournaments last summer, led the Archers' attack early with seven first half points while Tang, who turned 23 Thursday, fired six points.
The scores:
La Salle 65 – Villanueva 13, Tang 12, Maeirhofer 12, Casio 10, Malabes 5, Atkins 5, Walsham 4, Ferdinand 2, Cua 2, Mangahas 0, Co 0, Barua 0.
Ateneo 60 – Arao 14, Tiu 10, Salamat 10, Baclao 7, Al-Hussaini 6, Reyes 5, Long 4, Baldos 2, Escueta 2, Monfort 0, Laterre 0.
Quarterscores: 16-14; 29-26; 48-43; 65-60Sunday, September 30, 2007
Only in the UAAP: 2 > 3!!!
La Salle wins 65-60!!!!
De La Salle proved mathematicians everywhere wrong, when they won only their 2nd out of the 5 meetings with Ateneo this season.
These 2 wins are the most crucial; the first win gaining them a twice to beat advantage, while the 2nd propelled them to the Finals.
Ateneo can keep their elimination round wins and only 1 of 2 sorely-needed triumphs.
De La Salle had the chance to go the Finals last Thursday, since they only needed to win once in the stepladder format to advance. Sadly, Ateneo pulled the rug from under them, squeaking by with a 65-64 decision.
The game today avenges that loss. The prize: a chance to win the Finals, an opportunity to win the championship after a year-long Sabbatical.
Props go to Cholo Villanueva, who with his cool head, was able to douse cold water on Ateneo's hot streaks. Rico Maierhoffer also hustled his heart out at the opposite ends of the court. Jvee Casio also nonchalantly sank both freethrows at the dying seconds of the ballgame, to make it 64-60. Nonoy Baclao cut the lead to two in the previous play, hitting a very surprising three-pointer to make it 62-60.
More on this tomorrow!
Coincidentally, my above equation is true in another aspect: La Salle, as the No.2 seed, edges out Ateneo, the #3.
I gotta sleep!
De La Salle proved mathematicians everywhere wrong, when they won only their 2nd out of the 5 meetings with Ateneo this season.
These 2 wins are the most crucial; the first win gaining them a twice to beat advantage, while the 2nd propelled them to the Finals.
Ateneo can keep their elimination round wins and only 1 of 2 sorely-needed triumphs.
De La Salle had the chance to go the Finals last Thursday, since they only needed to win once in the stepladder format to advance. Sadly, Ateneo pulled the rug from under them, squeaking by with a 65-64 decision.
The game today avenges that loss. The prize: a chance to win the Finals, an opportunity to win the championship after a year-long Sabbatical.
Props go to Cholo Villanueva, who with his cool head, was able to douse cold water on Ateneo's hot streaks. Rico Maierhoffer also hustled his heart out at the opposite ends of the court. Jvee Casio also nonchalantly sank both freethrows at the dying seconds of the ballgame, to make it 64-60. Nonoy Baclao cut the lead to two in the previous play, hitting a very surprising three-pointer to make it 62-60.
More on this tomorrow!
Coincidentally, my above equation is true in another aspect: La Salle, as the No.2 seed, edges out Ateneo, the #3.
I gotta sleep!
Ateneo Still Survives (for Sep 28)
Ateneo Lives Another Day
“One big fight” turned out to be one more game. Chris Tiu came alive in the second half then pumped in the killer shots in the homestretch as Ateneo stunned archrival La Salle, 64-65, to live one more day in the 70th UAAP stepladder semifinals at the packed and rocking Araneta Coliseum.
Tiu fired bricks in the first 20 minutes of play, but buried a long triple in the last two minutes before driving inside for the go-ahead layup with 7.3 seconds left. The second-seeded Green Archers, who came into the game carrying a twice-to-beat advantage, missed out on the last play with Bader Malabes misfiring on a three-point attempt as time expired.
Ateneo’s scrambling win thus forged a winner-take-all match on Sunday at 3 pm. The winner will face University of the East, who took outright the first finals slot after sweeping the elimination round.
The Blue Eagles were given up for dead, trailing by five to start the fourth period and were almost done in with two minutes remaining. JV Casio’s split freethrow made it 64-58 but Ateneo erased the deficit on a 7-0 run, on Tiu’s exploits and on a layup by Ford Arao with 51 seconds to play.
Tiu’s triple closed the Eagles to within 64-61, 1:54 remaining. Casio’s three-point try rimmed out in the next play before PJ Walsham bungled another attempt from beyond the arc. Kirk Long rebounded Tiu’s missed triple and fed Ford Arao for an easy layup to beat the shotclock, 64-63.
Malabes then muffed an off-balanced layup to set up Tiu’s winning play in the final 7.3 seconds. La Salle inbounded to Casio from the top of the key before finding a wide-open Malabes from the left side.
The loss was a nail-biter for the Archers, who led most of the way and took control early on. They gained headway after the half, thanks to a seven-point third-quarter output from Ty Tang, who topscored with 20 points. Casio added 11 but struggled with only two treys in the game and scored only one point in the fourth quarter.
“We’re happy we won the game,” said Coach Norman Black. “We couldn’t do anything on offense. Luckily, our defense held up.”
“Tiu struggled the entire game, but he came up with the big shots when the game’s on the line,” Black said of Tiu, who’s apparently taken La Salle’s number with three game-winning shots against the Archers this season.
Tiu, who finished with 14 markers, erupted with seven points in the final period after being held to only one point in the first half. Arao led the Eagles with 19, including 10 in the first quarter. Noy Baclao and Eric Salamat each had eight.
The win was the Eagles’ third in four meetings against the Archers, whose only victory earned them the no. 2 slot in the stepladder semifinals. Sunday’s meeting assured the two teams’ a fifth encounter, with the winner advancing in the best-of-three championship series against the Red Warriors next week.
La Salle led at the end of every quarter, and was poised to put the game under wraps after entering the fourth period at 52-47. The Archers took a six-point lead twice, the first one at 54-48 on Rico Maierhoffer’s foiled three-point-play attempt.
Baclao’s back-to-back tip-in shots tied the game for the last time at 54-all. But Cholo Villanueva made a fastbreak layup and Tan hit four straight points to put the Archers again on top, 63-58, time down to 2:20.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
A Nation's Passion Lives in a Rivalry of Green vs. Blue
A Nation's Passion Lives in a Rivalry of Green vs. Blue
QUEZON CITY, the Philippines, Sept. 21 — Senators, foreign diplomats, cabinet ministers, a smattering of Forbes's 40 richest Filipinos, movie stars and enough professional basketball players to play five-on-five. They are the elite of Philippine society, and they all gather at Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City to watch the men's basketball rivalry between the universities Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle.
La Salle Coach Franz Pumaren said, "The janitors in Araneta always say, 'If there's an Ateneo-La Salle game, once everybody's out of the coliseum, it still smells good because of the all the socialites watching.' "
In the basketball-crazed Philippines, where former players have become senators and nearly every public square has its own court, it is hard to imagine a crowd like this assembling for any other event. Kristie A. Kenney, the United States ambassador, attended the season's first meeting between Ateneo and La Salle in late July.
Ateneo and La Salle are the most prestigious private universities in the country. The question of which institution provides a superior education is a toss-up; the tie breakers take place on the basketball court.
Although Ateneo and La Salle have similar upper-class student bodies, their respective basketball teams are very different.
The Ateneo players have a squeaky-clean image. The team's prize freshman, Kirk Long, came from Faith Academy, a high school in suburban Manila for the children of foreign missionaries. Guard Eric Salamat's surname means thank you in Tagalog.
La Salle's players have a menacing swagger, with tattoos, headbands, shaved heads and chin-strap beards. In 2005, La Salle revealed that two of its players had used phony high school equivalency results in their applications, and the team was suspended for the 2006 season.
The teams also play different styles, with somewhat different results. The De La Salle Green Archers won four straight national championships from 1998 to 2001 thanks to its vaunted trapping defense.
"The dreaded press; you know your guards will turn over the ball against it," said Joel Banal, who coached Ateneo in 2002 and 2003. "I used to have nightmares about it."
Ateneo plays textbook basketball, with man-to-man defense and an inside-out offense that relies on post-up moves and perimeter shooting. The Blue Eagles won the 2002 championship, their only title in the last 17 years.
If Ateneo wins Sunday's game against the University of St. Thomas, it will face La Salle for the fourth time this season, in the national semifinals. Ateneo has won two of their three meetings this season, games decided by a total of 6 points.
In each of these nail-biters, the 15,000-seat arena was sold out, with supporters standing in aisles and stairwells. Almost everyone on La Salle's side of the coliseum wore green. On the other side, Ateneo's fans wore blue. Marching bands blared fight songs as spectators on both sides chanted.
The frenzied crowds are often led by some of the most prominent alumni. Senator Richard Gordon, a former Ateneo cheerleader, is renowned for sideline antics like jumping on the scorer's table to rile up the crowd. La Salle counts the former finance secretary José Pardo and the shipping mogul Enrique Razon Jr. among its supporters.
The rivalry allows Manila's elites to relive their carefree college days, said Ricky Palou, Ateneo's athletic director. "It's the passion they have for their alma mater," he said. "They become immature. They act like kids."
The fans' excessive behavior is matched by the largesse that the alumni lavish on their teams. A group from Ateneo installed the hardwood floor used for the 2000 N.B.A. All-Star Game at the university gym. Not to be outdone, Razon donated about $1 million, which went toward refurbishing La Salle's sports center and financing athletic scholarships.
The heightened atmosphere of the rivalry puts coaches and players under enormous pressure. When Joe Lipa coached Ateneo in the late 1990s, the former president Corazon Aquino, whose daughter Kris is a 1992 graduate, would call Lipa to check on the team's progress, said Ricky Dandan, Lipa's former assistant.
"You can lose to all the other teams, but not to La Salle," Banal said.
When his team defeated La Salle for the championship in 2002, it was "my most fulfilling accomplishment," Banal said, adding: "After that championship it's like the whole Filipino nation knew me. Like if you go to a restaurant, you eat, you're paying your bill, somebody from Ateneo got it already."
But the shame of losing also haunts players and coaches. In the final game of the 2002 national championship series, the La Salle star Mike Cortez missed 11 of 13 shots. Afterward, La Salle students and alumni accused Cortez of throwing the game. Although Cortez is now an all-star guard in the Philippine professional league, many fans still regard him as a game fixer.
The rivalry has loosened the bond of friendship between the teams' coaches. Ateneo Coach Norman Black and Pumaren won several professional titles together in the late 1980s with the San Miguel Beermen.
"If you're part of the rivalry, you just don't like each other," Black said. "Franz played for me and he was my assistant coach, but that has little bearing on what's happening right now. He's the coach of La Salle; I'm the coach of Ateneo. Let the chips fall where they may."
La Salle Clinches Twice To Beat Advantage! (for Sep 18)
Sweet revenge. The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers will definitely have a series of good night sleeps after shutting down their arch-nemesis Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles with a sweet 70-69 victory on September 18 at the Big Dome giving the former a twice-to-beat advantage and forcing the latter to a must-win battle with last season’s champions, University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers.
Joseph Evans “JV” Casio spurred the run of the Archers as he was hot inside and out connecting 3/7 or 42.9% from beyond the arc, a decent 5/11 or 45.5% field goals and a perfect 2/2 free throws.
Rico Maierhofer on the other hand posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds despite hitting his knee-ankle area after driving into the rim 2:52 minutes left in the first quarter.
Ateneo was rather more aggressive in the first half with Kirk Long giving the Archers headaches with his hoop drives.
The Blue Eagles limited the Archers’ scoring in the second quarter to 16 as compared to their 19 points production. Zion Lattere gave the Blue and White squad its biggest lead 32-24 by driving inside the lane and converting a bucket less than 3 minutes left in the first half.
A 4-0 rally was hoisted by Casio and Barua to inch closer to Ateneo and avoided a possible double digit bubble at the end of the half 32-28.
Severino Baclao was haunted with early fouls that limited his game and affected the execution plays of the Katipunan-based squad giving the Taft-based squad more opportunities to penetrate inside.
La Salle regained its composure in the third with Casio and Maierhofer continuously converting points for the rather dominant green crowd.
PJ Barua sparked the La Sallian crowd with his 3-point conversion giving La Salle a 35-34 lead early in the third. Rabbah Al- Hussaini answered with a field goal, thus giving back the lead to Ateneo.
Maierhofer converted two charities after Al-Hussaini’s foul that gave La Salle a four point advantage 40-36 with 5 minutes left in the third.
Chris Tiu uplifted the Blue Eagles crowd by converting a triple 3:50 minutes left. Eric Salamat further increased the lead of the Eagles to 5 with 42-47 less than 3 minutes left.
La Salle bounced back as Cholo Villanueva converted with a lay-up to cut the lead of the Eagles to three.
Casio broke the deadlock at 47-all with a fancy 3-pointer that gave La Salle the upper hand at the end of the third at 50-47.
After fishing a foul from Zion Laterre, Casio secured a 4-point lead for the Green and White squad in last two minutes of the regulation.
A useless foul was committed by Villanueva against Tiu that was converted by the latter into 2 easy charities cutting the lead of the Archers to two 69-67 less than two minutes left in the game.
Long fouled Villanueva in the dying seconds of the game wherein the latter split his charities thus gave the Archers a breathing space, 70-67.
Ateneo made a last huddle by converting a two-pointer .01 of a second left. The Archers jubilantly ended its two-game skid against the Eagles and clinched the twice-to-beat advantage.
La Salle will have to wait for the winner of the UST and ADMU match on Sunday, September 23, at the Araneta Coliseum.
Coach Franz Pumaren was rather satisfied with his team. “Last two games we lost but we showed a little bit of character, we got the number two spot. Right now I’m just happy on how we performed. It was a massive test on our part.”
He did not make a clear comment when asked who would win between Ateneo and UST. “We don’t choose whoever we play we just have to be prepared and ready to play.”NU Muddles Things Up, sets up Ateneo-LaSalle part 3!
National University’s 96-88 overtime win on September 15 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium might not have changed its fortune, but the outcome was significant to Ateneo de Manila University.
Jonathan Jahnke was the hero of the day for the Bulldogs, scoring the first nine NU points in OT, finding daylight from the outstretched arms of Noynoy Baclao for a twister, 80-73, 3:19. Two consecutive Jonathan Fernandez threes later, it was already an 88-76 tally in favour of National.
“Kami naman we just wanted to get beck at Ateneo,” said NU coach Manny Dandan, not minding of what the repercussions were. “We just want to win para closing out the season maganda.”
Fernandez chiseled 24 points, shooting 6/11 from outside and 4/4 from the line, and five rebounds. Edwin Asoro had 16 markers and 12 boards, eight coming from the offensive glass.
Jahnke loaded with 15 points, five caroms, three assists, four steals, and four turnovers. Shooting guards Michael Salvado and Cyrus Malagueño totaled 22, 15 points coming from three-point territory, five rebbies, and seven assists with the former swiping five possessions and swatting three shots from Ateneo.
“Maganda lang dinipensa namin,” Dandan surmised.
The hustle points proved that point with the Dogs making 13 fastbreak points, 23 second chance points, and 31 turnover points. They also had 14 steals, forcing ADMU to 29 turnovers, while they limited themselves to just 14 miscues. Other than that, the blue and gold’s outside shooting was on target, making 13 from the three-point territory.
On the other hand, the Blue Eagles shot better overall with a 42% clip, had more rebounds with 60, while producing 20 assists and nine blocks.
“We took that risk to put all forwards kanina,” mentioned Dandan to counter ADMU mentor Norman Black’s ploy of fielding in tall but quick players.
This marked as the final games of Fernandez, Malagueño, Salvado, and Joseph Lingao-Lingao.
Ford Arao lorded with 22 points, half of it coming in the first quarter, ten rebounds, and four errors. Jai Reyes exploded with 16, five boards, seven assists, and two steals.
Eric Salamat and Eman Monfort had an equal share of 14 markers each.
With this, the Eagles are forced to battle De La Salle University on September 20 at 3pm at the Cuneta Astrodome. The winner gets the twice-to-beat benefit with the defeated facing the victor of the University of Santo Tomas versus Far Eastern University knockout match. The Growling Tigers and the Tamaraws would trench the Araneta Coliseum on September 17.
Ateneo de Manila was thinking of wrapping things up early, Salamat driving in for a lay in, 17-7, 1:28 of the first quarter. This was duplicated by Yuri Escueta late in the second with a quick basket, 30-20, less than a minute to go.
Things then turned sour for the Katipunan-based squad as Fernandez hoisted a three from the side for the first ever lead change of the tussle, 34-31, 6:39 of the third period. This was increased to nine via a Salvado triple, 54-45, 9:08 remaining in regulation.
Egged on by the blue and white gallery, ADMU released a 7-0 run to take the lead for a while with Tiu stealing one then passing off to Reyes to complete the fastbreak, 61-59, 4:27. With both sides exchanging digits, Salamat found space despite being covered by Asoro to formulate a shaky three-point margin, 71-68, more than a minute left.
Salvado split his trip at the freethrow line from a Zion Laterre foul at the one-minute mark. The Eagles was called for a 24-second violation after Tiu’s attempt to beat the buzzer hit board.
Asoro recovered a Jahnke hoist that was deflected by Baclao for a one-hander in the paint, :21.1, tying the count. Salamat and Tiu had a two-man play set up as Salamat drove then kicked off to a wide open Tiu for the game-winner, but his three-pointer hitting metal instead as the regulation buzzer sounded.
La Salle slides to 9-5, Ateneo must lose! (for Sep 13)
Warriors Sweep Elims In OT
A Pumaren just made history. Dindo did just what older brother Franz could not achieve when University of the East swept De La Salle University, 92-84, on September 13 at the Araneta Coliseum. And if this happened in the last millennium, the Red Warriors would have been automatic champions instead of having to grab two more wins to become one.
UE took the fight out of the Green Archers in overtime as they kept on pounding until the final buzzer. Mark Fampulme’s jump shot from a Rudy Lingganay entry pass, 1:36 of extension, typified the Warriors’ dominance with the big man flexing his muscles in front of the East crowd after making the basket.
“The way they were playing, iba kumpiyansa ng mga bata,” Pumaren praised his wards. “Iba na. Maturity na nandoon.”
Hans Thiele led the Warriors with 16 points and 16 rebounds, nine coming from the offensive end. James Martinez had an output of 13, making 3/7 from beyond the arc.
“I am so proud of the boys. (Thiele) made the key points,” Pumaren mentioned. “Puro post na kami noong fourth quarter. Nawala na malalaki nila.”
Mark Borboran and Marcy Arellano combined for 22 markers, 17 boards, and seven assists. Pari Llagas and Kelvin Gregorio notched ten each.
Jvee Casio fouled out with 22 points on 8/13 shooting, six rebounds, and five assists on 35 minutes. TY Tang had 16 and eight feeds, while Bader Malabes scored 12.
The brothers Pumaren had a light moment after the game.
“We embraced pa nga,” Dindo shared. “Nag-good luck siya.”
East’s last championship appearance was on 1990, coincidentally against the Green Archers.
“We are preparing for the finals. Kalahati pa lang ito,” Pumaren foresighted. “Wala pa itong sweep na ito. Ang goal ng school ay championship.”
The wrestling match was on as Brian Ilad scored a sucker punch on Fampulme after the big Warrior and Rico Maierhofer held a staredown in front of the DLSU bench at the :55.1 mark of the first quarter, the game tied at 16-all.
The Recto-based squad then went on to score the final six points of the period, later extending it to a nine-point advantage with Arellano scoring off an and-one sequence against Ferdinand, 6:33 of the second, 32-23.
De La Salle then had a 19-2 eruption with Casio putting the cherry with a three-pointer, 42-34, two and a half remaining. However, the red and white once again had a six-point spurt in the end courtesy of a Paul Lee putback, an Elmer Espiritu triple, and a Borboran split from the freethrow line.
“To be honest noong second quarter, nagka-run sila puro three-points,” the younger Pumaren exclaimed. “I told them to extend out, lalo na kay Casio. Nahirapan sila (Archers).”
The Taft-based squad turned it into a seven-point game, three and a half remaining in the third with Kish Co completing a steal, handing an outlet pass to Cholo Villanueva, who finished with an incomplete three-point play against Espiritu, 60-53. The Warriors then scored five straight all coming from the freethrow line to come closer.
Casio showed how it is to beat the buzzer with time to spare with a four-point lead going into the final ten minutes, 62-58.
Martinez converted a four-point play off Malabes, for a five-point bubble, 69-64, the largest gap either squad would have before UE’s breakaway in the extension period. Lee’s layup off a Fampulme screen was the final instance of a five-point lead, 77-72, 1:23.
The Archers then gradually ate up the buffer with James Mangahas finding PJ Walsham wide open inside after grabbing Tang’s missed three, 76-77, :35.4 to go.
“Namili ako if I am going to gamble (with a timeout),” Pumaren discussed. “Talagang sa amin. May tulong sa taas. Sa lahat pa nang nagmintis, si Casio.”
Casio had a chance to win it for his team, but he flubbed his first free try to tie the game up, :03.5 to go. Arellano committed an inbounds violation to give the Archers one more crack but Casio’s pass to Maierhofer went wayward as Arellano’s desperation at the buzzer went nowhere near the goal.
Ateneo Sweeps La Salle In Elims (for Sep 9)
It took a difference of a millisecond between losing and, probably, winning as Rico Maierhofer held the ball a little longer than necessary at the buzzer as Ateneo de Manila University escaped De La Salle University, 89-87.
Yuri Escueta drove and attracted the defense then kicked the ball out to a waiting Chris Tiu at right quarter court :17.8 to go for the marginal basket. With ample time for one more play, Casio missed a fadeaway jump shot from 15 feet with Maierhofer attempting to send the game into overtime but in vain.
“The guys showed a lot of grit and guts tonight,” said ADMU coach Norman Black. “(Escueta) is our main man.”
Tiu was 4/5 from the three-point country for 19 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Ford Arao had 18 markers on 8/10 freethrow marksmanship, grabbed eight boards, and dished two feeds.
Escueta had 16 points on a perfect 5/5 shooting and four assists in a career defining game. Eric Salamat had 15 and five assists, and Jobe Nkemakolam had an output of ten on 6/6 shooting at the line, and six caroms.
The Blue Eagles made 10/17 from outside on 50% overall field goal shooting, while making 81% of their freebies. They also had 19 assists and five blocks.
Maierhofer had a career best of 24 points and nine rebounds. Cholo Villanueva netted 18 markers. TY Tang had an all-around night with 15, eight boards, and five assists, while Bader Malabes scored 11.
The Archers made hay on the hustle department with 16 transition points and 16 turnover points.
Interestingly, Casio’s five points in the game were the last points of De La Salle in the match.
“It looks that way. We will be going to play this team again,” Black commented on Ateneo’s nemesis, who is on a tug-of-war battle for a twice-to-beat advantage. With this conquest, the blue and white is now tied with the vanquished at 9-4.
“Focus is now on NU. This victory would not mean anything if we lose against NU,” Black rued. “We only beat them by one point the first time around. All we have to do is beat NU and we are number two.”
Appropriately, that Ateneo versus National University tussle would close out the eliminations on September 15. The green and white faces the challenge of foiling University of the East’s sweep on September 13 at the Araneta Coliseum.
“I am expecting anything at this point,” and this is including a probable protest when asked by a reporter to Black in the postgame interview. “I have come to expect a last second play.”
ADMU stormed off a 13-3 start with Jai Reyes passing off to Noynoy Baclao from a pressbreak play, 7:01 in the first quarter. Not to be outdone, the Taft-based squad replied with a 14-0 kick to bridge the two periods with Villanueva hitting a three-point play off Ken Barracoso, 21-15, 9:47.
Arao tied the count with two freethrows off a Brian Ilad foul, 3:50 in the second, 30-all. Maierhofer responded with five straight to give the Green Archers headaway going into the locker, 40-33, 1:19.
A 7-0 start at the third gave DLSU its highest lead, 51-38, 8:23. Nevertheless, the Katipunan-based crew had an 8-2 finish concluded by a threes from Tiu and Eric Salamat, and a twisting layup from Nkemakolam to go within by one, 64-65.
Two straight Villanueva baskets forced Black to call an early timeout with Maierhofer’s split at the line providing a seven-point cushion, 73-66, 7:05. The leather was swung around by Tiu and Escueta to Salamat at the side for a trey and a tie, 75-all, with Escueta’s quick undergoal gave the Eagles the upperhand momentarily, less than four minutes remaining.
Tang’s three from near the top of the key evened things up once more, 79-all, as both sides pushed and pulled for the lead until Tiu’s game-winning three.
“I thought we won the first game,” Black stated. “A lot of people were questioning that with the protest.”
As for the referees, Black had this to say, “I was a little bit upset at times. But that is part of the passion of the game.”
La Salle Enters Final Four! (for Sept 2)
De La Salle University limited National University to a solitary field goal the first nine minutes of the game en route to a 78-64 beating, the Gang Green having the near empty Araneta Coliseum among themselves on September 2.
Jvee Casio and Rico Maierhofer were the Green Archers’ Mutt and Jeff combo with a combined 33 points on 12/20 shooting and 15 rebounds. The spitfire guard had eight assists to add in his resume, while the lanky forward had three blocks.
Jonathan Fernandez and Edwin Asoro were NU’s version of the dynamic duo with 36 markers. Asoro grabbed 17 boards, seven coming from the offensive end, three steals, and five blocks.
DLSU made 27 turnover points, while National shot only 30% at the field.
“Technically we are in the final four already,” said De La Salle men’s basketball coach Franz Pumaren. “One leg is in the final four for us. All we need is to win our next game.”
And that next game is against no other than Ateneo de Manila University, who is also aspiring for a twice-to-beat slot.
“We beat Ateneo, automatic we are ranked number two,” Pumaren shared.
As for his final match in the eliminations against still undefeated University of the East, “It is still a long way. They are going to play us,” Pumaren mentioned. “ For me, there is no such thing as giving a game to anybody. Hopefully we gain some momentum towards the final four. The time for us to relax is after the tournament.”
Being in that position before, Pumaren picked his younger’s brain, “Whether they admit it or not, the more they think of the sweep, the more they struggle.”
Win #8! (for Aug 25)
Archers Warp Sinking Maroons
De La Salle University made whipping boys out of the young University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 89-61, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on August 25. Just like in the first round, the outcome was settled as early as the first quarter with the Green Archers limiting UP to four points in the first seven minutes. The highest lead was at 36 with a Jvee Casio incursion, 63-27, 6:12 of the third.
“I do not think it is even a gauge,” remarked DLSU coach Franz Pumaren. “UP lost their competitive spirit and they were just going through the motions.”
Five Archers scored in double figures with Casio leading with 17 points on 7/14 shooting, while handing off four assists plus a block. PJ Walsham had 14, while Brian Ilad scored ten in the first period to finish with 13, eight rebounds, two blocks, and four turnovers.
TY Tang produced 12 markers and seven feeds, Rico Maierhofer had a double-double with ten on 3/3 field goal shooting and 12, swatting two Maroon attempts along the way.
The Taft-based crew totaled 21 assists, nine steals, 16 fastbreak points, 23 turnover points, while committing just 15 errors.
VJ Serios headed the Diliman-based squad with 15 points and nine caroms. Michael Gamboa had 11, three assists, and six booboos. Miguel de Asis also finished with 11 markers.
The Archers are on a three-game romp for 8-3, distancing themselves further from the pack. State is still winless in nine tries.
“It is in our hands to make the top two spots,” Pumaren mentioned. “I like where we are right now.”
The green and white would have a week’s rest before encountering National University on September 2 at the Araneta Coliseum. The Maroons have Far Eastern University next on tap on August 30 at the Big Dome.
Win #7! (for Aug 23)
Archers March To Seventh Win
De La Salle University beat Adamson University down so badly in the worst way, 75-55, on an almost empty Araneta Coliseum on August 23. That was all she wrote as early as the first quarter after the Green Archers pieced a 25-8 score in the first ten minutes. They then enjoyed 20-point leads from thereon, the highest was at 25 courtesy of a Peejay Barua incursion, 3:51 remaining in the match, 69-44.“The way I look at Adamson, they looked disoriented,” DLSU coach Franz Pumaren analyzed the situation. “They know pretty well they are out of the final four. They do not have the motivation to play.”
Rico Maierhofer did not need to extend himself, topscoring for the Archers with 12 points and seven rebounds on 19 minutes.
“Problem with him is maturity,” Pumaren pointed out on his forward’s bumpy season. “He is too excited in every game.”
Jvee Casio had 12 points on 4/6 shooting, while Brian Ilad went a perfect 4/4 on the field, missing only at the freethrow line for nine markers and six boards.
Patrick Cabahug led the Falcons with 17 points, but shot only 25%. Roel Hugnatan was the other double-digit scorer with 16 and six rebounds.
The Archers were everywhere on the stat board with 20 assists, ten steals, 19 transition points, 20 turnover points, and turning it over just 13 times. On the other hand, Adamson had only five attempts from the freethrow area.
“We took advantage on our part and got the win,” Pumaren exclaimed. “I was able to be given the chance to experiment on my rotation.”
De La Salle is gradually leaving the peloton with seven wins on ten games, while AdU is out of it with 1-8.
“We already saw the things we need to adjust,” Pumaren mentioned regarding their plans for the rest of the season.
La Salle beats FEU for a 6-3 record (for Aug 19)
La Salle Edges Out FEU For Solo Second
De La Salle University had a breath of fresh air, bucking a near collapse against of Far Eastern University, 74-66. The Green Archers led by as much as 15, 70-55, with a Ferdinand tip in, 4:46. However, FEU did not let the game away that easy as it trimmed the gap to six with Jon Alisbo finding Marlon Adolfo for a three-pointer from near the top of the arc, 66-72, more than a minute to go. That was the nearest the Tamaraws got with Cholo Villanueva sealing the game with two freethrows from separate trips.
“It was a test of character on our team,” said DLSU coach Franz Pumaren. “We rose to the occasion right now. It is a good win.”
Jvee Casio led with 16 points, going 9/10 at the freethrow area. He also passed off four times and stole the leather thrice. Rico Maierhofer woke up with 13 markers, seven rebounds, three assists, and two blocks, while TY Tang made 12 and eight feeds.
As a team, the Taft-based squad shot only 4/22 from the arc with a total 35.9% overall accuracy. It made up in the hustle board with 19 fastbreak and 21 turnover points, while dishing 21 assists. The whistles blew Taft-ward as well, getting called for only 20 fouls against FEU’s 28.
Marnel Baracael scored 20 points on 7/12 two-point shooting for Far Eastern, going along with eight boards, two steals, and a block. Adolfo and Ric Cawaling were good for ten each, while Reil Cervantes was a point shy of a double-double with 14 rebounds.
De La Salle put behind the embarrassing defeat it suffered from rival University of Santo Tomas a week ago. The green and white are in solo second with a 6-3 standing. FEU is tied with UST at 5-4.
“There is always a first time,” Pumaren looked back. “It was actually a painful lesson but a good experience for us.”
The Archers have a busy week ahead with Adamson University on August 23 at the Araneta Coliseum and University of the Philippines on August 25 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. On the other hand, the green and gold would contend against Ateneo de Manila University on Saturday.
“Each game is important, especially ranking second to fifth. It is neck and neck,” the older Pumaren mentioned. “Parang traffic jam. At this stage, our destiny in entering the final four is in our hands. We are not dependent on other teams.”
UST stuns La Salle (for Aug 11)
Like It’s 1999, Tigers Take A Bite Out Of Archers
Shakedown 1999. It was in that year the last time University of Santo Tomas won against De La Salle University in a UAAP men’s basketball game. And with the way the Growling Tigers came back from the dead and won, 81-73, it was slightly reminiscent of what occurred in the third game of the finals of that same year.From 12 points down, 57-69, 1:57 left in the game, UST coach Pido Jarencio called for time to settle his boys down and plan one last attack.
“Simple naman sinabi ko sa mga bata,” Jarencio recalled during that huddle. “Down by 12 tayo. Masaya iyan.”
Lifted up and challenged by the situation, Dylan Ababou and Anthony Espiritu sniffed for Ferdinand’s two last fouls, making all their freethrows, 61-69, 1:15. After Ty Tang aired a three-pointer, Espiritu converted a three-point play off Tang, :48.9 in regulation.
With barely more than a second after the ball was put into play, Tang got the goat by being whistled for an offensive foul at the backcourt. With a page coming from the Dino Aldeguer miracle playbook, Khasim Mirza stroked one from the summit of the arc, the lead just down to two, 67-69, with still 40 and some seconds in the clock.
Nevertheless, what sent the game into overtime was a Cortez fade off from the side, caroming his own miss, :06.7 to go.
“Up to the last possession, basta consistent at pursigido tayo,” Jarencio told the elated media in the post-game interview.
And the fairy tale does not end in to be continued, as the Tigers scored 12 points in the extra five minutes to wrap up the win and slay the ghost that has haunted them since last millennium.
Not counting the forfeited games DLSU served as part of its penalty for negligence, the last match the Archers lost to Santo Tomas was the first game of the finals on September 30, 1999 at the Philsports Arena, 60-62. That screeched to a halt a 17-game losing streak to one team for the USTe.
“Wala akong pakialam sa talo ng nakaraan,” Jarencio shared. “Natalo ako first round, babawi ako.”
Mirza was co-topscorer with 16 points. Ababou had a double-double with 15 and ten with two assists, four steals, and six errors. Espiritu made 14 and two blocks.
“Sino pa ba aasahin natin?” the witty mentor said of his three play-alike forwards. “Kahit papaano nakakabantay sila ng big man. May quickness pa.”
Jervy Cruz was his old usual self with 16 points, going 6/6 at the freethrow, 18 rebounds, and season-high seven blocks.
JVee Casio led De La Salle with 20 points, making four field goals from the three-point area. Cholo Villanueva missed a double-double with 15 and nine boards along with four steals.
The España-based squad milked the green and white for 36 fouls and 49 freethrows attempts, just two less than its tries in the two-point field, making 29. The Tigers also had 64 rebounds and 12 blocks.
“Wala pa. Pa-arangkada pa lang,” is how Jarencio sees his team.
The black, gold, and white ties the vanquished with a 5-3 standing with University of the Philippines next on tap.
“Basta kami walang mahina, walang malakas,” Jarencio said.
Persistent Archers Take Down Bulldogs (for Aug 4)
De La Salle University survived a day in the doghouse winning, 85-81, against National University at the Cuneta Astrodome on August 4. Rico Maierhofer put the Archers out of sticky situations in the endgame despite playing only for ten game minutes. He was wide open down under for a stab, 1:34 in the game, to have DLSU up, 82-77. Later, he fished Joseph Lingao-Lingao’s fifth foul for two freethrows, grabbing Cholo Villanueva’s short jumper that hit nothing but air.
“It is so hard to play NU with their unorthodox style,” said De La Salle coach Franz Pumaren. “They had open looks, (but) they missed their shots.”
Bader Malabes introduced himself with 18 points, 3/8 from beyond the arc. He was 0/17 from that area prior to the game.
“He is a better shooter than his percentage,” Pumaren rued. “That is why we encourage him to shoot.”
TY Tang had 12 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Villanueva had 11, seven, and six, while James Mangahas had a double-double afternoon with 11 and ten.
Jonathan Fernandez led everyone with 24 points while hauling seven rebounds. Edwin Asoro had an all-around performance of 13 markers, eight boards, five thefts, and two blocks. Both Lingao-Lingao and Jonathan Jahnke finished the first round with 11 points.
The Archers led 12-4 to start the game. However, Jahnke finished a 12-3 run with a three at the buzzer for the Bulldogs, 22-21.
Malabes then scorched seven points in a 14-7 rally to go up, 41-33, in the second period. Villanueva duplicated the spread in the third slice with a reverse layup, 64-56, 3:45. However, Fernandez drove to the middle to scissor down the lead to four, 64-68, less than a minute in the third.
The magic number seemed to be eight as Ferdinand blocked an NU attempt, Jvee Casio taking the leather, advanced upcourt, and fed Tang for a fastbreak layup, 6:37 in the fourth, the Green Archers on top, 74-68.
Michael Salvado tied things up with a nonchalant triple from the summit of the curve, 75-all, less than five minutes to go. Tang found Malabes at the top of the key for a three to create a five-point barricade.
From there, the Jhocson-based squad just scored at the line the rest of the way.
“Two crucial fouls were called against us,” Pumaren mentioned disappointedly. “You do not let the referees decide the outcome. It was away from the ball, there was no effect on the game.”
Maierfoher had an incomplete three-point play after Jahnke made his trip on the line. Maierhofer's trip to the charity were sandwiched by two Fernandez forays at the 15-footer getting both personals from Villanueva.
NU had a chance to send the battle into overtime but Jahnke's attempt from quarter court, hit rim, then went out of bounds. Malabes sealed the count with a split.
The Archers end the first half of the basketball season with a 5-2 win-loss standing. National, on the other hand, is teetering at the lower middle part of the seedings with 3-4.
“We were able to survive,” assessed Pumaren. “Coming into this tournament, I am looking at the top two or three at the least.”
Monday, July 30, 2007
Win # 4!!!
Green Archers’ Furious Rally Tame Tigers in OT
After letting a big game slip away from their fingertips a few days back, the De La Salle Green Archers were met by another equally huge game at their disposal. The Green Archers faced the defending champions, UST Growling Tigers, with the task to somewhat prove whether or not the Tigers would have won last year’s championship or not had the Green Archers played in the tournament. The Archers proved their case, and won 90-86 in overtime.
For the first half of the game, it looked exactly like the Growling Tigers had their foot on the accelerator as well as on the point that the Archers do not matter whatsoever to their championship campaign, as the Tigers took as much as a 16-point lead late in the 2nd quarter. It seemed like the Archers were on their way to the team’s 3rd straight setback, as the Tigers outplayed them in all aspects of the game to push the lead higher and higher until it felt insurmountable.
However, the Green Archers ignited a furious rally in the third quarter, with much appreciation to the stifling full-court press for which the Growling Tigers had no answer for, to cut the lead to 2-points by quarter’s end. The fourth quarter saw the reemergence of lost Archer, Ty Tang, as he drained crucial baskets with his patented pull-up jumper in transition, as well as huge bombs from beyond the arc. Despite shooting bricks for well throughout the entire game, JV Casio’s offense also decided to show up late in the 4th quarter, with probably the most important shot of the game stemming from his drive through the left lane against the whole UST team for the game-tying lay-up with 2.6 seconds remaining in the game. The Archers pulled away late in overtime to secure their win, as well as breaking their 2-game losing streak.
The Green Archers were led by Ty Tang’s 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. JV Casio, whose offense was a no-show until the crucial stages of the game, had 14 points and 5 rebounds. James Mangahas posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. PJ Walsham, Rico Maierhofer, and Ferdinand fouled out for De La Salle, and Brian Ilad left the game due to injury; the remaining big man of De La Salle, Kish Co, stayed alive in the game holding on to 4 personal fouls. The whole Archers team, including Coach Franz Pumaren, sported shaved heads; an act of bonding the team since losing their last game to Ateneo.
The Growling Tigers were led by another monstrous performance by Jervy Cruz, who had 22 points and 18 rebounds. Their floor general, Japs Cuan, fouled out with 6 points and 6 assists; which cost the Tigers dearly in overtime with no one to dictate the offense or break the feared full court press of De La Salle. The UST Growling Tigers have not defeated the De La Salle Green Archers since Game 2 of the 1999 UAAP Finals
After letting a big game slip away from their fingertips a few days back, the De La Salle Green Archers were met by another equally huge game at their disposal. The Green Archers faced the defending champions, UST Growling Tigers, with the task to somewhat prove whether or not the Tigers would have won last year’s championship or not had the Green Archers played in the tournament. The Archers proved their case, and won 90-86 in overtime.
For the first half of the game, it looked exactly like the Growling Tigers had their foot on the accelerator as well as on the point that the Archers do not matter whatsoever to their championship campaign, as the Tigers took as much as a 16-point lead late in the 2nd quarter. It seemed like the Archers were on their way to the team’s 3rd straight setback, as the Tigers outplayed them in all aspects of the game to push the lead higher and higher until it felt insurmountable.
However, the Green Archers ignited a furious rally in the third quarter, with much appreciation to the stifling full-court press for which the Growling Tigers had no answer for, to cut the lead to 2-points by quarter’s end. The fourth quarter saw the reemergence of lost Archer, Ty Tang, as he drained crucial baskets with his patented pull-up jumper in transition, as well as huge bombs from beyond the arc. Despite shooting bricks for well throughout the entire game, JV Casio’s offense also decided to show up late in the 4th quarter, with probably the most important shot of the game stemming from his drive through the left lane against the whole UST team for the game-tying lay-up with 2.6 seconds remaining in the game. The Archers pulled away late in overtime to secure their win, as well as breaking their 2-game losing streak.
The Green Archers were led by Ty Tang’s 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. JV Casio, whose offense was a no-show until the crucial stages of the game, had 14 points and 5 rebounds. James Mangahas posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. PJ Walsham, Rico Maierhofer, and Ferdinand fouled out for De La Salle, and Brian Ilad left the game due to injury; the remaining big man of De La Salle, Kish Co, stayed alive in the game holding on to 4 personal fouls. The whole Archers team, including Coach Franz Pumaren, sported shaved heads; an act of bonding the team since losing their last game to Ateneo.
The Growling Tigers were led by another monstrous performance by Jervy Cruz, who had 22 points and 18 rebounds. Their floor general, Japs Cuan, fouled out with 6 points and 6 assists; which cost the Tigers dearly in overtime with no one to dictate the offense or break the feared full court press of De La Salle. The UST Growling Tigers have not defeated the De La Salle Green Archers since Game 2 of the 1999 UAAP Finals
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Ateneo hands LaSalle its 2nd Straight Loss!
The game that all the green gangs and the blue battalions have circled on their calendars had finally commenced and ended in a sweet fashion. The most storied rivalry of the UAAP had another classic match-up to put up in its archives; as the Blue Eagles needed an extra five minutes to outlast the Green Archers in heavily fought match in the Big Dome on Thursday night. The players reached deep beneath their gut to pull out the extra effort needed to take home pride and honor for the school; and it was the Blue Eagles who had prevailed for this round, 80-77.
The game was a see-saw battle all the way to the end of the first half, as the Archers only narrowly led through most of the first two quarters with their biggest lead being 5; only to watch the Blue Eagles tie the ballgame at 30-all as the first half ended with Chris Tiu hitting a 3-pointer from the corner to tie the game. The 3rd quarter was a different story however, as the Ateneo Blue Eagles started to pull away while the Archers were still pondering how to stop the Blue Eagle rally. The Eagles entered the 4th quarter with a 5-point lead, and looked like they were going to blow the game wide open as they took a 9-point lead, before the Archers decided to finally pull things together and rallied right back into the game. The Archers were able to cut the lead to 2 or 3 points on numerous occasions, but committed unnecessary fouls each time which spelled free throws for the Blue Eagles; in turn, the baskets made by the Archers were offset and the gap in the score remained. In the final 2 minutes however, JV Casio had enough and took the game into his own hands. He scored on a coast-to-coast lay-up in transition to pull the score closer; on the ensuing possession, he hit a step-back 3-pointer; and in his final basket of regulation, he curled through a pick to find himself open for the game-tying jump shot, 65-65. Cholo Villanueva scored on a fast-break to give the Archers their first lead since early in the 3rd quarter with 13.8 seconds left, but Ford Arao overpowered PJ Walsham on the other end for an easy deuce to tie the game, 67-67. The Archers had the final shot of the game, but JV Casio hampered by the stifling perimeter defense of the Blue Ealges and was not able to attempt a shot as time expired.
In overtime, it was mostly Ateneo-dominated basketball. Ford Arao continued to dominate the post as the Archers still refused to double-team him and allowed PJ Walsham to defend Arao 1-on-1. Jai Reyes then found an open Chris Tiu for the biggest shot of the game; The Blue Eagles were up by only 1, as Chris Tiu found the ball in his hands and the path to the basket crystal clear. He shot and made the 3-pointer to give the Eagles a 4-point lead with 38 seconds left to play in the game. With 2.2 seconds left in the game, and the Eagles still up by 4-points, Rico Maierhofer found himself on the charity stripe to try and pull the Archers closer. He made the first free throw to cut the lead to 3, and intentionally missed the second one; the ball was tapped all the way to beyond the arc where Rico Maierhofer launched a prayer to tie the game, a prayer which was unfortunately left unanswered.
The Blue Eagles were led by Jai Reyes with 18 points and 6 assists, followed by Chris Tiu with 15 points and 6 rebounds. The triple towers of Ateneo combined for 29 points and 24 rebounds, with Ford Arao owning the 14 points and 5 rebounds.
The Green Archers were led by JV Casio with 21 points. Rico Maierhofer posted a double-double for the Green Archers with 19 points and 10 rebounds. TY Tang shot 2-9 FGs and turned the ball over 6 times as he fouled out of the game in 29 minutes of play. The Archers were out-assisted, 17-8.
The Green Archers will try to avoid their third straight loss of the season as they go up against the defending champions, the streaking UST Growling Tigers, on Sunday. It will also be a day of redemption as the Archers test the Growling Tigers’ credibility as champions; and the Growling Tigers will try to prove that whether the Archers were present or not, they would still be champions.
Arrows will fly and tigers will roar. Will the hunter become the hunted, or will the predator become the prey? Watch for it this Sunday.
Animo La Salle! Beat UST!
The game was a see-saw battle all the way to the end of the first half, as the Archers only narrowly led through most of the first two quarters with their biggest lead being 5; only to watch the Blue Eagles tie the ballgame at 30-all as the first half ended with Chris Tiu hitting a 3-pointer from the corner to tie the game. The 3rd quarter was a different story however, as the Ateneo Blue Eagles started to pull away while the Archers were still pondering how to stop the Blue Eagle rally. The Eagles entered the 4th quarter with a 5-point lead, and looked like they were going to blow the game wide open as they took a 9-point lead, before the Archers decided to finally pull things together and rallied right back into the game. The Archers were able to cut the lead to 2 or 3 points on numerous occasions, but committed unnecessary fouls each time which spelled free throws for the Blue Eagles; in turn, the baskets made by the Archers were offset and the gap in the score remained. In the final 2 minutes however, JV Casio had enough and took the game into his own hands. He scored on a coast-to-coast lay-up in transition to pull the score closer; on the ensuing possession, he hit a step-back 3-pointer; and in his final basket of regulation, he curled through a pick to find himself open for the game-tying jump shot, 65-65. Cholo Villanueva scored on a fast-break to give the Archers their first lead since early in the 3rd quarter with 13.8 seconds left, but Ford Arao overpowered PJ Walsham on the other end for an easy deuce to tie the game, 67-67. The Archers had the final shot of the game, but JV Casio hampered by the stifling perimeter defense of the Blue Ealges and was not able to attempt a shot as time expired.
In overtime, it was mostly Ateneo-dominated basketball. Ford Arao continued to dominate the post as the Archers still refused to double-team him and allowed PJ Walsham to defend Arao 1-on-1. Jai Reyes then found an open Chris Tiu for the biggest shot of the game; The Blue Eagles were up by only 1, as Chris Tiu found the ball in his hands and the path to the basket crystal clear. He shot and made the 3-pointer to give the Eagles a 4-point lead with 38 seconds left to play in the game. With 2.2 seconds left in the game, and the Eagles still up by 4-points, Rico Maierhofer found himself on the charity stripe to try and pull the Archers closer. He made the first free throw to cut the lead to 3, and intentionally missed the second one; the ball was tapped all the way to beyond the arc where Rico Maierhofer launched a prayer to tie the game, a prayer which was unfortunately left unanswered.
The Blue Eagles were led by Jai Reyes with 18 points and 6 assists, followed by Chris Tiu with 15 points and 6 rebounds. The triple towers of Ateneo combined for 29 points and 24 rebounds, with Ford Arao owning the 14 points and 5 rebounds.
The Green Archers were led by JV Casio with 21 points. Rico Maierhofer posted a double-double for the Green Archers with 19 points and 10 rebounds. TY Tang shot 2-9 FGs and turned the ball over 6 times as he fouled out of the game in 29 minutes of play. The Archers were out-assisted, 17-8.
The Green Archers will try to avoid their third straight loss of the season as they go up against the defending champions, the streaking UST Growling Tigers, on Sunday. It will also be a day of redemption as the Archers test the Growling Tigers’ credibility as champions; and the Growling Tigers will try to prove that whether the Archers were present or not, they would still be champions.
Arrows will fly and tigers will roar. Will the hunter become the hunted, or will the predator become the prey? Watch for it this Sunday.
Animo La Salle! Beat UST!
UE Humbles La Salle!
It had to happen. It was a battle of the undefeated teams; and at the end, one team would remain at the peak of the mountain while the other will be humbled with their first ever defeat this season. Unfortunately for the Lasallian community, it had to be the Green Archers who were on the receiving end of a furious rally by the Red Warriors.
The game was on the route for the expected nail-biting finish for the two projected UAAP Finals contenders, as the score remained close with both teams exchanging blows for the first 25 minutes of the game. JV Casio was on fire early on, draining three 3-pointers along with numerous jump shots and break away lay-ups against a bedazzled UE defense. The Red Warriors on the other hand responded by scoring on almost every possession, despite the physical Green Archer defense. Towards the end of the 3rd quarter, the Green Archers seemed to run out of gas, and the Red Warriors inversely pumped up the momentum and continued to pull away until the lead became insurmountable by any desperate attempts by Franz Pumaren’s squad.
Midway through the fourth quarter, JV Casio raised three of his fingers towards Ty Tang, presumably signaling jacking up three-point attempts. Indeed, that was entirely the case. Franz Pumaren seemed to have pushed the panic button and asked the Archers to start launching three-pointers with a little over 5 minutes left in the game. The Green Archers followed, although their hopes and prayers never came to life. Their futile attempt for a hopeful rally never materialized, and the Archers found themselves in a deeper hole; deep enough for the team to finally concede in the wanning minutes of the game.
Jorel Canizares headed the all-out attack for the UE Red Warriors as he led 8 players with 8 or more points with a season-high, 15 points, after averaging only 2 points per game through the season. The star Warrior, Marcy Arellano, did not have to do much in the game as all his teammates picked up the slack to cruise past the Green Archers.
The De La Salle Green Archers were led by JV Casio’s 17 points, with majority of his points coming in his 1st half outburst. A questionable coaching decision is being raised against coach Franz Pumaren for benching JV Casio, given the fact that Casio was red hot from the field. Rico Maierhofer also displayed a valiant effort with 15 points and 11 rebounds, accompanied by beautiful defensive plays against some Red Warriors who were hoping for easy baskets. The Green Archers turned the ball over 22 times, against the Warriors’ 14.
The Green Archers will try to redeem themselves against their classic rivals, the Ateneo Blue Eagles, on Thursday. Keep an eye out for an angry Green Archer team that is hungry for victory.
Animo La Salle!
The game was on the route for the expected nail-biting finish for the two projected UAAP Finals contenders, as the score remained close with both teams exchanging blows for the first 25 minutes of the game. JV Casio was on fire early on, draining three 3-pointers along with numerous jump shots and break away lay-ups against a bedazzled UE defense. The Red Warriors on the other hand responded by scoring on almost every possession, despite the physical Green Archer defense. Towards the end of the 3rd quarter, the Green Archers seemed to run out of gas, and the Red Warriors inversely pumped up the momentum and continued to pull away until the lead became insurmountable by any desperate attempts by Franz Pumaren’s squad.
Midway through the fourth quarter, JV Casio raised three of his fingers towards Ty Tang, presumably signaling jacking up three-point attempts. Indeed, that was entirely the case. Franz Pumaren seemed to have pushed the panic button and asked the Archers to start launching three-pointers with a little over 5 minutes left in the game. The Green Archers followed, although their hopes and prayers never came to life. Their futile attempt for a hopeful rally never materialized, and the Archers found themselves in a deeper hole; deep enough for the team to finally concede in the wanning minutes of the game.
Jorel Canizares headed the all-out attack for the UE Red Warriors as he led 8 players with 8 or more points with a season-high, 15 points, after averaging only 2 points per game through the season. The star Warrior, Marcy Arellano, did not have to do much in the game as all his teammates picked up the slack to cruise past the Green Archers.
The De La Salle Green Archers were led by JV Casio’s 17 points, with majority of his points coming in his 1st half outburst. A questionable coaching decision is being raised against coach Franz Pumaren for benching JV Casio, given the fact that Casio was red hot from the field. Rico Maierhofer also displayed a valiant effort with 15 points and 11 rebounds, accompanied by beautiful defensive plays against some Red Warriors who were hoping for easy baskets. The Green Archers turned the ball over 22 times, against the Warriors’ 14.
The Green Archers will try to redeem themselves against their classic rivals, the Ateneo Blue Eagles, on Thursday. Keep an eye out for an angry Green Archer team that is hungry for victory.
Animo La Salle!
Win # 3!
The whole coliseum, plus the tens and thousands of viewers at home and from the internet, expected the game to be another blow-out win in favor of the Green Archers. It was one of the most intact and experienced teams in the league against a team composed of ten rookie players and a rookie head coach; who could have expected this one to be a nail-biter? In the end, the De La Salle Green Archers had to dodge a bullet in order to snatch their third win of the season, 64-61.
The FEU Tamaraws led most of the game until the Archers pulled all the right strings in the final minutes of the game to steal the win. The most pivotal moment of the game stemmed from the long arms of Rico Maierhofer when he snatched an offensive rebound and tipped the ball back in for the Archers’ biggest lead of the game, 62-58, with under 2 minutes left to play in the game. Cholo Villanueva showed extreme nuts of steel as he extended the Archers’ lead to 64-61 with 8.9 seconds left in the game; which became the final score for the Archer-win accompanied by a huge sigh of relief. Coach Franz Pumaren showed calmness and confidence in his team even though defeat stared them in the eyes in the final minutes; convincing himself and his team that their veteran experience was not a force to be reckoned with in crunch time.
The Green Archers displayed a sub-par offense, shooting only 28% FGs for the entire game; forcing them to hope and pray that their advantage in free throws made and attempted pave a way for their victory, and indeed it did as the Archers made 10 more free throws than the Tamaraws did. The Green Archers once again spearheaded the attack with balanced scoring from the whole team, led by Rico Maierhofer with 11 points and 8 rebounds, followed by Peejay Barua with 11 points and 4 rebounds.
The FEU Tamaraws’ rookie-led squad exceeded expectations by almost toppling the Green Archers. Sophomore player Marnel Baracael led the Tamaraws in scoring with 16 points while also grabbing 6 rebounds. Rookie Ron Sanga also contributed with 9 points and 4 rebounds. The FEU Tamaraws were out-rebounded on the offensive boards 19-12.
In the first game, the UST Growling Tigers looked as if they were headed for another defeat early on against the Adamson Falcons until they rallied to keep the game alive and rallied once more late to pull away with the 12-point victory. Jervy Cruz had another monster game with 24 points and 23 rebound, accompanied by Francis Allera with a career-high 26 points, to help the Gold and Black snag their first win of the season. The Falcons were led by Patrick Cabahug’s 24 points and Roel Hugnatan’s league-high 32 points in another unfortunate loss.
Animo La Salle!
The FEU Tamaraws led most of the game until the Archers pulled all the right strings in the final minutes of the game to steal the win. The most pivotal moment of the game stemmed from the long arms of Rico Maierhofer when he snatched an offensive rebound and tipped the ball back in for the Archers’ biggest lead of the game, 62-58, with under 2 minutes left to play in the game. Cholo Villanueva showed extreme nuts of steel as he extended the Archers’ lead to 64-61 with 8.9 seconds left in the game; which became the final score for the Archer-win accompanied by a huge sigh of relief. Coach Franz Pumaren showed calmness and confidence in his team even though defeat stared them in the eyes in the final minutes; convincing himself and his team that their veteran experience was not a force to be reckoned with in crunch time.
The Green Archers displayed a sub-par offense, shooting only 28% FGs for the entire game; forcing them to hope and pray that their advantage in free throws made and attempted pave a way for their victory, and indeed it did as the Archers made 10 more free throws than the Tamaraws did. The Green Archers once again spearheaded the attack with balanced scoring from the whole team, led by Rico Maierhofer with 11 points and 8 rebounds, followed by Peejay Barua with 11 points and 4 rebounds.
The FEU Tamaraws’ rookie-led squad exceeded expectations by almost toppling the Green Archers. Sophomore player Marnel Baracael led the Tamaraws in scoring with 16 points while also grabbing 6 rebounds. Rookie Ron Sanga also contributed with 9 points and 4 rebounds. The FEU Tamaraws were out-rebounded on the offensive boards 19-12.
In the first game, the UST Growling Tigers looked as if they were headed for another defeat early on against the Adamson Falcons until they rallied to keep the game alive and rallied once more late to pull away with the 12-point victory. Jervy Cruz had another monster game with 24 points and 23 rebound, accompanied by Francis Allera with a career-high 26 points, to help the Gold and Black snag their first win of the season. The Falcons were led by Patrick Cabahug’s 24 points and Roel Hugnatan’s league-high 32 points in another unfortunate loss.
Animo La Salle!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)