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 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.”

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.”