Ateneo/La Salle 2- Payback.

by Migs

I managed to grab Upper Box A tickets to yesterday's Ateneo/La Salle tiff at the Araneta Coliseum.

While Ateneo supporters went home happy, and La Salle supporters went home less than satisfied, overall, I think everyone got their money's worth- another emotional, supercharged hoops match between, arguably, the country's most popular amateur sports teams.

The Archers were flustered by torrid shooting by the Eagles early on, with the latter leading by as much as a dozen in the first period. It was evident after the first ten minutes what the Green Archers' game plan was- to deny MVP candidate Rabeh Al Hussaini the basketball each time down, and to try and subdue's Ateneo's offensive prowess from the inside out.

Uncharateristically, La Salle's shooting eye was off kilter, with spitfire JVee Casio only scoring 5 points on 2-11 field goals, and wiry Rico Maiefhoffer only managing 4-11 shots made despite scoring 16 pts and grabbing 10 caroms. Ateneo had their own share of woes in terms of execution. The league's number one squad record-wise had 14 turnovers in the first half alone, a lot of them, more due to poor decisions made with the ball as opposed to the much-heralded DLSU full court press.

All in all, it was ADMU's dominance inside, coupled with heady plays made in the last 20 minutes, and La Salle's horrific perimeter play, that spelled the difference. As on target as Ateneo seemed in stretches in their battle of attrition with their arch-rivals, one has to be worried about the Eagles' occasional lapses in concentration. Honestly, I haven't seen a Loyola Heights squad this sharp, well, perhaps ever (even the 2002 championship team wasn't this poised, talented, and intelligent on the hardwood, overall), however, sometimes, it's not whether you win or lose, but more WHEN and HOW you win or lose. Ateneo has tended to dominate certain tended to dominate clubs this year, however, when they'd play more athletic teams like the UE Red Warriors, or, the FEU Tamaraws, the Blues would tend to rely on the stability of their defense, and headiness of their veterans, instead of pure poise and execution.

The way the Blue and White would win in the end? Commendable. They way they'd provide opponents with little pockets of hope? Not a cause for a "code red", but certainly, a point of concern.

In the Final Four, and in the UAAP finals, you take the opposition by the neck, squeeze as hard as you can, and refrain from letting up. With the Final Four and finals series formats as they are, your elimination round luster can disappear, along with your season, in a jiffy. Just ask the 2007, 14-0 UE Red Warriors. They'll tell you all about it.

Rabeh's got to be quicker on his feet in the post. Ryan Buenafe desperately needs a consistent medium range jump shot. Eric Salamat ought to slow down sometimes to avoid turnovers. Bacon Austria could use more seasoning as a "big" point guard. Vince Burke could use more plays run for him getting some pop shots once in a while, just to vary things up a bit.

Minimize risky passes and unnecessary forays to the basket.

Things like that.

As for the Green Archers, all hope hasn't been sucked out of them just yet. With them being on a collision course with FEU for a virtual best of three, DLSU can still come out of this plethora of pressure-packed games on top if, in my opinion, they can get their shooting back, and avoid living and dying with one-on-one offense. Think of the Greens as a team similar to the Phoenix Suns with pre-Steve Nash (the MVP Steve Nash). Amare Stoudemire is played by Rico Maierhoffer. Stephon Marbury is played by JVee Casio. Shawn Marion is played by, perhaps, James Mangahas or PJ Barua. Leandro Barbosa is filled in by Simon Atkins. A lot of transition plays, a ton of perimeter bombs launched. If the Archers space out the floor well for open J's- and nifty caroms in case those jumpers misfire- then the have a chance. I believe that the defending champions have more than enough grit and pure talent to pull rabbits out of hats (ouch, UST), or, in their own unmistakeable way, pound challengers in submission.

Ateneo/La Salle 2 for Season 71 had vengeance written all over it in the case of the Ateneo Blue Eagles. It was this same DLSU squad, after all, that ousted them from the UAAP in Season 70, denying graduating Ateneans like Zion Laterre and Ford Arao a UAAP title. NU wearing the spoiler hat aside, the Ateneans had more than just tradition to fight for on September 7, 2008. They wanted, uhm, "RABEH-NGE" on their greatest nemesis for something that, in the eyes of a whole bunch of people, cost them the 2007 crown.

So now, for Coaches Franz and Norman, its tit for tat.

Now that that's all water under the proverbial steel and girders, there's the rest of the remaining UAAP contenders to lose sleep over. Lord knows that UE and FEU aren't going to lay down and disintegrate at the sight of the Eagles and Archers, so, beyond strategy, beyond X's and O's, and transcedent of personnel management, comes desire. He who mends desire with discipline best will reaps the fullest benefits of his laborious days.

A tad dramatic for you? Well that's what basketball- and sport- is a about, really. Take that away, and you take away the humanity from the entire activity.

Now that's taking a lot off of standing in a coliseum packed with 23,000-plus boisterous fans for around 5 hours.

My sister and I enjoyed every minute we spent as a part of the massive throng of people that poured their hearts out (cleanly, overall) in the name of school spirit. It was, really, a beautiful sight to behold, irregardless of whether you were dressed in blue, or white (or, maroon or yellow, for that matter).

The fact that the UAAP's become such a large draw inside and outside the confines of a gym (sans very much incident) just goes to show that life isn't life without a little bit of flair.

Just don't tell any politicians or showbusiness types about the last part of my previous paragraph. Them taking that part too seriously will spell the very death of us all, I guarantee you.

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