The Mutts and Jeffs
Ateneo 78 vs. Adamson 59
by rick olivares
Marcus Tullius Cicero said give the people what they want. As much as the Loyola faithful have been waiting for the team to fire on all cylinders, no one minds the virtuoso performances. But the ingredients to the Ateneo Blue Eagles success thus far are pretty obvious despite their obvious flaws.
As the unimaginative would describe it, it’s the team’s Mutt and Jeff combo that has led the way. But as teams will attest, there’s nothing comical about being in the business end of Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Eric Salamat.
At first it was his temper on the court that got Al-Hussaini into trouble. Ateneo’s foes knew that and they exploited it to the hilt. And then it was his suspect defense and footwork. Now that Japs Cuan no longer asks him what his height is, all anyone can talk about is how Ateneo has its first big game center since Rico Villanueva. He’s made people somewhat forget what's-his-name who left for the United States and made others wonder a myriad of what-ifs.
When Vince Burke entered the game during scrub time, another Jeff who has played superb of late and who usually goes by the name of Jai Reyes spread his arms to remind the frosh about boxing out. Al-Hussaini trotted over, patted Burke on the side, and warned of the Adamson wingmen who liked to plant themselves in the corner then flash inside for a drop and easy two. The master now has his padawan.
In the first round encounter with Adamson, Al-Hussaini netted only 2 points. He apologized to Ateneo Coach Norman Black afterwards and in the very next game, dropped more than a double-double on UE. He sent them on a tailspin.
For the San Marcelino-based squad, there were two numbers that they hoped to address: 1) end a 22-game slide that dated back to the last century, and 2) get win #2 that will separate the Falcons from a tie with NU and UP. The team was banking on their ability to negate whatever advantages Ateneo has and keep the game close. But when Al-Hussaini drained a jumper at the 6:20 mark from the top of the key for a 10-3 Blue Eagle lead (he had scored all 10 points up to that point), Adamson Coach Leo Austria burned his first time out of the game. The idea was to swarm him and push him out of his comfort zone. But on this day, there was nothing that Michael Galinato (zero points and 1 rebound in 14 minutes) and his teammates could do. He had a couple of and-ones from Paul Gonzalgo and Marc Agustin. On three occasions, he drove the lane for some buckets. When his man played him close, he suckered him with a drop step. And when they left him open, he made them pay with that sweet jumper of his.
As he closed out the first half with a twinner inside for a 41-31 Ateneo lead, Adamson forward Allan Santos looked at Austria and threw up his hands.
If Al-Hussaini discombobulated Adamson inside, life on their perimeter was just as hellacious. Falcon point guard Jerick Cañada is no slouch. In fact, he’s one of the better ones in the league with his ability to take the ball to the rack or drill a shot from La La Land. With time under three minutes in the first quarter, Cañada brought the ball down, signaled the play, and passed off to teammate Chesmar Lapitan. Only then did he realize his folly. Salamat, with his predator eyes waiting for the slightest mistake, stripped the unsuspecting Lapitan who had the gall to place the ball in plain sight. And the Ateneo Blue Eagles’ resident hellraiser was off to the races with Falcon turnover #7. Scant seconds later – after the eighth turnover that earned more expletives from Adamson cheerleader Hector Tabuzo -- Salamat saved a broken play, evaded comebacking Adamson guard Lester Alvarez’s hip check, and banked in a trey at the buzzer to double the Falcons’ first quarter output to put Ateneo on top 22-11.
While the meek will inherit the earth, they definitely will not have the basketball court. More so when Salamat is on the floor. He’s the Man of Steal, one-man wrecking crew, and a heartbreaker with his penchant for dramatic threes.
With Gonzalgo and Agustin scoreless and invisible, Nuyles was tapped to make things happen for Adamson and to try and counter Salamat. The team’s best one-on-one player, Nuyles relishes taking on his guard and beating him off the dribble. His entrance in the second half put some fight into the Falcons as he scored 10 points off a variety of shots. With 7:30 to play in the fourth quarter, Nuyles waved off a screen and screamed for isolation against Salamat.
Earlier, the Atenean near faked off Jeff Olalia out of his high tops for a deuce that put the blue and white on top 63-52. And now Nuyles was the new gunslinger out to cancel out Salamat. The Falcon cross-overed but Salamat didn’t fall for it so instead he lofted a long jumper that strayed off the mark for an airball.
Nonoy Baclao snared the loose ball and passed it to Salamat. It was his turn now and he buried a jumper over Nuyles. This is how you do it, bro.
On Ateneo’s next possession, Salamat jacked up a deadeye three over Nuyles to make it 68-53. Rushing back on defense, the pesky swingman stole the ball from a flummoxed Marc Agustin and hit another three as Nuyles was seconds late in rotating over.
That was the last the crowd at the Philsports Arena saw of Nuyles as he dejectedly trooped back to the bench. And the game ended in another rout 78-59.
Al-Hussaini (29 points, 6 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Salamat (17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 6 steals) gave Ateneo another strong showing despite an off-day by Chris Tiu (2 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists).
And inside the press room after the game, Al-Hussaini downplayed any talk of being the UAAP’s top center right now. “Malayo pa. Marami pa dapat ma-improve.”
So what does he want? “Gusto ko na manalo ng championship this year.” It's what the people what too, big man.
Animo Ateneo!
Ateneo 78 – Al-Hussaini 29, Salamat 17, Baclao 6, Reyes 6, Buenafe 5, Salva 4, Long 3, Gonzaga 2, Chua 2, Escueta 2, Tiu 2, Burke 0, Baldos 0 Adamson 59 – Cañada 12, Colina 11, Nuyles 10, Gorospe 7, Alvarez 6, Agustin 4, Gonzalgo 4, Santos 3, Yambot 2, Ruiz 0, Peñalosa 0, Lapitan 0, Galinato 0, Olalia 0, Margallo 0
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