Big Diesel
Ateneo 72 vs. UE 57
by rick olivares
July 16, 2009
Araneta Coliseum
After his UE Red Warriors ran roughshod over the DLSU Green Archers, head coach Lawrence Chongson was asked what he thought of the Ateneo Blue Eagles his team’s next opponent.
“We’re going up against the King Kong of UAAP college basketball now,” he said with a lot of candor eliciting laughter from the assembled media.
When Ateneo coach Norman Black was asked about his reaction to his UE counterpart’s assessment of his squad, he smiled wryly and wondered, “Er, I’m not sure about that analogy. I mean, we are already an “eagle,” a “king eagle” maybe, but “King Kong?”
And Ateneo did just that as they reasserted their mastery over their Recto-based rival with a 72-57 comeback win that was equal parts statement game as it was a basketball classic. And the end, the Blue Eagle was still the King.
There’s a method to Chongson’s off-beat description of Ateneo if you sift more closely. The Red Warriors run a variable offense that is instinctive and free-flowing. It relies on pure talent and skill as the offense is dictated by what kind of defense is shown them. To the untrained eye, it might seem “larong buko,” but it’s not. It is even hard to defend when all the cylinders are firing.
Live by the three
And for the first 10 minutes, they Red Warriors seemed ready to run off the diesel engine Ateneans with an uncanny display of precision shooting and suffocating defense. Val Acuña rifled in three trifectas in the first quarter from almost every conceivable angle. Forward-center Elmer Espiritu and swingman Paul Lee joined the hit parade with treys of their own as they continued the onslaught.
At the 2:40 mark of the first quarter, Black called for time with UE up 21-8. His team was shooting a poor 4-14 and seemed a step slow. Ryan Buenafe, who would be held scoreless for the first time in his career, was blocked twice in one play by Elmer Espiritu as UE put a lid atop Ateneo’s basket. “We have to respect their offense,” urged Black over the din of the “Bomba” cheer of their foe’s gallery.
The Blue Eagles have a three match win streak over UE dating back to last season (4-3 against the core of their current squad since 2006). And through the years, the Recto-team has lost its mainstays giving its new players more playing time. Some like Acuña and forward John Alabanza the team has not been able to properly scout.
Thus, in their first meeting of the new season, the Blue Eagles gambled a little too much early on by trying to go for the steal and leaving the perimeter unguarded.
After Black’s time out, it didn’t immediately get better for Ateneo as they would miss two more shots and be called for a 24-second shot clock violation. Jai Reyes would hit a three-pointer to make it 23-11.
But the Ateneo gallery was still in a state of shock.
Another Big Time Rally
In every quarter of the game, the first shot made was a three-pointer. Acuña continued UE’s relentless barrage with his fourth shot from beyond the arc. After he hit two more free throws to hike UE’s lead to 17 at 28-11, Nico Salva drove the lane and laid the ball in.
Minutes earlier saw the entrance of Emman Monfort at the guard position. Against FEU, he was the team’s sparkplug and in this game, he once more showed that size does not matter.
After Salva’s basket, he hounded Paul Lee as he brought the ball down. Eric Salamat, double teamed and got the steal for a lay in of his own. It was the first time that Ateneo had strung up consecutive baskets. And more importantly, it helped him get his offense untracked.
Since last year’s Champions League, Salamat has struggled in the starter’s role (after having replaced Chris Tiu in the starting line-up). But the Man of Steal simply has too much talent to sit idly by. He followed up Lee’s missed three-point attempt with one of his own to make it 28-18. The rally was on.
Under siege, Acuña responded with an and-one off Salva to give his side some breathing space at 31-18 but the Ateneo had finally gotten out of its stupor. After Salva once more drove the lane for another basket, Nonoy Baclao scored inside for his first points of the campaign. With Rabeh Al-Hussaini held down to two measly points (1-5 at a 20% clip at that point), Salva had shown the way inside. Despite the presence of the high-leaping Espiritu, he is oft better as a secondary defender coming from the weak side to help teammates.
Following another Salamat trey, Tonino Gonzaga drove in for twinner. With the inside-outside game finally clicking, Baclao hauled down an offensive board and put it back in 36-29.
Now it was time for the reigning league MVP to get untracked.
Ground and Pound
Following a UE timeout with 2:41 left in the second quarter, Al-Hussaini scored inside for his second basket of the game. He would tack on two more free throws and score on Parry Llagas to close out the scoring at the half 37-35.
It was a whole new ball game.
After Baclao scored inside to give Ateneo its first taste of the lead at 48-47, the tide had turned. The Blue Eagles not only had seized control of the game, but they had posted their own 16-point lead after Al-Hussaini scored inside again 66-50.
The Ateneo center would score 19 huge points in the second half as he abused Espiritu, Alabanza, and Llagas. When the double team came, he found Baclao or Monfort for open baskets (Al-Hussaini finished with three assists).
His 27 total points came from a variety of moves – a jumper from 15 to 18 feet, a hook, and quick spin to the basket, or beating his man in with a quick step inside.
With 5:48 left in the game and Ateneo in firm control, Chongson called for time. When Espiritu entered the court, he let out a cry of anguish as Al-Hussaini simply stared at him.
The Red Warriors were staring at another loss to Ateneo. When the Blue Eagles played in your face defense on UE, they had not made the adjustment. The lack of set plays had them at a loss for manufacturing points. Acuña had scored 11, 8, and 2 points in the first three quarters respectively. When their outside artillery went quiet, they were done for.
When they double-teamed Al-Hussaini, the ball was quick to rotate to the open man. When they went for single coverage, they got burned inside. Badly.
After dropping a 22-1 bomb in eight minutes of play between the end of the 3rd Quarter and the start of the 4th, the game for all intents and purposes was over.
After four quarters, and another scorching comeback win at 72-57, Ateneo was at 2-0 (tied with UST). The Blue Eagles had two of three in the bag for its own version of Hell Week.
On his way to the UE dugout, Chongson was asked what he thought of Ateneo now. Dropping his “King Kong” analogy, he simply said, “They just showed us why they won the championship last year.”
Blue Eagle the King?
Chongson nodded and disappeared inside the locker room.
Ateneo 72 – Al-Hussaini 27, Salamat 12, Baclao 10, Reyes 7, Salva 6, Monfort 3, Austria 3, Gonzaga 2, Chua 2, Tiongson 0, Long 0, Buenafe 0
UE 57 – Acuña 21, Lee 14, Reyes 7, Llagas 6, Espiritu 6, Zamar 3, Lingganay 0, Flores 0, Ayala 0, Alabanza 0
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