The Drive for Five
A Preview of the Ateneo-UST Final Four Match
by rick olivares
A Preview of the Ateneo-UST Final Four Match
by rick olivares
It would be easy to say that the upcoming Ateneo-UST Final Four encounter will be easy pickings for the defending champs. But it’s not. In the two Ateneo-UST games in the eliminations, there are a few things that the Blue Eagles should remember:
- in both games we started slow
- and in both games, Rabeh Al-Hussaini was in foul trouble. And although we won, UST forward-center Melo Afuang got his goat by getting him to commit silly fouls and sit on the bench. Afuang in the meantime, with his unathletic body, scored on a trey and some timely baskets.
The game will largely depend on Al-Hussaini’s broad shoulders. Anytime the Big Fella suits up, he gives the blue and white an opportunity to win. Incredibly, there’s so much room for growth for the 6’7” slotman.
Last year, he was the x-factor that no foe counted on to deliver. The opposing defenses were geared towards stopping Chris Tiu, Eric Salamat, and Jai Reyes. The points inside provided by Al-Hussaini and eventual Rookie of the Year Ryan Buenafe expanded Ateneo’s game and made them almost unbeatable.
This year, despite the microwavable tendencies of Emman Monfort, the reinvention of Kirk Long into a defensive player, and the rapid improvement of Nico Salva, their ability to consistently put up points on the board is suspect. Long may have had his breakout game against the Tigers but the loss of Salva to suspension will hurt Ateneo as he has played well in both matches versus UST.
In the two wins (93-77 and 80-70), Ateneo averaged 86.5 points while UST 73.7.
Both wins were contrasting victories.
In the first game, UST tried to torch us from the outside and they were successful in the early going until we showed them that our gunners have better range. Pido Jarencio’s boys attempted 30 shots from beyond the arc and made only 10 for 33.3% while Norman Black’s wards found the bottom of the net 11 out of 24 times for 45.8%.
That didn’t change in the return bout as UST launched 28 and made only 3 as opposed to our 8-25 shooting.
And they adjusted very well in the second match and took the game inside the lane. There they outscored Ateneo 34-28.
If they lost the fastbreak point battle in the first round – it was a slim margin 10-12 – they got back in the second round by outscoring us 12-9.
Defensively, the Tigers played better as they blanketed Emman Monfort who was held scoreless in 13 minutes of action after he topscored for Ateneo with 20 in the first round encounter and held Ryan Buenafe to a big fat egg (the super soph had 14 points, 5 boards and 2 blocks in the first round encounter).
The Tigers, in both outings with Ateneo, got stellar performances every time out by three players: newly crowned MVP Dylan Ababou, Khasim Mirza, and Allein Maliksi. Maliksi is the only one of the troika who plays under 20 minutes because of foul trouble, if he is able to stay in the game, he will give us trouble because of his speed and hops inside.
UST isn’t a team that plays team ball as they play a pro-style one-on-one game with plenty of isolations. But if they are predictable, then more so for Ateneo which has two money plays – the low post where the rock is dumped to Rabeh Al-Hussaini who if he cannot find the space to operate will pass out to an open teammate, and the pick and roll where Eric Salamat or Ryan Buenafe try to break down their man then drive or dish to an open man.
But there’s a building confidence with the Blue Eagles. After staving off tough battles with La Salle and UE, the champs, prohibitive favorites to wrap up their second consecutive title under Norman Black, have increasingly developed a killer instinct as they skewered La Salle, UE, NU, and UP in the second round. They’ve also showed an amazing resilience borne out of repeated close encounters since Black took over. Their comeback wins against Adamson and FEU have shown their mental fortitude; one that should serve them well in the UAAP’s second season.
But any key to an Ateneo victory will have to go through the man in the middle. Al-Hussaini may say that the championship is truly the goal more than winning any individual accolades. But losing the MVP Award to Ababou who would not have been mentioned in the category’s breath had he been suspended earlier in the season for throwing a punch, will serve as plenty of motivation for the graduating big man.
Speaking of motivation, there remains that 2006 Finals loss to UST. There are four holdovers from the Ateneo squad that played in the title game – Al-Hussaini, Jai Reyes, Eric Salamat, and Emman Monfort – and the entire coaching staff who would love nothing more than to drive another dagger into the hearts of their España rivals en route to a championship.
When you speak of coaches, there is also Jarencio, who coached that UST champion team. He is an old-school coach who learned many of the tricks of the trade while playing under Sonny Jaworski in the PBA. And he has employed those mind games with Ateneo to limited success. The former King Goldie (as the Tigers were formerly known) will undoubtedly play that hand once more against Al-Hussaini. A win will stave off his detractors back in their campus.
Ateneo’s rebounding edge isn’t much. In the two encounters, Ateneo averaged 44 boards while UST 43.5. A lot of that had to do with Al-Hussaini sitting down for long stretches due to foul trouble. And without Nico Salva whose 4-carom average against UST will be missed due to a suspension, the onus is on others like Oping Sumalinog and Justin Chua to pick up the slack.
For all of Al-Hussaini’s scoring prowess and ability to change the opponent’s game plan with his presence on the court, let it not be said that Ateneo is a one-man show. In the first round encounter, Monfort was the surprise package. And in the second engagement, it was the Kirk Long show. Both wins were secured with some huge three-point shooting, a traditional UST strength. If the Blue Eagles go to the court of last resort, they will not be found wanting.
Just as Ateneo hit its stride in the second round, so did Eric Salamat, Jai Reyes, and Ryan Buenafe who all have found their range. And team captain, Nonoy Baclao, is finally healthy in the homestretch.
Many say that the series will be close. That’s entirely possible.
But this is the time of the year where the Blue Eagles have picked up on their game.
Last season, they played two hotly contested matches with the UE Red Warriors. Come the Final Four, the Blue Eagles flicked on the killswitch and dealt UE a humiliating loss that ended the Dindo Pumaren era in Recto.
With another title on the line, the warning shots have been fired.
Now come get some.
- in both games we started slow
- and in both games, Rabeh Al-Hussaini was in foul trouble. And although we won, UST forward-center Melo Afuang got his goat by getting him to commit silly fouls and sit on the bench. Afuang in the meantime, with his unathletic body, scored on a trey and some timely baskets.
The game will largely depend on Al-Hussaini’s broad shoulders. Anytime the Big Fella suits up, he gives the blue and white an opportunity to win. Incredibly, there’s so much room for growth for the 6’7” slotman.
Last year, he was the x-factor that no foe counted on to deliver. The opposing defenses were geared towards stopping Chris Tiu, Eric Salamat, and Jai Reyes. The points inside provided by Al-Hussaini and eventual Rookie of the Year Ryan Buenafe expanded Ateneo’s game and made them almost unbeatable.
This year, despite the microwavable tendencies of Emman Monfort, the reinvention of Kirk Long into a defensive player, and the rapid improvement of Nico Salva, their ability to consistently put up points on the board is suspect. Long may have had his breakout game against the Tigers but the loss of Salva to suspension will hurt Ateneo as he has played well in both matches versus UST.
In the two wins (93-77 and 80-70), Ateneo averaged 86.5 points while UST 73.7.
Both wins were contrasting victories.
In the first game, UST tried to torch us from the outside and they were successful in the early going until we showed them that our gunners have better range. Pido Jarencio’s boys attempted 30 shots from beyond the arc and made only 10 for 33.3% while Norman Black’s wards found the bottom of the net 11 out of 24 times for 45.8%.
That didn’t change in the return bout as UST launched 28 and made only 3 as opposed to our 8-25 shooting.
And they adjusted very well in the second match and took the game inside the lane. There they outscored Ateneo 34-28.
If they lost the fastbreak point battle in the first round – it was a slim margin 10-12 – they got back in the second round by outscoring us 12-9.
Defensively, the Tigers played better as they blanketed Emman Monfort who was held scoreless in 13 minutes of action after he topscored for Ateneo with 20 in the first round encounter and held Ryan Buenafe to a big fat egg (the super soph had 14 points, 5 boards and 2 blocks in the first round encounter).
The Tigers, in both outings with Ateneo, got stellar performances every time out by three players: newly crowned MVP Dylan Ababou, Khasim Mirza, and Allein Maliksi. Maliksi is the only one of the troika who plays under 20 minutes because of foul trouble, if he is able to stay in the game, he will give us trouble because of his speed and hops inside.
UST isn’t a team that plays team ball as they play a pro-style one-on-one game with plenty of isolations. But if they are predictable, then more so for Ateneo which has two money plays – the low post where the rock is dumped to Rabeh Al-Hussaini who if he cannot find the space to operate will pass out to an open teammate, and the pick and roll where Eric Salamat or Ryan Buenafe try to break down their man then drive or dish to an open man.
But there’s a building confidence with the Blue Eagles. After staving off tough battles with La Salle and UE, the champs, prohibitive favorites to wrap up their second consecutive title under Norman Black, have increasingly developed a killer instinct as they skewered La Salle, UE, NU, and UP in the second round. They’ve also showed an amazing resilience borne out of repeated close encounters since Black took over. Their comeback wins against Adamson and FEU have shown their mental fortitude; one that should serve them well in the UAAP’s second season.
But any key to an Ateneo victory will have to go through the man in the middle. Al-Hussaini may say that the championship is truly the goal more than winning any individual accolades. But losing the MVP Award to Ababou who would not have been mentioned in the category’s breath had he been suspended earlier in the season for throwing a punch, will serve as plenty of motivation for the graduating big man.
Speaking of motivation, there remains that 2006 Finals loss to UST. There are four holdovers from the Ateneo squad that played in the title game – Al-Hussaini, Jai Reyes, Eric Salamat, and Emman Monfort – and the entire coaching staff who would love nothing more than to drive another dagger into the hearts of their España rivals en route to a championship.
When you speak of coaches, there is also Jarencio, who coached that UST champion team. He is an old-school coach who learned many of the tricks of the trade while playing under Sonny Jaworski in the PBA. And he has employed those mind games with Ateneo to limited success. The former King Goldie (as the Tigers were formerly known) will undoubtedly play that hand once more against Al-Hussaini. A win will stave off his detractors back in their campus.
Ateneo’s rebounding edge isn’t much. In the two encounters, Ateneo averaged 44 boards while UST 43.5. A lot of that had to do with Al-Hussaini sitting down for long stretches due to foul trouble. And without Nico Salva whose 4-carom average against UST will be missed due to a suspension, the onus is on others like Oping Sumalinog and Justin Chua to pick up the slack.
For all of Al-Hussaini’s scoring prowess and ability to change the opponent’s game plan with his presence on the court, let it not be said that Ateneo is a one-man show. In the first round encounter, Monfort was the surprise package. And in the second engagement, it was the Kirk Long show. Both wins were secured with some huge three-point shooting, a traditional UST strength. If the Blue Eagles go to the court of last resort, they will not be found wanting.
Just as Ateneo hit its stride in the second round, so did Eric Salamat, Jai Reyes, and Ryan Buenafe who all have found their range. And team captain, Nonoy Baclao, is finally healthy in the homestretch.
Many say that the series will be close. That’s entirely possible.
But this is the time of the year where the Blue Eagles have picked up on their game.
Last season, they played two hotly contested matches with the UE Red Warriors. Come the Final Four, the Blue Eagles flicked on the killswitch and dealt UE a humiliating loss that ended the Dindo Pumaren era in Recto.
With another title on the line, the warning shots have been fired.
Now come get some.
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