Ateneo 74 vs. La Salle 77
Thank God, it is only the pre-season. But you have to hand it to the La Salle Green Archers for sticking it to us. They showed an energy that wasn't there for their previous Fil Oil matches while Ateneo, underhanded and with a smaller line-up, crumbled in the endgame, a traditional source of strength, with a series of mistakes that gave their rivals a 77-74 victory in the Fil Oil Pre-season Invitational.
Yet still groping for form and combinations that will work, Ateneo nearly pulled off another win.
Again, it's still too early to pronounce the team's chances as we've historically not done that well in the pre-season. But you can already notice some glaring deficiencies. And everyone else has as well.
As I've previously stated, Ateneo's perimeter and interior defense in pot-holed. From the beginning of the game, the Green Archers went inside to test that theory. Backdoor picks to free up Luigi de la Paz for a jumper then if challenged then drop the ball inside to either Ferdinand or Yutien Andrada for a layup off the window. Before they would have to think twice before trying that. With no shotblocking threat, you can bet every peso in your wallet that every team will try than again and again until someone steps out of the shadows of Nonoy Baclao.
Ateneo adjusted well enough with some switching and the entry of a still out of shape Ryan Buenafe and Vince Burke changed the fortunes of the blue and white early on. Ryan, pot bellied and heavier by what --- 20 pounds -- was magnificent early on while Burke shut down Ferdinand. Burke scored 4 points (I know he scored six but whatever) and played good defense. Sort of makes you wonder why he or even Justin Chua were not on the floor in the final minute when you needed some ceiling. Jason Escueta has been a revelation but he cannot and will not be able to do it alone.
Without having to worry about Rabeh Al-Hussaini or Baclao making mincemeat of him, Ferdinand played well included a stuff on a late challenging Nico Salva and pulling down a huge offensive board that proved to be the backbreaker.
La Salle made Ateneo pay for all their mistakes including a lineup on the floor in the second quarter that had no offensive firepower. That was mistake number one because Almond Vosotros lead the rally that saw them overhaul the deficit.
The second was well... the line-up in the final minute. La Salle made sure they had taller players on the floor. And there was the ill-advised trey by Emman Monfort with no rebounder underneath. Still... had Kirk Long made that free throw, had Eric Salamat not lost the ball on his drive, had they not given up that offensive rebound to Ferdinand...
I thought that the game was also a perfect opportunity to get JP Erram and Art de la Cruz into the game and feel what an Ateneo-La Salle game is all about. As rookies several years ago, Salva and Buenafe got into the game and that provided some experience. Incidentally, we got outrebounded 44-39 (the Green Archers had 19 offensive rebounds to Ateneo's 11).
But again we still nearly won in spite of all of that. I'm sure Norman had his reasons. We do not hang championship banners for pre-season tournaments, friends. Keep that in mind. It's okay to lose a battle here and there for now. The bigger battle is three months away.
After the game, I pulled Jason Escueta on the side as the team made their way to the dugout. I told him to remember this game. What it takes to win and what made us lose. And that he knows what it is all about now.
Congratulations again to La Salle sticking it to us. That gives everyone something to chew on and to work out.
See you in July.
La Salle 77- Vosotros 13, Webb 12, Ferdinand 11, de la Paz 11, Marata 7, Andrada 6, Tampus 5, Banal 4, Atkins 4, Mendoza 2, Villanueva 2, Elorde 0, Paredes 0
Ateneo 74 - Buenafe 14, Escueta 11, Salva 10, Monfort 9, Salamat 9, Long 9, Tiongson 7, Burke 4, Golla 1, Austria 0, De Chavez 0, Gonzaga 0, Chua 0
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