Sixteen Hearts
Ateneo 76 vs. UST 59
story by rick olivares pics by brosi gonzales
The problem when trying to make history is one can get consumed by the big picture and forget how he got there. Luckily, there are caretakers or custodians to keep matters in perspective.
Jamike Jarin has seen his teams accomplish an elimination round sweep only to lose Game One of the Finals before bagging the crown. “You have grown so much in the course of the season,” intoned the winningest coach in Ateneo Blue Eaglets history. “It has been a memorable experience. Now you can make it even more memorable by winning the championship. Aanhin niyo yung 14-0 record kung matatalo kayo sa finals? ‘wag niyo sasayangin. Your sixteen hearts must beat and play as one.”
Although Ateneo lost the first game 77-71, the Eaglets evened the series at 76-66 putting them a win shy of bagging their 26th overall title.
In the post-Game 2 celebration, Jarin called out senior forward Von Pessumal who was invisible in the early goings before coming alive in the second half. The message wasn’t solely intended for one player but the entire team. The time for rah-rah-rah speeches had long passed. It was time for the unconventional for the unconventional coach. “Mr. Pessumal. I do not want to coach on Sunday. I want to sit back and relax. It’s a family day and I just want to enjoy my Sunday.”
For those who watched Jarin through the years, he is always tough on his veterans while cutting his newbies a little slack. Aside from Pessumal, he is tough on veteran playmaker Chuckie Dumrique who at times operates at a different speed and time zone. In the team’s second round match versus Adamson, Jarin railed at Dumrique for deviating from the offense and not calling the proper plays. “The reason why I get on you is because I know what you can do!” thundered the coach.
As Game 3 against the dangerous UST Tiger Cubs got underway, it was as if the España team held an open house inside the shaded lane as eight of their 11 field goals came off lay-ups or putbacks. Dumrique attacked UST’s slow transition defense with a lay-up with 14 seconds left then off a steal drained a trey at the buzzer for a 23-14 lead. Ateneo had shot a blistering 61% while UST shot a poor 29% even with the return from a one-game suspension by gunner Jaypee Sarcia.
All series long, the game plan hinged on stopping league MVP Kevin Ferrer from getting his 19.9 points per game. In Game One he scored 35 points. But in the second match, he was held to nine. Although swingman Ejay Corre had picked up the scoring load of Sarcia, Jarin felt that UST was playing into Ateneo’s hands. Twenty-five percent of UST’s output was via long range yet they shot a poor 24%. “Although Sarcia played a bit of Game One; technically, this is his first game so I’m sure he’ll have some jitters. And he will take away some of Corre’s shots.” theorized Jarin when the coaching staff put together their game plan for Sunday.
By game’s end, Corre who was averaging 24.5 points per game scored only nine. Sarcia led the Tiger Cubs with 17.
Even more telling was when UST’s offense revolved around their big three, ball movement was stagnant and no one else scored. In UST’s big 22-point explosion the third quarter where they came close 54-47, seven Tiger Cubs put points on the board.
With the ball going mostly Sarcia’s way, Corre became ineffective considering that he only had two fouls and played 31 minutes to his teammate’s 33. Corre who prior to the match was named to the Juniors Mythical selection, ended the season with a whimper as he had zero points in the fourth.
The Blue Eaglets on the other hand had played team ball all season long. The evidence lay in their league leading 280 assists. That was 45 more than the team with the second most (NU). But in the final game of the season, it had come down to the veterans to bring the bacon home.
The team’s best staring five of Kiefer Ravena, Pessumal, Paolo Romero, Jay Javelosa, and Dumrique accounted for 70 of the team’s total of 76. Lambert Tenorio added five while graduating player Jay Sacluti threw in one free throw for good measure.
Their blistering start set the tone for the game and UST was unable to match their intensity and pace. A great as Ravena (the finals MVP) and Pessumal were, the x-factor was Dumrique who shot 6-8 for 14 points. He also added five boards.
When UST’s Ronnie Mison hit a free throw to bring the score to 56-51 with time down to 9:12 left in the fourth and final quarter, Ateneo unloaded a fiery 20-8 wind-up for a 76-59 series clincher.
Inside the joyous Ateneo dugout, Jarin did the jig while sophomore Mio Puno did one of his own. Tributes were paid to the all who helped and team patron, Manuel V. Pangilinan asked where the team would like to celebrate – Hong Kong or Boracay (the team choose the latter so they friends can join them).
“Is this the first three-peat?” asked the business tycoon to all those gathered inside the soaking wet locker room.
I answered that it was the second with the first coming in 1983-86.
“Well, I guess, we’ll just have to do another four-peat,” smiled MVP as the room erupted in boisterous cheers.
Ateneo 76 – Ravena 24, Pessumal 15, Romero 14, Dumrique 14, Tenorio 5, Javelosa 3, Sacluti 1, Vitangcol 0, Suarez 0, Puno 0, Mercado 0, Lim 0, Gamboa 0, Gadia 0, Austria 0
UST 59 – Sarcia 17, Ferrer 13, Corre 9, Mison 7, Lazaro 6, Cabauatan 5, Gooh 2, Salas 0, Ilarde 0, Florentin 0
Notes: When the Ateneo Blue Eaglets won the Juniors title in 1983 that set off a run of four consecutive titles, the team captain that year was Nolet Puno whose son Mio is a member of this year’s title squad. The bookend of that four-peat was when Danny Francisco and Olsen Racela led the blue and white to a 14-0 sweep in 1986 (the final game was against Adamson) and moved up to the senior ranks the following year where they helped Ateneo to its first two UAAP Seniors crowns.
In 1983, the Blue Eaglets played UST that was led by Bong Hawkins and Julian Tomacruz.
Seven of the 16 players are graduating. Shoo-ins for next year’s starting unit would be Jay Javelosa and Lambert Tenorio.
This is Ateneo’s 26th title in the Juniors Division. They won nine in the NCAA and 17 in the UAAP.
In 1983 the Eaglets played UST bannered by Bong Hawkins and Rabbi Tomacruz, not UE. UST had a twice to beat advantage that year.
ReplyDeleteAs always.. great stuff, Rick!
ReplyDeleteI've always admired the passion of the Eaglets. They truly deserve this three-peat!