My thoughts about Ateneo’s win over DLSU

My thoughts about Ateneo’s win over DLSU

by rick olivares pic by joseph nocos

With that big win, 76-75, over La Salle, it is official… the Ateneo Blue Eagles are a threat to unseat the Green Archers from their throne. One game does not a championship make and the second round has yet to be played and anything can happen from here on. But to sum up what can be gleaned from the game – at least for Ateneo’s side – is it is a character-defining game for this team of young Blue Eagles.

It’s a good win to celebrate even if it could have gone either way when the Blue Eagles lost the lead. It should boost their confidence because they rose to the challenge of the best college basketball team in the land (yes, they still are until they are unseated).

As with every match, there is something to celebrate and learn from.

Here are some observations.

I have said that as long as Chibueze Ikeh plays well, then Ateneo has a chance of beating La Salle (and everyone).

Ben Mbala might have finished with better stats, but Ikeh was all right. You might consider his production of 2 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block as pedestrian but look here – zero turnovers.

And in those last few minutes of play, he grabbed a rebound from Mbala and then when double teamed, he kept his head and made a proper outlet pass. Then he hit two free throws to tie the game at 73-all. While I am not crazy that Mbala was able to split the defense in their final attempt, Ikeh didn’t foul and Mbala stumbled and lost the ball (he should have even been called for an offensive foul).

Let me backtrack to those free throws. Sure, Matt Nieto missed a free throw but when it mattered most, he nailed the two marginal free throws. Ateneo was 5-6 in the last few minutes of play and 11-14 for the game. La Salle on the other hand was an atrocious 5-13 (as surprise because they are the top free throw shooting squad with Ateneo just a few percentage points away). However, in fairness, they were 3-4 in the final quarter.

The top defensive team came away with two stops in the endgame.

That was some smart play by Matt Nieto in the endgame to tip the ball to Ateneo’s side of the court. Furthermore, the help provided by Gian Mamuyac was solid and the pressure allowed Ateneo to secure the ball and for Matt to hit the game-winning free throws.

Then the Blue Eagles forced Mbala to a bad shot that closed out the game.

Look at the other defensive stats:

Ateneo held La Salle to 13 fourth quarter points; the fewest they have scored this season (the previous low was 15 yet they beat Adamson).

Ateneo had 10 steals to La Salle’s 4.

Ateneo forced La Salle into 20 turnovers.

Ateneo had a slight edge in blocks 3-2.

Mbala was held to 18 points. That’s about 15 off his average.

Ateneo doesn’t rate too highly in many statistical categories but I suspect the one they care for is their defensive ranking. They are tops.

Matt Nieto has really picked up his game.

He has played very well in the past four matches. He has been clutch in his scoring and in his defense. Why is he hitting his jump shot better? Check out the spin on the ball.

Speaking of clutch, here are Ateneo’s best fourth quarter performers:

Ravena – 4.7 points

Matt Nieto - 3.7 points

Raffy Verano – 2.4

Mike Nieto – 2.1 points

Chibueze Ikeh – 1.7 points

Isaac Go – 1.7 points

Matt is right in there in the endgame. As much as he has worked hard in the off-season, I think that having another quality point guard in Tyler Tio has really challenged him to play better.

As for Tyler, this is his learning curve. Watch out for him in the second round and of course, next season.

The overall team effort.

And while Coach Tab Baldwin went to a shorter rotation, everyone he sent in scored and contributed to the overall effort. We didn’t get Thirdy Ravena’s best or even Vince Tolentino’s but they helped out when they could.

Observations, musings, and things to learn from this match

To balance the perimeter and inside baskets. For a while there, we simply ran out of ideas and were just bombing from the outside. Yet the crucial baskets all came inside.

La Salle scored 44 points inside to Ateneo’s 30. While the Blue Eagles outscored the Green Archers 35-26 from the outside, by game’s end, that was somewhat immaterial as everyone took the game inside.

Ateneo’s interior defense during the second and third frame was atrocious. It looked like a lay-up line for La Salle. I know they were throwing double and triple teams at Mbala. Sometimes the others were late to rotate out. Mike Nieto is one of the best at recognizing where the kick out is going and I thought he made a great challenge late in the game.

Now for much of the first round, Ateneo was killing foes off the offensive boards and second chance points. In this game, they were oft flat-footed. La Salle was bringing the defenders too far out for them go back inside and rebound. And sometimes, we’d lose out on those boards because we’d get bullied inside.

I always wonder why the Blue Eagles tumble a lot. Are the other guys stronger?

That ill-fated shot by Thirdy Ravena where he drove into traffic and attracted a crowd reminded me of when Jeron Teng snuffed that shot by Aaron Black in last year’s finals. In transition or during a faster pace in the game, the drive then spin works. On a half court set, and driving straight at Mbala? He instantly drew a crowd and got swatted.

I remember telling him that teams had wizened up to that spin in the lane. He can get it done when the defense isn’t set. I am sure Thirdy will learn from this.

There were moments when I felt that the some of the Blue Eagles were backing down from La Salle’s challenge. They didn’t go after certain loose balls and were hesitant on closing down attacks that ultimately led to baskets if not three-point plays. On a number of occasions, they were caught flat-footed and before they knew it their man was a step or two ahead.

Ateneo has done well to manage leads. Except in this game. But they never gave up. The fought back when La Salle stepped up the pressure. When they’re up, they should continue to play that methodical brand of game instead of trying for that knockout punch.