Ateneo-La Salle 2nd round 77-69 The Art of War Wong

The Art of War Wong

by rick olivares

I’m going to point out three reasons why the win over La Salle is a big deal.

Having said that, we’re going to jump to reason #3.

And that’s Adrian Wong.

When Adrian came up from Team B, he was this strong finisher. He was fearless and didn’t mind taking it to the fir trees of college basketball. Those images were replaced by the Adrian Wong who sobbed on the bench when he bungled a lay-up that could have sent Ateneo to the finals but instead fell to FEU that eventually won the title. Then there he was lost to a knee injury before the next season could start.

Wong watched from the sidelines as Ateneo overcame a Ben Mbala-powered La Salle team. How ironic for the team to win when he went down. He did return for the back-to-back title run, but wasn’t himself yet as he was still on the mend and finding his way through Tab Baldwin’s system. During the back-to-back celebrations, I watched as Tab Baldwin gave him a huge and thanked him for his contributions. Wong was happy. Buoyant even to have finally won a title. But the competitor deep inside wanted to show more.

Virtually everyone in the starting five has had their moment. Against La Salle this second round, it was Wong’s turn to take the spotlight as well as embody Ateneo’s “Next Man Up” philosophy.

And this season, he has. His old daring self has been replaced with a silent but deadlier model. Opponents tend to forget him in place of the big name others. Like Will Navarro… it is a colossal mistake. Along with Navarro, they have given the Blue Eagles a lift offensively and defensively. 

In his return during Season 81, Adrian averaged 1.7 points and 1.0 rebounds per game. This year, he has slid into Anton Asistio’s slot and supplied the exact points per game that the former did – 7.2 points per game. Assists and rebounds are also the same (1.0 something for both plyers). On defense, Wong has three blocks this season while Asistio only had one in his final playing year. Three-points-wise, Asistio finished with 31 treys while Adrian has rifled in 14 in 10 games. 

During one final tune up match before the UAAP tipped off, Wong drilled a number of huge shots against another college team. Post-game, he deflected the praise and offered it instead to his teammates for finding him at the right time.

His barrage of shots (including his strong start to match the Green Archers of which Tab Baldwin later acknowledged) including the killer trey at the end of the second round match against La Salle is proof (he finished with 18 points and one assist) as Ateneo improved to 10-0 with the 77-69 victory.

As for that victory… the last time Ateneo had a five-game win streak against La Salle was from Season 74-75 where the Blue Eagles won all four elimination round games and the final four of the tail-end of the five-peat. 

How big a deal was this win?

For one, at 10-0, Ateneo assured itself of a Final Four seat and the twice-to-beat advantage that comes with it. Only second running UP can catch them as they have a game at hand at 6-3. How they finish will tell who takes the top seed. If Ateneo wins its next assignment on Wednesday against FEU, they would have wrapped up the number one seed. 

Second, the win over La Salle – coupled with FEU’s 72-58 win over UST – throws a huge monkey wrench into the middle of the pack.

UP is at 6-3.

FEU vaulted to third at 5-5. 

UST is at fourth also with a 5-5 record. 

La Salle fell to fifth with a 4-5 record.

Adamson has a ghost of a chance after their 72-53 win over National University as they are 4-6. At this point, all they can hope for is a play-off for the fourth and last slot (and that other teams lose as well). Hell of a way to try and continue their streak of three consecutive semis appearances under Franz Pumaren.

Only UE and NU are out of it. At this stage, all they can do is better their finishes.

UP looks to get back at first round tormentor UST on Wednesday (October 16) then Adamson on the 20^th. They face NU on the 23^rd, La Salle on the 27^th, and Ateneo on the 30^th. 

FEU’s final games – in order – include Ateneo (October 16), La Salle (October 19), Adamson (October 23), and UE (October 27). That is a murderer’s row right there. Three big games and the last one, the Battle of Recto.

UST plays UP (October 16), NU (October 19), La Salle (October 23), and Adamson (October 26). The Bulldogs nearly beat them last time around and they will be playing without pressure. Adamson’s fate won’t be known until they play on the 20^th against UP. They could still be in or out by the time they face UST.

La Salle looks to go back to fourth spot when they take on UE on Wednesday (October 16). Except, the Red Warriors defeated them last time around. There is double motivation for them to get this W. The Green Archers then face FEU on the 19^th. Except you don’t know what Tamaraws team will show up. UST is on the 23^rd and UP on the 27^th. 

The onus on these three teams is to catch UP. 

Adamson’s next assignment is UP on the 20^th. They take on FEU on the 23^rd, UST on the 26^th, and La Salle on the 30^th. 

And third, you have to go back to the top which is where Ateneo is right now.

That spot has been won through superior defense, superb coaching, and a team that knows what it needs to do. They kept Jamie Malonzo silent for one half. That sequence where La Salle needed a basket and Aljun Melecio and Andrei Caracut did not have daylight to shoot – that is as close to art you will see on the hardcourt. The art of defense. 

And not calling time late in the game if not the entire fourth period? Brilliant.

It’s a good win, but right now, that doesn’t mean anything… without that ‘chip.

Onto next.