Catching up with the De La Salle Green Archers

Catching Up with the De La Salle Green Archers
by rick olivares

The De La Salle Green Archers are deep into preparations for the coming UAAP wars and they’re in the familiar position of opening the campaign as the defending champion. And in between games and practices, the players are modeling their new game jerseys courtesy of adidas in a photo shoot at the Sportskamp at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

Marko Batricevic is a bundle of energy not to mention some nerves. He arrived in the Philippines from his hometown of Vrbas in Serbia five years ago after an invitation to study and play basketball in the Philippines. He sat out a year for his residency and another to an unfortunate anterior cruciate ligament injury that saw him undergo two knee operations (the other was to clean the scar tissues). “I’m hoping that good things come to me as I wait,” he quips as he walks in and out of the gym. “Now I have to work hard to get that playing time.”

He remembers the day of the injury very well. It was in the last minute of the fourth quarter of the semi-finals game in the Nike Summer League last June 6, 2007. That day in history saw the Allies invade France to free Europe from German occupation some 64 years ago. The irony isn’t lost on Batricevic. “Yeah, but it’s my day of infamy. So I’ll feel good when the season opens in July and I get to play.”

For second year guard Simon Atkins, the coming UAAP wars will be his first season at the helm of the defending champions. “Winning the championship in my first real playing year in the league as a blessing. I’m lucky because I got to learn from TY (Tang who already graduated) and the suspension year allowed me to get used to college ball which is very different from high school competition.”

Basketball initially wasn’t a passion for Atkins. He played pick up ball, but was never seriously into the game until the program in Zobel began a massive turnaround under Coach Boris Aldeguer and he had a sudden growth spurt. Running the point for his strong Junior Archers team seemed like a breeze for him. “I’d drive to the basket and if my way was blocked, I’d pass it out to Migs (De Asis) and Martin (Reyes) who were positioned at the three-point arc,” he reminisces of their bread-and-butter play. “And I had David (Webb) underneath waiting for a drop pass.’

The grandson of the former Letran great and Senator Freddie Webb, David is one of five rookies who will trot onto the court on opening day. Webb, who led Zobel to its second title in three years over arch-rival Ateneo, saunters over to the bench after a long and hard practice and takes his place beside Atkins.

“It’s our first year together in college,” says the rookie. “Maybe it will be like old times… playing ball and having a good time. I'm just finding my place in the team's system and am looking forward to contribute. I'm glad Simon's at my side.”

PJ Walsham is resting on the floor with an icepack on his right arm. An ugly bruise has discolored his skin courtesy of the elbows and rough stuff of trying to defend the painted area against the University of the East in their last Filoil match. His game demeanor stored away for another day, he’s wisecracking and jawing with this year’s co-captain Rico Maierhofer who’s on the bench wiping the sweat off his face.

Walsham has a long mane of hair and is almost unrecognizable from his bald plate during last year’s campaign. He won’t be shaving his head just yet. “Only if we lose to Ateneo,” he jokes. Last year was like a dream for him. He got to play in every single game for the first time including those matches with their rivals from Katipunan. “Before I was on the bench during those games,” he recounts. “Then last year I got to help my team.” Good things come to those who wait and work hard.

Batricevic is now waiting his turn.

“If we had a surprise package last year, it was PJ,” glowed assistant coach Jack Santiago. “He helped out on the boards and played good defense. This year we’re hoping for more consistency.”

For Rico Maierhofer, consistency is the hallmark of a winner. He grew up in Puerto Galera, Mindoro with a passion for volleyball. Only later on did he pick up on hoops where he seemed to be even more of a natural.

“Nanalo na ako sa UAAP at sa PBL (with Harbour Centre),” he says softly as he’s finally relaxed after the day’s grind. “Sana tuloy tuloy na rin ‘to at makapag-pro. Malaking bagay na nakapunta ako sa La Salle at nabigyan ng opportunity na makasama sa ganito.”

As Maierhofer revels in his contributions to his teams’ success, PJ Barua is simply thankful to be a part of it. Not bad for a boy from Guimaras Island who told himself that if he got to Manila, he’d be happy if he played for Far Eastern University or UE. “Swerte ako kasi hindi lahat may chance makapunta sa La Salle.”

So does he look forward to coaching perhaps?

“Gusto ko maging PE teacher,” he reveals. He’d like to go to the pros – what player wouldn’t want. But coaching is not in his cards. “Iba yung oras na binibigay ni coach Franz (Pumaren) sa team. Parang hindi ko kaya yun. Happy na ako maging PE teacher kasi marami ako matutulungan at matuturuan na bata.”

Helping out. It’s as basic as help defense. “They may be from different schools and different provinces, but we mold them as a team to be a team,” quantifies Santiago.

In the recent game against UE, Maierhofer went to help out a teammate after the Warrior’s dunking forward Elmer Espiritu after he threw a punch at one of the Green Archers. “Sabi ko sa kanya na basketball lang tayo at kung ayaw niya, dun siya sa may kaya sa kanya.”

If head captain Jayvee Casio is the silent type, Maierhofer and his fellow Bruise Brother, Walsham are the vocal ones on and off the court. “That’s our way of showing brotherhood,” chimes in Walsham who’s prepping for the shoot. “We look after yung teammates namin.”

It all sounds like serious business when they talk about basketball, but once the final whistle has sounded, the Green Archers like their contemporaries from the other teams, revert back to being boys. “When Ateneo dealt them a loss in the first game of their Final Four series, a cloud of doubt hung over the team and the La Sallian community. “Oo, meron pressure sa amin at meron mga hindi maganda sinasabi,” recalled Walsham. “But we closed ranks and talked about things. Si Jayvee minsan lang magsalita pero when he does, tatamaan ka talaga.”

“I don’t have any brothers, only sisters,” adds Atkins. “These guys (pointing to his teammates as they mug for the cameras) are my brothers.” They are more than a basketball team. Maybe more accurately, they’re a bunch of brothers who are each other’s best friends. They play video games (Casio is the acknowledged champion when it comes to Counter Strike) or go to a videoke bar to pass time by.

As for Batricevic? “I like to go to parties,” he smiles. “I’ve been to Davao, Cebu, Bacolod, Boracay… I like it here. I do hope I’m given the chance to play also in the PBL and maybe even in the PBA. What basketball player does not dream of that? But if not, then maybe I can be an ambassador for my country. Maybe to the Philippines. I’ll be the first basketball player to be an ambassador.”

He heads towards the door as his teammates file out; the shoot done. “Ah, maybe the (New Orleans) Hornets will win in the NBA, yes,” he thunders in a booming voice loud enough for everyone to hear. “There’s Chris Paul and my countryman, Peja (Stojakovic). If they win, it’s a first, yes?”

(This will appear in the Thursday May 15 sports section of the Business Mirror.)