No Fear
Ateneo 63 vs. FEU 59
by rick olivares
Ateneo 63 vs. FEU 59
by rick olivares
If the opening weekend of the 72nd Season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines was characterized by a shocker (a lethargic and lost La Salle getting demolished by the University of the East Red Warriors), an upset (the Adamson Falcons wilting under the pressure against the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers), and a return the favor statement game (the National University Bulldogs giving the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons a thorough butt-kicking), where does the match between the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles and the Far Eastern University Tamaraws fall under?
A Match-up of Heavyweights
Many in the media and basketball circles say that it’s a preview of the championship. Maybe. Maybe not.
If you ask Blue Eagles head coach Norman Black, it’s simply “the first game.”
But fifth-year mentor realizes that it’s huge with implications on the standings and their respective campaigns. “We came into this game knowing we were going to play the toughest team.”
The initial anxieties have been laid to rest for now.
All everyone talked about in the last few weeks was how much stronger the Tamaraws were. After all, they had four national players in their line-up – Andy Mark Barroca, Ric Cawaling, and Al Ramos who played extremely well with the Smart Gilas RP Team and Ryan Roose Garcia who was a point guard on the last RP Youth squad. Plus, they had the height and the depth to beat Ateneo in its own game.
Ateneo has two national players: Ryan Buenafe who was left off the FIBA tournament roster to give him time to catch up with his studies, and Frank Golla, who colpeted his tour of duty with the RP Youth Team.
The defending UAAP champs faced them in a summer league match and came out winners on a squeaker that prompted many to say “wait ‘til FEU has its national players in harness.”
Whether that is a sign of disrespect to the champs, no one will admit it but the Blue Eagles couldn’t wait to get it on. Unfortunately, the name that reflected on the official scoreboard as the game started was “UP” not “ADMU” as the official scorer failed to change the nameplate of the electronic scoreboard. As perhaps the offensive futility of the Fighting Maroons carried over (they lost to 10 to NU after bringing down a 26 point lead) and with close to a capacity crowd in attendance, Ateneo started cold as they missed on their first six shots.
The Tamaraws on the other hand, looked sharp and in control with their four national players starting along with center Reil Cervantes who the last two years was tasked to guard Rabeh Al-Hussaini.
After “ADMU” was put on the scoreboard, the Blue Eagles scored their first point from a free throw by Eric Salamat who had finally stepped into the starter’s role.
When Kirk Long took an extra pass from Jai Reyes at the deep left corner, he drilled Ateneo’s second trey that put them ahead for good at 13-10. It was a lead they would not surrender (although FEU eventually tied the match) for the rest of the match.
Ryan Buenafe, now the sixth man, showed utmost calm and creativity in not only being able to drive past Barroca but in puncturing the hoop with a hang time drive that gave Ateneo a six-point lead 17-11 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Ateneans hit five more treys as they threatened to break the game wide open 40-29. Providing a huge lift off the bench was the returning Emman Monfort who showed how seamlessly he fit right in the scheme of things as he rifled in 8 points in the second quarter. While his intensity and speed propelled the Blue Eagles to a sizeable lead, team captain Nonoy Baclao closed the lid on the FEU basket as he swatted shots away as he engaged Al Ramos in a block party.
But hardly anyone thought the game was over for it was just a matter of time before the inevitable FEU run came.
Another Tamaraw Run
The last time the Tamaraws walked off the Araneta Coliseum floor, they were in tears after a heartbreaking loss to La Salle in the Final Four. They remembered that and though reticent to talk about it, Barroca, the wondrous guard with a pro game written all over him, carried it with him over the last few months. He admitted while playing with the national team that he hated losing and so, he worked harder at his game and has become a fearsome player who can turn the tide by his lonesome. He led the Tamaraws to the Fil Oil Pre-season tournament title and led his Oracle squad (that featured many FEU players) to its seventh straight PBL crown.
And upon resumption of the third quarter, the Tamaraws went right to their big men as Cervantes and Cameroonian Pippo Noundou pounded Ateneo down low. Barroca, in the meantime picked up the pace as he scored on a variety of daredevil drives to help his side outscore Ateneo 18-10 to get right back in the game.
Big Time Operator
As FEU threatened to overtake Ateneo, one player stood tall and foreshadowed the end game and perhaps, Ateneo’s long awaited go-to man to replace the sainted Chris Tiu.
The reigning Most Valuable Player of the league. Rabeh Al-Hussaini.
Against the raging storm of a furious Tamaraw rally, Al-Hussaini scored down low and calmly swished in two free throws to close out third quarter scoring 50-47 Ateneo.
During the summer tournament, FEU threw several defenders at him and would oft mix up defensive schemes where Ryan Roose Garcia would double from the strong side or Jens Knuttel would sneak in from the blindside. But Al-Hussaini’s biggest battles were with Cervantes and Noundou who as was before jawed with the MVP all throughout.
Not only is the Ateneo center taller but also is tough to push out of the blocks. Alongside Baclao, they perhaps form the most fearsome forward-center combination in the league. Both can smother foes on the defensive end and put on a hurting on the offense.
But if anyone has been paying any attention to Ateneo in the Norman Black era in Ateneo, then they would know that everything is predicated on defense. Kirk Long helped put the clamps on Ric Cawaling who fell silent after scoring four points in the first quarter. Gunners Paul Sanga and Garcia were likewise silenced on the offensive end.
In the fourth and final quarter, Buenafe had a perfect chance to ice the game when he trooped to the 15-foot line for a pair of free throws with 13.6 seconds left and Ateneo on top 61-59. He strong-armed the first, a sharp and low that was sure to hit the back iron. Last year’s Rookie of the Year shook his head, made the proper adjustment on his backspin and netted the second. It was now 62-59 Ateneo.
But he left some change on the counter and that meant a sliver of hope for FEU.
In their last offensive thrust, the Blue Eagles kept close to their men but Garcia, who didn’t play well in his UAAP debut, found some daylight but missed a trey attempt. Al Hussaini pulled down the errant board was promptly fouled with no time left except for the obligatory two free throws as the Tamaraws were in penalty. He made one more free throw to add to his three-point play in the final 77 seconds to finish with a game high 18 points in addition to 8 boards. The MVP had come through in the clutch.
Ateneo won its first match of the new season 63-59.
And as good as it was, Black knew that they had their work cut out for them. He dismissed notions of statement games and insisted that he saw a lot of kinks to work out. “Everyone’s going to be gunning for us this year. We’re glad to get the first win but this is just the first game.”
Anything you say, coach.
Ateneo 63 – Al-Hussaini 18, Buenafe 10, Salva 9, Salamat 8, Monfort 8, Reyes 7, Long 3, Golla 0, Chua 0, Baclao 0, Austria 0
FEU 59 – Ramos 15, Barroca 12, Noundou 9, Garcia 8, Cervantes 6, Cawaling 4, Sanga 3, Knuttel 2, Exciminiano 0, Eguilos 0, Caluag 0
A Match-up of Heavyweights
Many in the media and basketball circles say that it’s a preview of the championship. Maybe. Maybe not.
If you ask Blue Eagles head coach Norman Black, it’s simply “the first game.”
But fifth-year mentor realizes that it’s huge with implications on the standings and their respective campaigns. “We came into this game knowing we were going to play the toughest team.”
The initial anxieties have been laid to rest for now.
All everyone talked about in the last few weeks was how much stronger the Tamaraws were. After all, they had four national players in their line-up – Andy Mark Barroca, Ric Cawaling, and Al Ramos who played extremely well with the Smart Gilas RP Team and Ryan Roose Garcia who was a point guard on the last RP Youth squad. Plus, they had the height and the depth to beat Ateneo in its own game.
Ateneo has two national players: Ryan Buenafe who was left off the FIBA tournament roster to give him time to catch up with his studies, and Frank Golla, who colpeted his tour of duty with the RP Youth Team.
The defending UAAP champs faced them in a summer league match and came out winners on a squeaker that prompted many to say “wait ‘til FEU has its national players in harness.”
Whether that is a sign of disrespect to the champs, no one will admit it but the Blue Eagles couldn’t wait to get it on. Unfortunately, the name that reflected on the official scoreboard as the game started was “UP” not “ADMU” as the official scorer failed to change the nameplate of the electronic scoreboard. As perhaps the offensive futility of the Fighting Maroons carried over (they lost to 10 to NU after bringing down a 26 point lead) and with close to a capacity crowd in attendance, Ateneo started cold as they missed on their first six shots.
The Tamaraws on the other hand, looked sharp and in control with their four national players starting along with center Reil Cervantes who the last two years was tasked to guard Rabeh Al-Hussaini.
After “ADMU” was put on the scoreboard, the Blue Eagles scored their first point from a free throw by Eric Salamat who had finally stepped into the starter’s role.
When Kirk Long took an extra pass from Jai Reyes at the deep left corner, he drilled Ateneo’s second trey that put them ahead for good at 13-10. It was a lead they would not surrender (although FEU eventually tied the match) for the rest of the match.
Ryan Buenafe, now the sixth man, showed utmost calm and creativity in not only being able to drive past Barroca but in puncturing the hoop with a hang time drive that gave Ateneo a six-point lead 17-11 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Ateneans hit five more treys as they threatened to break the game wide open 40-29. Providing a huge lift off the bench was the returning Emman Monfort who showed how seamlessly he fit right in the scheme of things as he rifled in 8 points in the second quarter. While his intensity and speed propelled the Blue Eagles to a sizeable lead, team captain Nonoy Baclao closed the lid on the FEU basket as he swatted shots away as he engaged Al Ramos in a block party.
But hardly anyone thought the game was over for it was just a matter of time before the inevitable FEU run came.
Another Tamaraw Run
The last time the Tamaraws walked off the Araneta Coliseum floor, they were in tears after a heartbreaking loss to La Salle in the Final Four. They remembered that and though reticent to talk about it, Barroca, the wondrous guard with a pro game written all over him, carried it with him over the last few months. He admitted while playing with the national team that he hated losing and so, he worked harder at his game and has become a fearsome player who can turn the tide by his lonesome. He led the Tamaraws to the Fil Oil Pre-season tournament title and led his Oracle squad (that featured many FEU players) to its seventh straight PBL crown.
And upon resumption of the third quarter, the Tamaraws went right to their big men as Cervantes and Cameroonian Pippo Noundou pounded Ateneo down low. Barroca, in the meantime picked up the pace as he scored on a variety of daredevil drives to help his side outscore Ateneo 18-10 to get right back in the game.
Big Time Operator
As FEU threatened to overtake Ateneo, one player stood tall and foreshadowed the end game and perhaps, Ateneo’s long awaited go-to man to replace the sainted Chris Tiu.
The reigning Most Valuable Player of the league. Rabeh Al-Hussaini.
Against the raging storm of a furious Tamaraw rally, Al-Hussaini scored down low and calmly swished in two free throws to close out third quarter scoring 50-47 Ateneo.
During the summer tournament, FEU threw several defenders at him and would oft mix up defensive schemes where Ryan Roose Garcia would double from the strong side or Jens Knuttel would sneak in from the blindside. But Al-Hussaini’s biggest battles were with Cervantes and Noundou who as was before jawed with the MVP all throughout.
Not only is the Ateneo center taller but also is tough to push out of the blocks. Alongside Baclao, they perhaps form the most fearsome forward-center combination in the league. Both can smother foes on the defensive end and put on a hurting on the offense.
But if anyone has been paying any attention to Ateneo in the Norman Black era in Ateneo, then they would know that everything is predicated on defense. Kirk Long helped put the clamps on Ric Cawaling who fell silent after scoring four points in the first quarter. Gunners Paul Sanga and Garcia were likewise silenced on the offensive end.
In the fourth and final quarter, Buenafe had a perfect chance to ice the game when he trooped to the 15-foot line for a pair of free throws with 13.6 seconds left and Ateneo on top 61-59. He strong-armed the first, a sharp and low that was sure to hit the back iron. Last year’s Rookie of the Year shook his head, made the proper adjustment on his backspin and netted the second. It was now 62-59 Ateneo.
But he left some change on the counter and that meant a sliver of hope for FEU.
In their last offensive thrust, the Blue Eagles kept close to their men but Garcia, who didn’t play well in his UAAP debut, found some daylight but missed a trey attempt. Al Hussaini pulled down the errant board was promptly fouled with no time left except for the obligatory two free throws as the Tamaraws were in penalty. He made one more free throw to add to his three-point play in the final 77 seconds to finish with a game high 18 points in addition to 8 boards. The MVP had come through in the clutch.
Ateneo won its first match of the new season 63-59.
And as good as it was, Black knew that they had their work cut out for them. He dismissed notions of statement games and insisted that he saw a lot of kinks to work out. “Everyone’s going to be gunning for us this year. We’re glad to get the first win but this is just the first game.”
Anything you say, coach.
Ateneo 63 – Al-Hussaini 18, Buenafe 10, Salva 9, Salamat 8, Monfort 8, Reyes 7, Long 3, Golla 0, Chua 0, Baclao 0, Austria 0
FEU 59 – Ramos 15, Barroca 12, Noundou 9, Garcia 8, Cervantes 6, Cawaling 4, Sanga 3, Knuttel 2, Exciminiano 0, Eguilos 0, Caluag 0
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