In 1989, Ateneo was in the midst of a trying campaign where they were going for that elusive three-peat. The season had seen some terrible losses as the team was missing three vitals cogs of the back2back who could still play. Forward Jet Nieto moved on to med school while center Alex Araneta and swingman Jay Gayoso didn't enroll in enough units to play that season. And there was center Danny Francisco who was out for good due to a heart ailment. So it was left to Jun Reyes (Jai's uncle), Eric Reyes, Joseph Canlas, Olsen Racela, Mel Basa, Gene Afable, and a few others to give it that old college try.
In one game against Adamson (at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum), the Falcons were on the verge of driving another nail into the Blue Eagles' coffin as they had a chance to make the last shot with the score tied at 72-all.
Jun Reyes came from the blindside and swiped the ball clean off a Falcon. With hardly a foot past the halfcourt line, Reyes heaved a long trey that hit nothing but net at the buzzer as the Falcons of Nandy Garcia and Joey Valdez crumpled to the floor in disbelief. This most precious copy was written in the sports pages of Abante the following day: "Animoy magnanakaw sa Quiapo na dinukot ni Gilbert Reyes Jr. ang bola sabay yumari ng three points at naututan ng Ateneo ang Adamson 75-72!"
Bwahaha!
I remember joining the several dozen Ateneans in that sweaty old gym jumping up and down in rapture. The shot saved the Eagles who lived on to fight another day until FEU knocked them out.
In truth, that year reminded me of those pre-back2back years when there were these agonizing losses that kept us out of the championship picture. And Adamson (next to UST) seemed to our tormentors. In fact, in Ateneo's first ever game in the UAAP, the Blue Eagles lost to the Falcons at the Loyola Center.
No comments:
Post a Comment