Chito Loyzaga lives! Ryan Buenafe defies gravity to score on the break.
As much as I thought that Ateneo's offense was a sight to behold, the interior defense could still use some work. But allow me to gush about that offense. Doesn't that remind you of the way San Miguel Beer used to run up and down the court with that ball whipping around to the open man? In case you weren't around then well now you know.
I wasn't able to watch the match against UPHDS but I caught the past two versus UP and Letran. In a pair of matches where I expected players to bump and thump, instead it was the opponents who got thumped.
Norman Black has become the finest college coach in the land. Since 2006, his teams have been a joy to watch. Even the ugly games that they take via game winners? How many teams have had more comeback victories than the Blue Eagles? If the New York Yankees as the masters of the comeback win in baseball then in Philippine college hoops, then tip that hat to the Blue Eagles.
Even in that loss against La Salle, the team was just beginning to get its bearings. And as in the UP game, players were taking shots in the flow of the game. Nothing was forced. They always made the extra pass that led to a basket. And they left UP and Letran playing one-on-one.
In the first quarter, my friend Ken said the team would score a hundred. And they did. We were even hoping they'd hit 120. The downside of that offensive display was -- they gave up 90 points. The team in recent years would surrender 60-something points. Even as JP Erram is getting more comfortable, they still had trouble with Jam Cortes and Jon Belorio; the wide-body and active sort. Either we fouled them or they scored on us.
The plus here for Letran is that JP Belencion showed that he is ready to step into the gunner's role vacated by Rey Gutilban. That was some great shooting.
And Letran which prides itself in its defense was forced to play catch up. They couldn't really get physical because they couldn't catch Ateneo on the break.
Despite the high score, this was an impressive 114-90 win. But this team will be in shape in a few weeks' time when they go two-a-day in their their stay at Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Ateneo 114 - Salamat 21, Salva 19, Monfort 18, Long 11, Escueta 10, Buenafe 10, Austria 6, Tiongson 5, De la Cruz 4, Erram 4, Chua 2, Golla 2, De Chavez 2, Burke 0, Gonzaga 0
Letran 90 - K. Alas 20, Belencion 18, Cortes 14, Dysam 12, Belorio 11, Espiritu 5, J. Alas 4, Almazan 3, Taplah 2, Pantin 1
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