Ateneo Blue Eagles Game #6 An Ounce of Daylight

An Ounce of Daylight

Ateneo 78 vs. UP 53

words by rick olivares pic by brossi gonzales

It may be something. But then again it may be nothing.

While the Adamson Falcons and University of the East Red Warriors battled in the first quarter of the first game of the Thursday UAAP double header, many of the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles were already dressed and stood by the players’ entrance watching the match. Just an arm’s length away were the UP Maroons, Ateneo’s foe that day. It was still very early and they were all still in their casual outfits. Just like their Katipunan neighbors, they were taking in the game that was looking more and more like a massacre by the Falcons on the hapless Warriors by the minute.

The Maroons know that sinking feeling all too well. Fifth year forward Woody Co missed their previous game, a loss to the Red Warriors, in a game dubbed by the Maroon faithful as a “battle for the championship.” The team’s assistant coach (and former Ateneo Blue Eaglet) Potit de Vera viewed the loss of Co as unfortunate and extolled what the forward brings to UP’s game.

Co, was feeling better and ready to go. “Hopefully, we can duplicate what we did last year,” he said. But he said so with a lump in his throat. In his five year’s in Diliman, he saw his collegiate career begin with his team labeled as a team of promise during his Rookie of the Year in 2006. He also endured a winless campaign in the season after and slog through miserable ones after.

The year began with so much promise as the Maroons beefed up by key acquisitions played some exciting basketball in the pre-season. But after their meeting with the Blue Eagles in the Fil Oil tournament, the Maroons got its first brush with a blowout loss.

The team still remained upbeat but began to absorb loses left and right. It was the pre-season after all.

Teammate Mike Silungan whose presence was touted to make the Maroons a contender stayed inside the UP locker room lost in his music. “We need a lift,” he admitted. “I need a lift. Hopefully, I’ll find my touch.”

In the meantime, a couple of Blue Eagles paid the Maroons no mind and instead focused on the game being played out on the hardcourt. Juami Tiongson and Frank Golla, teammates since high school exchanged notes on the Falcons and Red Warriors. “Good luck, Juami!” a fan called out from the Upper A section directly above the players’ entrance. The sophomore guard smiled and waved.

With 6:28 left in the second quarter, Tiongson entered the game between Ateneo and UP with the Blue Eagles holding a one-point lead to replace Emman Monfort who was getting bumped every step of the way and causing problems with the offensive flow.

Ateneo rookie Art dela Cruz stole the inbound and converted a hook shot to give the blue and white some breathing room from a nip and tuck game.

Skipper Eric Salamat tacked on a free throw after a Mark Lopez foul but the Maroons were still close by.

After an Ateneo timeout, the ball was inbounded to Ryan Buenafe who stayed at the apex of the three-point arc. Tiongson cut from the left side to the right using two screens to free him up. As he used the last pick to find himself an open spot on the right wing, Buenafe found him with a zip pass. Tiongson with no hesitation buried a triple. 26-21 Ateneo.

The shot was huge as it opened up the floodgates for an Ateneo run. Salamat scored on the break then Tiongson knocked down another trey.

From the time Tiongson entered, the blue and whites went on an 18-6 run that seemingly broke the close game wide open.

With Ateneo leading 38-25 at the half, Co exhorted his teammates not to give up. Last year, they stunned Ateneo in the second half to upset the mighty Blue Eagles.

But instead of coming out strong, it was Ateneo that pounced on the Maroons in a 16-5 blitz in the 3^rd Quarter. Tiongson capped his heroics with a buzzer-beating jumper as the Blue Eagles went up by 24 points at 54-30.

From there closing it out was a mere formality.

Ateneo-UP games tend to be testy with some jawing, pushing or even stare downs. But even after Maroon swingman Miggy Maniego banged with Nico Salva on an Ateneo fastbreak, there was no untoward incident. The two tapped each other and went on playing.

Said Silungan, “We couldn’t find a rhythm. I couldn’t buy a shot.” Kirk Long had shadowed him very well and at one time forced him to pass off just when he was about to dial up an attempt all the way from Chicago, his hometown. “I know there’s going to be some daylight at this end of the tunnel.”

Said Ateneo Coach Norman Black after the game, “Juami has been shooting the ball very well in practice. He had one or two bad games where he would lose and fumble the ball. But he never lost his focus and kept up a good attitude. That was a set play we designed for him. I’m happy that he made those shots.”

Tiongson shot 5-7 from the field including a perfect 3-3 from three-point land. He also pulled down 3 rebounds and dished off for three assists for a career best 13 points. “I found myself open. Hopefully, I can contribute consistently,” he said after the game.

His longtime teammate, Golla, likewise had a stellar game as he chipped in 8 points and 6 rebounds in 19 quality minutes.

The Blue Eagles won 78-53 to go to 4-2 tied for second place with De La Salle and Adamson. The Maroons tumbled to 0-6. The loss was UP’s lowest output since September 3, 2005 in a 59-45 loss to La Salle.

Ateneo actually slightly turned the ball over more 16-14 but the Maroons shot an atrocious 25.3% from the field as they were reduced to a jump shooting team (Ateneo had a 21-13 edge in the assists category). UP interim head coach Boyet Fernandez bit his lip as he took a long hard look at the stats. They showed what was wrong but it did not provide answers or a solution to their nightmarish season.

It may be something. But then again it may be nothing.

After the game, the Blue Eagles quickly dressed up and left as the typhoon rains began to fall down.

For the Fighting Maroons, almost the entire team had to wait it out until the rains weakened. “Titigil din yung ulan,” said Co.

Ateneo 78 – Salva 18, Tiongson 13, Salamat 12, Golla 8, Chua 8, Escueta 6, Long 3, Estrada 2, dela Cruz 2, Monfort 2, Buenafe 2, Austria 2, Erram 0, Balmaceda 0, Gonzaga 0, deChavez 0

UP 53 – Sison 13, Padilla 12, Lopez 6, Silungan 5, Co 5, Gomez 4, Reyes Martin 3, Reyes Mikee 2, Juruena 2, Manuel 1, Saret 0, Maniego 0, Hipolito 0, Gingerich 0




Note: The guys From the Stands (the ateneo.edu podcast) asked me what Ryan Buenafe brings to the team even if he only scores 2 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist. 


After an Ateneo turnover, UP's Joshua Saret picked up the ball and began a 2-1 on break with Buenafe the only Ateneans down on transition. He angled himself perfectly that Saret could send the ball forward for a layup. So he chose to drive on his own. At the last possible moment, Buenafe moved towards Saret who seemed surprised that he missed the layup. Buenafe pulled down the board and pitched it to Eric Salamat who drove to the basket. 


If you ask me, that says a lot yet it does not even show up on the stat sheet.