The Pursuit of Perfection
Ateneo 78 vs. FEU-FERN 54
by rick olivares
There is nothing that drives a coach crazy than a game plan that has been rehearsed and supposedly ingrained inside a player’s head not being executed. Even when you have a nine-point lead at the half.
The problem with a win steak, let alone an unblemished slate, is that complacency and overconfidence sets in. Leave it to the coaching staff to cajole, plead, encourage, and erupt like a volcano to get their message across.
Not for one minute can they allow their team to relax and step off the gas pedal. Why not? There’s still one more game to play for the Ateneo Blue Eaglets to complete the elimination round and the chance to go undefeated for the season. For a third straight title. And should the Blue Eagles also do he job, an unprecedented three-peat in both men’s and boy’s divisions.
Perfection is running your sets and game plan. It has worked for the last decade hasn’t it? And should it not, at least one can say that they tried and it didn’t work. But it worked and still works.
Perfection is sweeping the season series with FEU; something they have not done in three years. In the last two years, the Blue Eaglets and the Baby Tams, under coach Horacio Lim, have been 1-1.
There’s nothing more a coach, one who is on a mission at that, wants than to rectify that oversight by running the Tams to the ground.
“Kung ginawa ninyo yung kailangan niyong gawin eh tapos na to first half pa lang!” thundered Eaglets head coach Jamike Jarin to his wards at the half with Ateneo on top 40-31. The FEU-FERN Baby Tamaraws’ Mark Tanoy buried a triple right at the buzzer to close the first half.
Tanoy’s teammate Josuah Palacio had scored 13 points in the first 20 minutes including three triples. Much of his attempts had been wide open and uncontested shots.
After the first round of action, Ateneo was the league’s number one defensive team. They gave up the fewest number of points, the fewest number of two-point field goals, the fewest rebounds, and points allowed in the paint. They outscored their opponents by an average of 23.9 points per game.
In other categories, the surprising National University Bullpups were tops meaning they were trading places with Ateneo as the best defensive outfit.
“We have 20 minutes to change all that!” challenged Jarin as his boys rushed out for the second half.
And power forward-center Paolo Romero, who had earned the ire of Jarin for being out of the play in the first half, scored six quick points at the start of the third while Kiefer Ravena slammed one home off a steal. The Eaglets had a 19-point lead by the end of the third.
The team had responded. They filled out the wings on the breaks. Raced to pre-arranged spots for threes. And whipped the ball around to find the open man. In the midst of the run, senior forward Von Pessumal called to mind another sleek and Bullish forward from the Windy City who wreaked havoc with his defense while playing as a second facilitator on offense. He showcased his myriad skills with a balanced effort of 15 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal.
They outrebounded their foes 50-33, out-assisted them 20-13, had two more steals at 7-5, and scored 14 fastbreak points, 13 second chance points, and 19 turnover points.
Palacio scored only two more points in the second half for a total of 15 points. But he had no other teammate in double figures.
In contrast, Ateneo’s Big Three of Ravena, Pessumal, and Romero had scored 20, 15 and 10 respectively.
And it helped the Blue Eagles bag their 13th consecutive win as well as a 78-54 win for the season sweep against FEU-FERN.
A satisfied Jarin glanced at the stat sheet. Pessumal nearly had it perfect. Except that he had four turnovers.
The coach smiled, gave his customary Player of the Game Award to Pessumal and congratulated the team for a job well done. “Enjoy your weekend,” he advised owing to the long three day vacation because of National Heroes Day on Monday. But the Eaglets have practice at 4pm.
For on Tuesday, they play the National University. One step closer to perfection.
Ateneo 78 – Ravena 20, Pessumal 15, Romero 10, Sacluti 7, Mercado 6, Tenorio 5, Lim 3, Gadia 3, Suarez 2, Ressureccion 2, Javelosa 2, Dumrique 2, Austria 1, Vitangcol 0, Puno 0, Gamboa 0
FEU-FERN 54 – Palacio 15, Pearson 7, Tanoy 6, Sia 6, Lumahan 6, Fabian 5, Dimdam 4, Gelig 3, Manuel 2, San Jose 0, Pangalangan 0, Paulino 0, Estacio 0, Custodio 0, Cariño 0
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