Ateneo vs Arellano: The Fifth Man

This appears in ateneo.edu

The Fifth Man

Ateneo 70 vs. Arellano University 53

by rick olivares pic by brosi

May 4, 2011

San Juan Arena

When Tonino Gonzaga joined cracked the Ateneo Blue Eagles’ lineup four years ago, he was one of five new faces. There were the much-ballyhooed recruits Ryan Buenafe, Nico Salva, Justin Chua, and Vince Burke.

Four years and three championships later, vital cogs in the big blue machine have gone. And this year, there are six new faces on the team making it the single largest batch of newbies since the basketball program began in 1999. And Zags, as he is called for short, is now one of the team’s “grizzled vets”. Only he doesn’t feel like one.

Through many lineup changes, Gonzaga has patiently waited for his chance to show what he can do. Sure he’s had his moments during the past three years but he was oft on the third team of a deep squad.

“I didn’t make this team for nothing,” he said to himself.

He might have not been a “blue chip” recruit and that sits fine with him. He is after all, a product of pure heart, hustle, and good ole blue-collar work ethic.

Up against the unpredictable Arellano University Chiefs, the Blue Eagles found it difficult to get good looks at the basket let alone open shots. With less than two minutes left in the first quarter, Gonzaga checked into the game, AdMU up 9-8.

The fourth year swingman ditched his defender along the baseline then drove hard only for AU’s Christian Palma to meet him in the air to try and block him. Zags leaped and with Palma’s arms following his every move, the Atenean pumped, stretched and flicked a difficult reverse layup that miraculously evaded the Chief’s arms. The shot dropped for an 11-8 lead.

On the opposite end, Gonzaga played the passing lanes well to deflect a pass to Arellano’s Rocky Acidre who was straddling the three-point line. That defensive move didn’t register as a “steal” but it did leave four seconds on Arellano’s shot clock and their desperation shot badly missed.

The second unit of Kiefer Ravena, Bacon Austria, Oping Sumalinog, Justin Chua, and Gonzaga had given the Blue Eagles some cushion at 17-13. And after a brilliant and one by Zags, the lead was now at seven.

The Chiefs would come no closer.

After a brief respite, Ateneo coach Norman Black sent Zags back in a few seconds left. The fourth year player promptly stole the ball from a Chief and hightailed it back to the other end for a deuce to make it 32-19.

It was all down hill – for Arellano – after that.

Playing great defense, Ateneo held Arellano to 29% field goal shooting. They had also dominated the Chiefs in almost every statistical category. Ateneo got solid performances from Ravena, Long, Salva, Chua, and Sumalinog.

Although Gonzaga only scored 9 points, he shot 50% from the field and the stripe. He also added four boards and a dime.

“It may be the pre-season but I look at every game as a “UAAP game,” said Zags. “That helps me condition my mind into giving my best at all times.”

“We may have a bunch of rookies and I tell them to absorb everything that happens. They should learn as much as they can because their time to shine will come.”

Just like him?

Zags, the last man out of the Ateneo dugout, smiled and packed his bags to go.

Ateneo 70 – Ravena 12, Salva 10, Long 10, Chua 9, Gonzaga 9, Sumalinog 8, Monfort 6, Tiongson 4, Austria 2, Golla 0, Erram o, Tallo 0, Pessumal 0

Arellano 53 – Celada 16, Salcedo 12, Zulueta 8, Mammie 6, Lapuz 5, Acidre 2, Estoce 2, Doligon 2, del Rosario 0, Palma 0, Casiño 0, Caperal 0, Okpe 0

Notes: Ateneo played minus Greg Slaughter while Arellano’s Isiah Ciriacruz has yet to see action. Ateneo is now at 4-0 while Arellano fell to 0-4.