Four thoughts about that incredible win of Ateneo over Chinese Taipei

Four thoughts about that incredible win of Ateneo over Chinese Taipei

by rick olivares

There were a lot of things running through my head as Matt Nieto swished that game-winning triple that lifted Ateneo to a pulsating 77-76 win over Chinese Taipei.

First of all was those free throws by Ying-Chun Chen. He was 1-2 before those fateful 3.1 seconds. Somehow, somewhere the order to miss the second free throw was lost in translation. Chen made both to give Chinese Taipei a 76-74 lead.

Much to his coach’s consternation, it gave Ateneo a chance to call time and inbound the ball in their side of the court. The play was brilliant. Double high screen, Matt Nieto is along the baseline. He makes it appear as if he is giving a screen to Jolo Mendoza who runs to the right corner. The defense is fooled as two Chinese defenders run towards Mendoza. Nieto cuts back up with Isaac Go and Mike Nieto providing a screen. He is a good four, five steps ahead of his primary defender. Thirdy Ravena’s inbound is as precise as Matt doesn’t have anyone on him. He fires. Swish. Ballgame.

Never has a free throw stat line looked more terrible than Chen’s – 3-4. Reminds me of when former La Salle coach Franz Pumaren made that remark about this being the only time two is greater than three in terms of wins.

Second is how Tab Baldwin called that play for Matt Nieto. Up to that point, Matt was struggling. He was 2-5 from three-point range. He wasn’t his usual self as he turned the ball over six times. But the coach put the ball in his hands.

That kind of faith was repaid.

And I thought of that scene from The Empire Strikes Back where Yoda lift’s Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing fighter out of the Dagobah swamp.

Luke Skywalker: I don’t believe it.

Yoda: That is why you fail.

And clearly, how good is Tab Baldwin?

After being unceremoniously replaced as Gilas head coach (not the right move in my opinion even right during the OQT), he took a broken Ateneo team to the UAAP finals and came close to winning it. Then after that, he got the team to fully buy into his philosophies and system. The result was a UAAP title and a smattering of pre-season titles.

How Ateneo has been performing – emphasis on the word performing and not winning because we are not a school that has to win at all costs -- especially in this William Jones Cup lately is redemption for him, his beliefs, and his system. He surely re-affirmed that a team of youngsters given the right coach and system can work wonders.

When Smart Gilas fell apart due to the appointment of all sorts of characters who compromised the program and the system of Rajko Toroman, it was thought that the old NCC model was extinct. To beat the pros, you had to field the pros. I am not suggesting that we send Ateneo to the Asiad or even the World Cup. That is already asking too much. But the right team with a lot of sacrifices and money to keep the team afloat for several years (but aided and abetted by a naturalized player).

I wanted to rebut the commentary of a previous game by Ateneo in the Jones Cup where it was asked by the commentators why San Beda let go of William Navarro. The truth is – he left. He wasn’t happy with the coaching staff. Along with his agent, Nardy Madrasto who is a good friend of mine (he seeks my advice about many things from players to the draft etc.), we met one rainy morning at Kopi Roti along Katipunan Avenue. I tried to dissuade him from transferring. To instead stay with a team that was a powerhouse in the making. When I asked William what other reason did he have for transferring as there was a change in the coaching staff of San Beda. He said without mincing his words – it’s Ateneo and I want to play for Tab Baldwin. Well, how do you argue with that, right? So I shook his hand and said, “Then welcome to Ateneo.”

If Robert Bolick Jr. benefited from a change in scenery so did Navarro. No way does he play like this in San Beda. If you ask me, he is going to become an important player for Ateneo this coming UAAP season.

Tab Baldwin is a player’s coach who at the same time is a bleeping genius.

Remember how he preached about winning as a team with no superstars and every game there was a different Player of the Game? If you look at the ongoing Jones Cup, in seven games, they have five different scoring leaders! Five.

And how about those game-winning plays?

Was that old San Miguel play drawn up by Norman Black against UST during the 2006 UAAP Finals one of the best ever? That was a game winner.

The one Tab drew up for Isaac Go against FEU and then La Salle were for a championship.

This one might not get a gold medal but still… it will go down as one of the best in Ateneo and well, now, Philippine sports history more so since a college team defeated the national team of a rival country!

And there’s the game itself. The Blue Eagles did not have their usual stuff. Whether fatigue, the defense of the opponent, or jitters since they were playing in front of an entirely hostile crowd, they found a way to win. There were horrible and momentum-killing turnovers, but they always found a way to make up for it. Moreover, they kept the game close and won. It is a resounding victory for flag and country, for the school, and the coach. And this is the ultimate recruiting tool! Everyone and his mother has seen how previously underachieving players like Thirdy Ravena, Isaac Go, and William Navarro (to name a few) have become solid and terrific basketball players. What player wouldn’t want to play for Tab now?

And fourth and last, at one point in the first half, things were starting to get a little rough. But thankfully, nothing untoward happened. Still, the Blue Eagles always extended that hand of sportsmanship. It reminded me of a story during the 1957 NCAA Finals when Ateneo faced Mapua for the championship. At one point, the late great King Eagle Ed Ocampo got punched by a Cardinal player named Meneses. At this time, the games were getting rougher. Fights were breaking out in regularity. In fact, in about four years’ time, the UAAP would go on hiatus and instead, everyone just played in some home and away format But back to that game. A hush descended on the crowd of the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. People were anticipating another rumble. Instead, Ed Ocampo shook Meneses’ hand. Situation defused. I recall Senator Dick Gordon recounting this story during the recording of the Animo Ateneo documentary (circa 1983). Said Gordon, “That night I was proud of Ed Ocampo. And I was proud of the Ateneo.”

Wherever this tournament ends for Ateneo (5-2 entering the final day of competition), they conducted themselves with a lot of class and top character. They truly gave it One Big Fight. And you know – if I may crib Gordon’s lines because they are so apt -- I am proud to be a Filipino. I am proud of Matt Nieto and I am proud of Ateneo de Manila.