My thoughts about Ateneo’s win over Adamson

My thoughts about Ateneo’s win over Adamson

by rick olivares

The Ateneo Blue Eagles defeated the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 62-48, to go to 10-2 while the latter fell to 8-3. The win put the Blue Eagles in the driver’s seat and barring another loss, should see them top the elimination round heading into the Final Four.

You bet both teams wanted this (as we outlined in our preview) for different reasons. I was surprised to see Adamson coach Franz Pumaren send in his bench with about 1:15 to go (the lead was 15 at that point). Verily, discretion is also the better part of valor. There are a few more games for Adamson to play and they still have the inside track on a twice-to-beat advantage (they just need to win their last games and hope that Ateneo takes down DLSU a second time).

Here are my thoughts for the game.

The gigil factor and the calming effect of Matt Nieto

Whatever preparation prior to the game nearly got thrown out of the window during the first quarter. More so after Thirdy Ravena scored on Ateneo’s first possession – a triple.

I get it – wanting to get back at the Falcons that saw Ateneo start on a sorry note after such a spectacular pre-season. Even Angelo Kouame was looking to bounce back that he picked up an early foul that set the tone for his game. But there were unnecessary fouls and even eyebrow-raising turnovers; unforced ones, I must say.

Now, I love the way Tyler Tio has marvelously stepped up in Matt Nieto’s absence and he will run the magnificent machine with more aplomb by the time he is done, but with more experience, he will learn the subtleness of having a calming effect on the team.

Matt Nieto entered with close to four minutes played in the second period and the score, 10-9 in favor of the team in white. That means one point had been scored by Ateneo to the none of Adamson.

Matt only grabbed one rebound and missed a triple, but his presence helped Tio bring up the ball in the face of the Adamson press. By the time he was subbed out, the score was 21-14.

That two-point guard combo worked and with a faster line-up tired out Adamson’s Papi Sarr.

Matt finished with a mere three points and two assists. But his presence was huge.

Isaac Go underscored his importance

Someone asked me why Isaac Go hasn’t played “well” this season. There are two answers to that – one, he’s all right. His production this year isn’t as much as in Season 80 where he averaged 7.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game in 16 minutes of action last year. Prior to this match with Adamson, in about 15 minutes per game, his production is down to 4.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists.

The “dip” if you want to call it that, is simply because of the arrival of Kouame who has taken away many shots (Isaac has 66 field goal attempts thus far this year). Last season, in 19 games, Isaac had 118 attempts from the field. I think he is just missing some shots that he should make.

As for the Kouame thing, remember how it was for Justin Chua when Greg Slaughter arrived? His production went down. Of course, you play the Big Fella and hope the other learns to play alongside or off the other.

But Isaac is a smart fell and always does what it takes. His stat line of 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 assist felt so good.

The great defense

With the gigil proving a bane early in the game, Ateneo ratcheted up the defense. The switching, fighting picks. Remember how Franz ran that baseline pick to free up Ren Ren Ritualo before? This year, he added a new wrinkle to that by adding a third pick to free up Jerrick Ahanmisi. Not that Jerrick needs it because he can also create his own shot. But when you go up against teams that play stifling defense like Ateneo, you need it. And they shackled and stymied him along with Sean Manganti.

And that has been Adamson’s problem. Since the late first round, it has been their veterans who have carried them --- Papi Sarr, Jerrick Ahanmisi, Manganti, Simon Camacho, and when all right, Jonathan Espeleta. Camacho and Espeleta have not played well of late so when Manganti didn’t play well, that left only Ahanmisi (who was mostly stopped). And that is tough. Although Jerome Lastimosa played well, that isn’t enough.

Ahanmisi shot 6-17. That was some of the best defense played on him in the past three seasons.

And when you have Thirdy Ravena blocking Sarr at the rim, and Gian Mamuyac tying up Sarr as well, everyone is going to do their best on D.

That two-guard combo of Tio and Nieto

I like the fact that Tyler started the game. And he has really picked up his game and believe it or not, we have not even seen his very best. He is going to get much better. I like what Tab Baldwin did – that two-guard combo alongside Matt Nieto. Yes, that was that mistake when Tyler picked up his dribble and threw the ball right at Manganti. But the combo was mostly good. The small ball worked and Adamson was mostly unable to make Ateneo pay with no Kouame inside.

The boost of the return of the Nieto brothers

Well, the Blue Eagles are close to full strength. Yes, I know the Nieto brothers aren’t 100% but still they are back. It is good to have those options available. It is hoped though that others find their confidence post-haste.

Has Adamson peaked?

On the Adamson side, they have to be concerned. The bench has largely disappeared. They have gone from fourth best in the league to dead last with 23 a game.

Vince Magbuhos who I liken to former Adamson star, Eric Camson has had an up and down first year. He showed his mettle during the summer and did well in the first few games of the season then promptly disappeared. Ditto with Egie Boy Mojica. Simon Camacho who has been huge has not played well in the last three games. There is talent up and down the line in this team; the confidence though is lacking.

I have concerns if this team has peaked and if they are in headed south. Whereas Ateneo and La Salle have played better, Adamson has struggled. If they don’t right their ship in time, they could even slip out of the top two seeds.