My Thoughts About Ateneo’s 1st Round Loss to DLSU

               My Thoughts About Ateneo’s 1^st Round Loss to DLSU

By Rick Olivares

 

When Ateneo’s guards – Forthsky Padrigao and Gab Gomez – faltered towards the end of the Ateneo-La Salle match, that saw the Green Archers snap a seven-match losing skid to the Blue Eagles for 83-78 win, I had this thought.

 

Well, it’s from the NBA during Kobe Bryant’s rookie season when he threw up an airball against the San Antonio Spurs that subsequently gave the result the latter’s way.

 

The late Los Angeles Lakers’ color commentator Chick Hearn said, “That’s okay, young man, you will make many more of those in the future.”

 

Was he prescient? Because we all know what Bryant turned out to be.

 

We aren’t suggesting that Padrigao is the second coming of Bryant. Merely an analogy.

 

He was thrust into the starting role with the sudden departure of SJ Belangel and Tyler Tio. While he had always shown his basketball skills. With a bit more experience, Forthsky will figure things out. Remember, Matt Nieto was a junior when he turned his game around and led Ateneo to a three-peat. 

 

How you deal with results like this depends on how you look at the game. If you go into this thinking that we should win it then it smacks of disrespect to La Salle. After all, they did win the D-League. You just cannot say, “kaya natin.” They can say the same thing too. Learn to temper expectations. It will serve you better.

 

After all, this is a rebuilding year. The two ball handlers this year – Padrigao and Gab Gomez – did not see a lot of minutes in the previous season. And for all intents and purposes, Paul Garcia is a rookie.  

 

Having said that, La Salle showed the rest of the league how to play Ateneo by sending two defenders – Ben Philips and Penny Estacio -- towards Forthsky Padrigao. 

 

Yet, Padrigao was still able to beat them and get to the basket. It’s nice to see that one-man press breaker in the mold of LA Tenorio, Kiefer Ravena, Matt Nieto, and SJ Belangel. 

 

Once the Green Archers got into foul trouble they abandoned that. 

 

However, when Chris Koon handled the ball, they blitzed him again. Unfortunately, he is not a very good ball handler. Ditto with Joshua Lazaro. High dribble. Slow. Panics when the double team comes. 

 

Maybe have another be the primary press breaker then have Koon or Lazaro be the secondary. But asking them to bring up the ball for about 50 feet is inviting trouble. As a result, Koon was largely ineffective. With every turnover, it told of his confidence. 

 

I am sure he’ll get better at it. Am just not sure if it is this season. 

 

Since Gab Gomez is being used for that court general position, then go ahead. If not, give Jacob Lao a try. 

 

The execution down the stretch hurt. Turnovers, bad plays, bad shots (and not because of La Salle’s defense because the Blue Eagles were throwing up some bad shots). Thirty-seven attempts from LaLa Land? La Salle got killed inside the lane. The Blue Eagles should have kept at it. 

 

That play where Padrigao threw up a long one, why wasn’t there a screen? Unless BJ Andrade was injured, I thought that he should have been on the floor.  

 

Watching Gio Tiu is an exercise in patience. Let’s be honest about this, the lead shrinks when he is on the court. He once more got lost in the shuffle that even when he partnered with Angelo Kouame, they gave up an offensive rebound. People shouldn’t be applauding in relief when he scores. People should applaud him for a job well done. 

 

Am not sure if it's a skill. I think it is more mental. 

 

I’ve seen this before with Ford Arao, Rabeh Al-Hussaini, and Chibueze Ikeh who were all maddening to watch until a switch was flicked. 

 

Speaking of mental, if losing to La Salle in the first round is the price to see Paul Garcia snap out of his stupor, I will take it.

 

But he scored only three points off 1-4 shooting. Yes, he did. But you could see the way he played when he was left on the floor by Coach Tab Baldwin, he was into it. He was moving better. He will get better from this. 

 

Speaking of getting better, Kai Ballungay played his best game so far with his 19 points and 10 rebounds that complemented Kouame’s 22 points and 12 rebounds. 

 

Gab Gomez played well too (except for those two galling passes).

 

So there are pluses to take away. And besides, it is only a real loss if one does not learn from it.

 

If anything, I have learned to trust the process with Coach Tab.