The Azkals score some points off a draw with Chinese Taipei

This appears in interaksyon.com

The Azkals score some points off a draw with Chinese Taipei

by rick olivares
photo by craig burrows and pinoyfootball

How many of you were disappointed by the scoreless draw between the Philippines and Chinese Taipei?

I was. But juuuuust… a little bit.

Actually, I came away from the match thinking that the positives far outweighed the negatives.

For one, I thought that the coaching staff came out with a great game plan. More often than not, Phil Younghusband is a marked man because of his prodigious scoring talent. It was fun to see him play the far right as well as the role of facilitator early in the first half. Right there, you could see what an exceptional talent he is blazing down the flanks and outracing a couple of defenders. And he was successful in sending several crosses inside that went right through Taipei’s defense.

I guess that one day practice between games for a change in strategy isn’t enough for others to automatically thunder down the middle for a header or a volley. One is accustomed to seeing Phil finish off a perfectly laid pass by James Younghusband or Super Chief.

But Phil playing wide definitely threw the home team around for a loop.

Unfortunately, Taipei’s threw us one as well. And television anchor Bob Guerrero described it in the most spot on manner: “There are more divers here in the Chinese Taipei team than in Anilao on a Saturday morning.”

The Chinese fell at the slightest bump or nudge. When that player tried to tackle James Younghusband late in the game, the Fil-Briton saw it coming and he jumped high to avoid it. As gravity did its job, James fell down on the player. The Chinese player crouched and looked at the ref in hopes that the Philippine midfielder would get carded. When none was forthcoming, he rolled over and writhed in pain.

Not only should he be given a yellow card for diving but a trophy as well for the Best Actor Award.

Frustrated by the tactic, the home team tried to pull a fast one with quick plays. Luckily for the Filipinos, they were alert. But how many fouls were called on the Azkals? I lost count at 10.

And considering it was the home team that was playing, I thought we were darn lucky that the linesman whistled midfielder Lo Chih-an for being offside because had his strike at the 75^th minute stood, we were goners. They would have surely parked that bus to Anilao in front of their goal.

At the half, the team made their adjustments and the Azkals went on the attack.

And here is what I like overall:

1.    Neckson Leonora. The day after the draw with Hong Kong, I had lunch with Bob Guerrero at Gateway. He asked me what I thought and I said that I thought that Matthew Hartmann was playing out of position. He replied and said na manipis yung line up and I said then they should insert Leonora. I’ve seen the kid play for San Beda and his native Iloilo. Not only is he a rock at centerback (his more natural position) but he also takes their long range free kicks and is good in linking up for the attack. Once inside the box, he is dangerous in the air where he can nail flatfooted goalkeepers with a header or a bicycle kick.

Leonora’s insertion into the starting XI meant that Hartmann could move to his more natural midfield position. And more importantly, if he could sustain that type of game, then the coaching staff would have found a perfect substitute for Ray Jonsson when he is unavailable.

2.    The ground game. I am not talking about Chinese Taipei’s ground hugging tactics. I liked the short passing game of the Philippines where for the first time, I saw them stringing up at least four of five (and sometimes even more) passes before going on the attack. They were more patient this time as they did not hesitate to pass it back to the defenders who have a better view of the action.

The home side may have had the ball 60% of the time during the first half but come the last 45 minutes (including the mysterious three minutes of added time), the Azkals were able to dictate the pace of the game and seize control of the midfield. Once they are able to play that way more consistently, we will see better finishes.

3.    Quality substitutions. This time, the nationals’ head coach Michael Weiss went to his bench early. And what fines ones as well. The insertion of midfielder Jeffrey Christiaens (at the start of the second half) and Lexton Moy (in the 70^th minute) were not only timely but were also the right choices. Both provided a massive dose of energy to the overall effort.

The Nationals assistant coach Edwin Cabalida likens Christiaens as a younger Caligdong and true enough, he worked well from the left flank or flying down the middle. He nearly assisted Phil on a volley as well. Maybe he should have taken that shot instead of passing off but had Phil scored, the 20-year Fil-Belgian would have been a genius. Ditto with Weiss.

4.    Roland Muller’s play at goal. How many shots did he stop? He saved us in the first half with great reads on the Chinese Taipei attack. And when he looked upfield following a save, he was able to make good decisions whether by passing the ball to the wings or sending the ball way up ahead for Phil to corral and hopefully beat the offside trap. Much better play in his second cap for the Philippines.

5.    Chieffy Caligdong’s presence. The Barotacnon was a marked man just like Phil. Twice he got tackled and each time he took a little time to get up. That says something about his importance. While Christiaens did his best to fill in what the Azkals co-captain gives on the field, Caligdong is inspirational and downright skilled.

During one sequence where he was able to get a shot off while straddling close to the touchline parallel to Chinese Taipei’s goal. Had he gotten a little more lift and curve to it and send it to the far post, he might have even scored another goal.

It would have been nice to get three points from this match but the scoreless drew gave the Philippines one point for a total of two in the same number of matches.

Hong Kong, by virtue of its 5-1 thrashing of Macau saw them accrue five points in two matches; the same as Chinese Taipei. But the #155 ranked Hong Kong are atop the leader board because of a superior goal difference (8-3).

For the Philippines to claim the 2011 Long Teng Cup, the Azkals must score at least five more goals that whatever Hong Kong tallies in their final match against the home team. Should Hong Kong win the match, whatever the goal tally of the Philippines will be moot and academic.

The growth of the team continues. And as I always say, any point you can come away with especially in an away game is always good. And I think I just mentioned five points – good ones I might say -- for the Philippines to ponder.

Good luck against Macau.

Paul Lee: The Rain King has arrived.

This and all my PBA stories appear in inthezone.com.ph

The Rain King has arrived

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters hotshot rookie Paul Lee was a showstopper in his dazzling PBA debut. There is a new sheriff in town.

by rick olivares

On a night when “the Black Superman” Billy Ray Bates was inducted into the Philippine Basketball Association Hall of Fame.

On opening day of the new season against Mark Caguioa and the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

The new pistolero arrived in town and is ready to establish a new world order.

Paul Lee, the high scoring UE Red Warrior, enters the PBA very much like Caguioa. He jacks up long-range cruise missiles. He has no conscience in eviscerating foes with a nasty crossover. He’s brash and emotional. The one thing he did not bring to the Smart Araneta Coliseum for his scintillating debut was a flop of faux blonde hair.

But Lee is tough just like his similarly-head shaven coach, Yeng Guiao. And he showed it the moment he entered the court.

Against the Kings in the opening game of the Philippine Cup, the Elasto Painters began the game on a poor note. A backing violation. A 24-second shot clock violation. A couple of missed shots. Ginebra soon went up 11-2.

However, this is the PBA where no lead is safe. And apparently, not if Paul Lee has anything to say about it.

The second overall draft pick wasted no time in going against Caguioa as he scored on two consecutive drives to bring Rain or Shine back in the game. After Ginebra guard Mike Cortez answered with two free throws, Lee once more drove inside before passing off to Gabe Norwood for an and-one against Kings center Rico Villanueva.

In their next possession, Lee ditched Caguioa with a crossover that the Kings’ guard used for so long on opponents until he was slowed down by injuries.

By quarter’s end, Rain or Shine had a 20-19 lead. And the rookie had 10 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists. Lee had two more points that Caguioa had in his PBA debut. And that was only after six minutes of play.

The Elasto Painters drew strength and confidence from Lee as five different Ginebra guards were used against him (Caguioa, Cortez, Jayjay Helterbrand, Ronald Tubid, and Rob Labagala).

And Guiao exploited that as he had Lee on the floor at the same time with Jeff Chan and Ronjay Buenafe, two other swingmen with a penchant for putting up points on the board in a hurry.

Guiao’s squad was on the verge of blowing the Kings off the court after forward-center Jervy Cruz hit a sideline jumper for a 87-71 lead at the 7:43 mark of the final quarter. But JC Intal, JM Wilson, and Labagala, buoyed by a crowd that refused to let them lose to the upstart rookie and the Elasto Painters, led the Kings back with a furious rally.

With the score at 94-91 with 20.9 to play, ROS’ JR Quiñahan fouled Intal while taking a three-point shot. The high-flying forward hit the first two before bricking the last. Teammate Willy Wilson was able to get the loose ball but he likewise missed a desperation jumper at the buzzer.

The Elasto Painters escaped with a 94-93 win that nevertheless left Guiao and his prized rookie elated. Said the multi-titled Guiao: “It’s a big win for us -- first day, first game. Medyo may jitters pa but the good thing about it is we had a good lead coming into the endgame. We’ll take that. Paul Lee played a great game for his first game. He is physically tough. Mentally tough. He is just special. You can’t coach that. That didn’t come from me. Galing sa kanya. I think we had a good pick in the draft.”

On the match up against Ginebra where the crowd booed him particularly in the end game, Lee was deadly honest: “Linaro ko lang game ko. Binigyan ako ng kumpiyansa ng coach ko. Gusto ko yung underdog ako. Mas gusto ko yung sumisigaw yung crowd ng Ginebra kasi mas ginaganahan ako. Nung college pa lang ako underdog talaga. Sanay na ako.”

Lee compiled a game high 21 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and 2 turnovers in his first pro game. And he got plenty of help from Chan (18 points), Norwood (11 points), and Buenafe (10 points).

Ginebra was led by Intal and Caguioa who both had 16 points while Helterbrand added 11.

Guaio also expressed satisfaction about Lee’s presence who helped break the zone defenses teams used to throw at them.

The Elasto Painters return to action on October 9 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo where they the Powerade Tigers and the Jayvee Casio who was the number one overall pick in the draft. Ginebra goes up against the Alaska Aces in the nightcap.

Rain or Shine 94 – Lee 21, Chan 18, Norwood 11, Buenafe 10, Cruz 8, Quiñahan 7, Matias 6, Belga 4, Rodriguez 4, Ibañes 4, Araña 1

Ginebra 93 – Intal 16, Caguioa 16, Helterbrand 11, Tubid 8 Cortez 8, Wilson J 6, Canaleta 6, Villanueva 6, Labagala 5, Mamaril 5, Wilson W 4, De Ocampo 2, Cervantes 0.

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I could say that Lee’s debut was worth the price of admission but I would have gone in to see Solenn Heussaff, Iya Villania, and Billy Ray Bates.

At the PBA Season 37 Opening

With the great Billy Ray Bates who was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame. Even if he played for the Crispa Redmanizers early on, I watched him play. When he did play for Ginebra (for one glorious conference and one dud where he was shipped home with Kevin Gamble who went on to have good seasons with the Boston Celtics), I was ecstatic! 

With Barako Bull muse Helga Krapf and with Petron Blaze muses Martha Chloe McCully, Helen Nicolette Henson and Samantha Purvor.

Bleachers' Brew #279 Ateneo Flying High

Kiefer, swoop down on the foe.

This appears in the Monday October 3, 2011 edition of the Business Mirror.

Flying high

by rick olivares photos by me and brosi g

After Ateneo put the finishing touches on an 82-69 masterpiece win over Far Eastern University (FEU) to claim its fourth-straight University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) title, I asked myself how big an accomplishment that was. How good is this team in this age of tycoons backing up college hoops programs, overly aggressive recruiting and African players?

Prior to Ateneo’s four-peat, only University of the East (UE), University of Santo Tomas (UST) and De La Salle have also accomplished that feat (although the Warriors won seven straight) in the UAAP. And over at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), San Sebastian took five straight in the mid-’90s with Rommel Adducul patrolling the paint.

The Warriors accomplished that at a time when the UAAP was young. They had the best coach in former Blue Eagle Baby Dalupan and one rugged center by the name of Robert Jaworski. But the UAAP was only a six-team league then.

The championships of the then UST Glowing Goldies ran parallel to San Sebastian and when the two met in a battle of champions to determine who was the better side, it was the Stags who prevailed.

De La Salle’s feat alone is maybe more incredible considering its team was in the finals almost year after year.

Teams rebuild through their homegrown system and recruiting from the outside. During its ’90s dominance, De La Salle refined it into an art form. They were the first team (even before our national squads began to practice such) to pursue Filipino-Americans who complemented very good local players.

In the new millennium, San Beda opened the floodgates for African players to ply their trade locally when Sam Ekwe led the Red Lions to three consecutive NCAA crowns. It has been a move that instantly turned some teams into contenders virtually overnight.

As for the Blue Eagles, for the longest time they stubbornly clung to their homegrown players sprinkled with a few recruits from here and there (there were a few famous walk-ins like Gerry Verzosa, Eric Reyes and Zion Laterre). It was only after the dry spell of the 1990s (the only decade since the inception of collegiate sports where they failed to win a title) where a program has finally been put in place. And soon they began to aggressively pursue the blue chip high-school players who were not only prized for their skill but also for their basketball IQ.

The question should be rephrased to “how good is this four-peat Ateneo team in this age of tycoon-sponsored schools, big-time recruiting, and African players?” And can this ever be done again?

From the 2008-11 seasons, Ateneo has a combined 61-8 record. It has beaten three different teams—La Salle, UE and FEU (twice). In the UAAP, La Salle and FEU are both powers and since 2000, have five titles between them—the same number as Ateneo.

The only other school that can match Ateneo with regards to dominance in their respective leagues is San Beda as it has had four titles in the past five years. But even so, Ateneo, sans African or American players, have beaten their ancient NCAA foe in other tournaments.

There are those who say that Ateneo should have not won Season 73 as FEU had a far better lineup. But since when did teams ever win it on paper? And no amount of superstar-laden lineups guarantee a win or even a title. Surely the Dallas Mavericks of the last National Basketball Association season come to mind.

Once you look past Ateneo’s top players this year (Greg Slaughter, Kiefer Ravena, Kirk Long and Nico Salva), the bench of Tonino Gonzaga, Raymond Austria, Juami Tiongson, Frank Golla and Justin Chua hardly look the part of world beaters. Starting point guard Emman Monfort was even demoted to Team B four years ago.

Individually they have a few outstanding players who could pour a ton of points anytime. Collectively, they are—bar none—the finest defensive team in college basketball in the last four years. Their 13 titles in a four-year span (including the UAAP, PCCL, Filoil, Fr. Martin Cup, Nike Summer League and University Games) is unheard of.

Some quarters say that Adamson would have given Ateneo a far greater challenge than FEU. And one win over Ateneo in the last 14 years qualifies them as a serious challenger? The same was said two years ago when UE ambushed Ateneo in Game Two of the UAAP Finals. But in Game Three, they were routed big time.

Whether Ateneo squeaked past Adamson in the first round, the fact remains that the Blue Eagles have had the Falcons’ number for quite some time. Last year, with an even better team, it was said that Adamson was ready to leap past Ateneo in the Final Four. Instead they were ran off the Maplewood floor of the Araneta Coliseum. This Season 74, their one shining moment in the second round of the eliminations was a blowout win over Ateneo. Other than that, they’ve lost to FEU and UST. They couldn’t even get past the Tamaraws.

Others have also said that FEU’s three-guard lineup of RR Garcia, Terrence Romeo and Mike Tolomia would give Ateneo fits. But what analysts have not paid attention to is the fact that Ateneo’s guards actually match up well with FEU’s.

At this point, it’s all comparison and speculation. But the fact of the matter is, Ateneo remains the champion. The Blue Eagles have taken all comers and are the last team standing.

The scary thing is they do not look to be done yet.


---------------------------


Norman Black 4-peat interview Part 2

Ateneo Blue Eagles: Four

This appears in ateneo.edu

Four*

by rick olivares with pics by brosi gonzales and diana moraleda

After Nico Salva hit a short jumper on a pick and pop play with Emman Monfort, the score was at 74-55 for Ateneo. The pre-dominantly blue and white Araneta Coliseum (I’d say about 80% of the venerable venue was pro-Ateneo) began to unfurl championship banners and signs even if there was 4:12 left to play.

A good friend of mine, Miko Samson turned to me and asked, “Naiiyak ka na?”

With about 30 seconds left in the game, I stopped taking down notes and inched my way towards the court. Everyone was going bonkers around me and aside from Debbie Tan who cries win or lose, I was probably the only one with tears in my eyes.

I am a child of the 1980s. Spoiled by championships in the high school and college teams of my era. But before that in my elementary years where I would watch the games with classmates or older cousins, there was nothing.

There is a misconception that the 1990s are Ateneo’s Dark Age. Not even. The years after the departure from the NCAA in 1977 leading up to 1984 were darker. We even had a year where we won nothing if I am not mistaken. During Ateneo’s first season in the UAAP, the leftover star players from the NCAA such as Steve Watson and Ogie Narvasa refused to suit up. The team had to look to IAC players to try out. Now if that isn’t a rough time then I don’t know what else is.

I could count on my two hands the number of people who watched Ateneo basketball back then (and I know who they are). Those were the days when you could walk to the ticket counter at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum to buy tickets to a game. Even Ateneo games.

Those were the days when even the cheerleaders never bothered to watch and there would be five of us cheering our lungs and hearts out win or lose.

And at the end of the day and by season’s end, we’d say, “There’s always next year.”

You see, La Salle. We know those words all too well and we wonder why you get riled up by such a fact of life.

As I entered the Church of the Gesu last Saturday night, Sonia Araneta, my longtime boss at ateneo.edu, confidant and surrogate mom, remarked to me, “There seem to be more people here tonight than last year.”

I looked around and replied: “The people are happy but it is so far different from 2002.”

2002. Game 3 of that year was the only one I was not able to watch live. It seems so impossible that I was unable to get a ticket. That was before I became a sportswriter with that all-precious media pass. But that’s life. There are days when you get it and there are days when you don’t. And that is what Ateneo basketball is all about.

And if there is no crying in baseball as Tom Hanks once famously quipped, there surely is in basketball.

Since I was not present at the Big Dome for the title-clinching win over La Salle in 2002, I for some reason, made my way to the Church of the Gesu immediately after the match. There were three people who got there ahead of me who were jumping up and down. I joined them – strangers bound by school colors and nothing more – in frenzied celebration. Then one by one people arrived. Car horns honked in tune to Ateneo cheers. When the bus that was carrying the Blue Babble Battalion hit Katipunan C-5, they began beating those drums. There were still just a few meters away from Gate 3 but we could hear the beats of “Go Ateneo” and everyone began to cheer. My hair still stands up to this day when that memory comes to mind.

When the players arrived (and now I am choked up as I write this), it was madness. Plain and simple.

Yet the joke even after that win was we’d have to wait another 14 years before we’d taste another championship. It seemed that way, didn’t it? More so after those painful loses of 2003 and 2006.

Since I am on the topic of tearjerkers, here are the other times when I cried unabashedly during games:

-     -  Final eliminations round game of 1991 when Ritchie Ticzon missed two free throws in the last few seconds of the game that would have given Ateneo a win over Bong Ravena’s UE Warriors that would have given us a chance to compete for the title. After that match, there was a rumble up in the bleachers section with UE students.

-     -  When Joe Lipa raised his fist to sing along to the alma mater song – the second time he would only do so after his first ever game for Ateneo – after the crushing Game 3 loss to La Salle in 2001. Coach Joe bravely held on as a young LA Tenorio bawled out.

-      - Post-Game 3 of 2006, when I was one of two people left on the Ateneo side of the Araneta Coliseum. I sat stunned and crestfallen while around me, UST fans scoured for Ateneo souvenirs.

-      - The Final Four loss to La Salle in 2007. Ford Arao’s last game. The big guy endured so much and he carried that team all season long. Ford will always remain one of my favorite Blue Eagles. He was in tears as he sang the alma mater. And I couldn’t hold back.

-       - And now Game 2 of the Season 74 Finals. The second time tears welled in my eyelids that were tears of joy.

Even after all this time, I still am amazed at what the team has accomplished. You live through the years and decades of heartbreak, you take nothing – and I mean absolutely nothing – for granted.

And that leads me to Game 2. This Game 2 against FEU.

The match was postponed because of the devastation of Typhoon Pedring. I spoke with several FEU officials last Tuesday and they all wanted to get it on. And here’s where all sort of myths were bandied about.

Myth #1 Ateneo clinches the crown only on a Thursday (the first three were all closed out during that day).

It was definitely a Blue Saturday for us. And a Black Saturday for our friends from Morayta.

Myth #2 No host school has ever won the Men’s Basketball title.

Sorry, Rolly Manlapaz. You are dead wrong. Ateneo is the first host school to win a basketball crown. And that was during my time in 1988.

Myth #3 When the second game of the UAAP Finals is postponed due to a typhoon, it’s 2006 (after Ateneo fell to UST post-Typhoon Milenyo) all over again.

Ahem. Game 2 against UE in 2009 was postponed also due to a typhoon. We got shellacked by the Red Warriors in that match but they were blitzed in return in Game 3.

Four days later after Game 2 against FEU was pushed back, a typhoon of the blue and white kind descended upon the Tamaraws. After that crushing finals loss for the second straight year (and the fourth finals victory over the Tamaraws in the last two years that includes a PCCL and Uni-Games Finals match up), they’ll be feeling the effects of this for a long time.

Playing a lot more physical, the Tamaraws played with a sense of desperation. And at first, the Blue Eagles’ starting five couldn’t get it going. When Norman Black sent in the second unit, they countered with perfect execution. They were the ones who got us that second quarter 10-point lead. When the starters returned they were still unable to get anything going and incredibly, FEU took a 36-35 lead at the half.

However, just as it was all season long, Ateneo adjusted and we do make the best halftime adjustments in the league.

When the third quarter started, it took us a minute and 37 seconds to get points on the board yet after 10 minutes of action where Ateneo unloaded 22 points to FEU’s nine -- the game was effectively over. The Blue Eagles had an answer for every Tamaraws bucket or rally.

The final score of 82-69 was a sharp contrast to last year’s three-point dagger by Ryan Buenafe – one of the more incredible shots in college hoops history (and I paid tribute to the Man by wearing his #13 for the game). This one was a mauling.

Now I felt emotional because of Myth #4.

Myth #4 Ateneo can never do it.

As the three-peat was achieved last season, I heard it from my La Sallian friends who pooh-poohed the achievement by saying that they had a four-peat of their own.

After Ateneo fell to Adamson in the final game of the elimination round, I had to hear it from my UST friends who said they were still the only team to sweep the eliminations.

In Fr. Jett Villarin’s Homily in Ateneo’s Thanksgiving Mass following the four-peat win, he preached about remaining humble in victory. The title was an occasion not to tell others “to look at us because we are champions and we are #1.”

And I looked around me and looked at the subdued celebration that was a far cry from 2002 that was highly emotional and something I will never forget as long as I live.

Fact #1

Lost in the celebration are some facts that I think should be made known. The Season 74 title is Ateneo’s fourth straight. It is our seventh in the UAAP and 21^st overall including the 14 crowns hauled from the grand old NCAA. That is two more than the schools with second most which is FEU and UST (they have one from the NCAA as well).

Fact #2

This is the 13^th championship won during the Norman Black era (including the PCCL, Filoil, Fr. Martin, Uni-Games, and Fr. Martin Cup trophies). And maybe we aren’t done yet.

For the longest time, I was resigned to the mantra of “there’s always next year.” I know that streaks – just as the one that was lost against Adamson – will eventually come to an end. But while that isn’t upon us just yet, I, we, should savor it.

It’s something we will talk about for years. But maybe we can begin that during the bonfire.

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* This one is for Kirk Long, Emman Monfort, and Raymond Austria. Thanks!!!!

Thanks a lot to Coach Norman Black and his most excellent coaching staff. It seems so long ago when I first approached the coach for an autograph at the old A&W restaurant in Robinson's Galleria. He signed it then and I still have it after all these years. To be his friend as well is even better. Click on that link to see the autographed paper.

And to Manny V. Pangilinan. Thanks bunches, sir. One Big Fight!

Post-Game 2 interview with Norman Black Part 1

Videos from the Ateneo Blue Eagles' 4-peat

Ateneo Blue Eagles pre-Game 2 Season 74 huddle/ritual

Ateneo Blue Eagles' 4-peat dugout celebration Part 1

Ateneo Blue Eagles' 4-peat dugout celebration Part 2

Ateneo four-peat shirts

 The shirt above and below are from Get Blued and here are the prices. 

The non-metallic ones (the "4" is at the back) are for 350 (xs-xl), 370 (2xl-4xl). The metallic ones (the "4" is in front) are for 375 (xs-xl), 395 (2xl-4xl). You may get them at the Loyola Bookstore at the MVP Center in AdMU.

The shirt above is from Blue Crew and fetches for PhP 350. You can find this also at the LS Bookstore. Available in all sizes. Contact Blue Crew at 09399171580 or email at bluecrewlife@gmail.com

2011 Long Teng Cup: Azkals vs Hong Kong Draw snatched from the jaws of victory (and vice versa)

Draw snatched from the jaws of victory (and vice versa)

by rick olivares

After the Philippine Men’s Football National Team was booted from the Asian Qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup, I was reading the comments on an online forum where an anonymous poster ragged a fan who said that after a few more years of seasoning, the Azkals could qualify for the sport’s biggest spectacle.

“Win first in your area,” the pundit chided.

The Long Teng Cup may not be high on most footballing nations’ participation list but it’s a tournament we’ve joined and it’s a tournament we can try to win.

I am not wholly disappointed in the 3-3 fulltime result in the Philippines’ opener with defending champion Hong Kong.

Here’s why…

1.    This team is not the team that played in last year’s Long Teng Cup, Suzuki Cup, or even this year’s World Cup Qualifiers. The roster for the 2011 Long Teng Cup is a mixture of old and new and that means this team is getting its feet wet in international competition.

Consider the starting eleven: Roland Muller (GK); Oliver Poetschke, Roel Gener, Aly Borromeo, and Matthew Hartmann (back four); James Younghusband, Carli Martinez de Murga, Jason de Jong, and Chieffy Caligdong (midfield), and Angel Guirado and Phil Younghusband (forward). There are three new players on the team in Muller, Poetschke, and Martinez de Murga. Any time you have that many new players in the mix you can be sure that their play could be far from smooth.

It is clear from the Azkals’ recent matches that the international experience has really helped. We are no longer easy or willing victims. The nationals go out and compete and have posted some incredible wins along the way. The newbies will benefit from their first international caps.

2.    The team came back from a 2-nil deficit to equalize and later put themselves in a prime position to beat Hong Kong; a country ranked 10 notches higher by FIFA than us (#155 to #165).

A match like this bodes well for their confidence since they know they can come back from a deficit.

Now the team has to figure out a way of staying away from falling into these holes. Overhauling a deficit can be taxing and is kind of difficult to achieve.

3.    Caligdong is Super Chief!

There were some quarters in the team who thought that Chieffy Caligdong was done after last year’s Suzuki Cup. But the fact of the matter was the Air Force winger was battling injuries.

Spurred by a footballing renaissance in the country and the challenges of newcomers trying to displace him, Caligdong has elevated his game and has scored many important and memorable goals. Even his foes in the UFL have noted how his game has grown and how he has become a better player.

He’s dangerous in and around the box and those two exquisite finishes against Hong Kong are world-class. Standing a mere 5’5”, the Chief is testament to the country’s stout fighting heart.

Now I’d be damning the team with superfluous praise if I said that there were things I do not like.

Here’s why…

1.    Up to now we still do not own that ball.

The 4-4-1-1 formation was correct as it sought to mask the rawness of some players with its flexibility to switch from offense to defense. That formation as well as better team discipline saw far fewer instances of long ball play as the team opted for the more precise short passing game.

However, that did not materialize in the first half as Hong Kong dominated possession. Come the second half, the spacing was better and the attacks improved. When we lost possession, we fought back to regain them.

As it was, all three Philippine goals were on solo sorties.

2.    We still do not defend set pieces very well.

In the 87^th minute, a set piece from just outside the box managed to stay clear of the five-man wall to go straight to the Philippine goal. Goal keeper Roland Muller parried away the shot. Unlike an earlier Hong Kong volley that he successfully blocked and corralled the loose ball before a red shirt poacher could get to it, this time he could not.

Hong Kong’s best player, attacking midfielder Au Yeung Yiu Chung got to the loose ball and scored the equalizer to rob the Philippines of the available three points.

To begin with, there was something wrong with the defensive alignment for the set piece.

In a previous HK free kick, they lined up a red shirt on the extreme right side of the wall. The intention of such placing is to that man in a position to make a quick turn once the shot is taken in order to go after a possible rebound or even a chip.

HK coach Liu Chun Fai gave us a variation of that play the team was unable to read. There were some red shirts lurking outside the box but they placed two men inside the penalty area. Although marked by two Azkals defenders, the HK players made sure there was a gap where their teammate taking the free kick can send the ball inside.

It was a well-taken shot and a well-executed play.

Muller blocked it but there were two Hong Kong players in a fantastic position to claim the rebound for a potential score.

Perhaps the more painful truth is that for the second consecutive game (the previous one being against Kuwait), we conceded a goal to a team that was playing with only 10 men.

It was Mongolia in the AFC Challenge Cup all over again (the Blue Wolves home game where they scored on a rebound off a free kick).

During that match, Blue Wolves midfielder Garidmagnai Bayasgalan followed up his botched spot kick (that Azkals’ keeper Eduard Sacapaño saved but was unable to control) by racing inside before the Philippine defenders could for a goal.

3.    We once more gave up unnecessary yellow cards.

Jason de Jong what were you thinking of? Two yellow cards and sent off for dissent. That temper of yours will cause you to miss not only the next game maybe even the next one.

We didn’t get a win but neither did Hong Kong (who dealt us a 4-2 loss last year). We got a point that is just as important. Am I worried that we are a man down for the match against the home team (Chinese Taipei)? Nope. We have players who will pick up the slack. But if we want to bring home the Cup, then it is imperative that we get a win and score a bunch of goals.