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Sep 19

1 > 2

by Tony L. Atayde
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How sweet it is! Finally, La Salle beat Ateneo when it mattered most. This is a mathematical anomaly where 2 is better than 1.

Ateneo had beaten La Salle twice in the regular season but because they lost to the underdog NU Bulldogs, they had to play La Salle to determine who gets the twice to beat 2nd place. That loss to the Bulldogs will haunt the Blue Eagles for a long time.

Both team shot poorly in the first half. Only Kirk Long consistently made his shots but it was not enough to pull away. La Salle shot even worse. Casio, Tang, Maeierhofer, Malabes and Villanueva couldn’t string baskets together. But because of the stifling defense, Ateneo could not take advantage of this. Ateneo’s biggest lead was 7.

An unlikely player emerges from the La Salle bench in PJ Barua. This mild mannered role player got his day in the limelight because of the suspension to Brian Ilad. Barua scores 6 points, rebounds, hustles and keeps the Green Archers in the game.

The half ends 32 – 28 for Ateneo.

Though La Salle shot only 12 out of 46 from the field, the Green Archers outrebounded Ateneo and caused Ateneo to have 13 turnovers.

But the shocker to the La Salle crowd was when Rico Maeirhofer went up for a shot and sprained his ankle when he came down. He was grimacing in pain as the whole La Salle side was in silence. But Rico is one tough cookie and thou he was limping, he started the 3rd quarter

In the 3rd quarter, La Salle’s big guns start scoring. Tang, Casio and Maierhofer showed their will to win by hitting shots when it counted most. Not to be outdone, La Salle’s big men, most especially Ferdinand, were unstoppable in rebounds on both ends of the court.

Defensively, the Green Archers were making life miserable for the Blue Eagles. They double teamed Arao, did not allow Chirs Tiu to play his game and dictated the pace of the game. Casio hits the 3s, Barua continued what he started in the first half and hobbling Rico Maierhofer was just unstoppable of the boards.

But the Blue Eagles would not crumble. They just kept coming back to either grab the lead. Unfortunately it came from unlikely players, Al Husseini and Laterre. When Chris Tiu hit 2 threes pointers and Salamat hits a 2, La Salle finds itself down by 5. Coach Pumaren calls a timeout and makes a 4 man substitution.

With time down to less than 2 minutes La Salle goes on an 8-0 run which was capped by back to back 3 pointers by JV Casio.

The 4th started with Ateneo scoring 4 straight points but La Salle wouldn’t buckle. They increase the defensive pressure and force Ateneo to turnovers. La Salle plays careless on offense and just can’t take advantage.

La Salle takes a 5 point lead but Ateneo just keeps coming back and even takes back the lead. The Tang takes over by scoring and dishing out the assists

The game is tied at 65 with 3 minutes left. Then Rico finds Walsham alone under the basket and La Salle takes the lead. After an Ateneo turnover, Casio drives and scores. La Salle is up by 4 with 2 minutes left.

But the ghost of past games was on everyone’s mind. Ateneo scores on 2 foul shots which cuts La Salle’s lead by 2 with 1:40 left. Neither team can make a basket.

Both teams shoot blanks and have sloppy play. With 10 seconds left, Pocholo Villanueva is fouled and after he splits his free throws, La Salle has a 3 point lead.

Ateneo makes one final try. They look for the 3 but La Salle’s defense is just so tight that all they get is a 2 pointer.

La Salle won it because of defense. They were able to hold Ateneo to their lowest 3 point output of the season. The defense was so good that both Ateneo aces, Tiu and Arao were almost anon factor in the game.

Ironically the score ended at 70 – 69. This is Season 70 and last year’s forgettable season for La Salle was Season 69. Ateneo beats La Salle twice and La Salle wins one in their head to head battle. But La Salle gets 2nd place and the twice to beat advantage.

I have to say this again. THANK YOU NATIONAL UNIVERSITY!!!

I cannot end this article without congratulating Ateneo Board Member Ricky Palou. Before the start of the game, he personally went to the Upper Box level of the Ateneo side and demanded that certain insulting signs be brought down. Credit needs to be given to Mr. Palou for his outstanding act of sportsmanship.

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Posted in The Green Mind

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  • yehey  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 27 September 2007 at 5:25 pm

    its now 3=1, Mr. Atayde. Please prepare a 4>1 article after Sunday.

  • The Green Mind  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 24 September 2007 at 6:31 pm

    I have been watching La Salle Ateneo games for 50 years and the stats go out the window when these 2 teams play.

    These 2 teans are very evenly matched. The difference will be in the substitution patterns that each coach will implement.

  • username  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 24 September 2007 at 5:05 pm

    AdMU-DLSU STATS
    (from ArcherPride)

    FG%
    DLSU — 39.1% (4th)
    ADMU — 47.5% (1st)

    FT%
    DLSU — 63.7% (3rd)
    ADMU — 67.7% (1st)

    Steals (ave)
    DLSU — 6.0 (2nd)
    ADMU — 4.2 (6th)

    Fastbreak Pts (ave)
    DLSU — 15.1 (1st)
    ADMU — 9.5 (8th)

    Turnovers (ave)
    DLSU — 15.4 (1st)
    ADMU — 18.5 (5th)

  • ponching  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 24 September 2007 at 4:57 pm

    speedy i think im going for tip #5…im no longer a student…thanks a lot…go blue…

  • Speed  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 24 September 2007 at 10:58 am

    Ponching,

    Here are my tips for you to get a ticket:
    1. Always the first option is Ticketnet.
    2. Next would be the universities itself. (No longer a student? Check for some connections inside.)
    3. If the first two options don’t work for you, and you have some money to spare, there are always the scalpers.
    4. You may also want to try searching online. PEX and ebay.ph are some recommendations. But just like dealing with scalpers, expect the tickets to be overpriced though.
    5. Be early at the Araneta on the game day itself. They always issue out SRO (Standing Room Only) tickets on the day itself. And since it’s a weekday, tickets don’t always get sold out, at least for Upper B and Gen Ad.

  • Speed  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 24 September 2007 at 10:54 am

    The Green Mind,

    Excellent ratio analysis. Now I see UE’s and DLSU’s efficiency in a brighter light. Thanks!

  • ponching  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 24 September 2007 at 10:01 am

    that’s so very accurate green mind…thanks,now i see a clearer picture…
    anyway…the game on thursday- how can i get a good ticket?

  • The Green Mind  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Sunday, 23 September 2007 at 11:59 am

    Speed,

    Thanks for the accurate figures regarding the championships.

    Considering that UST, FEU, UP and NU were original members (since 1938), it is not surprising the UST and FEU have as many championships as they have. UE joined the league in 1952 while Ateneo in 1978 and La Salle in 1986. Adamson joined in 1952, quit in 1953 and was re-admitted in 1970.

    To put things in equal perspective, you have to see how long each team has been in the league.

    FEU has had 19 titles in 69 years or about 27%. UST’s 18 in 69 years is about 26%. UP’s 2 titles in 69 years is about 3% and NU’s 1 title in 69 years is about 1%. UE’s 18 titles in 54 years is about 33%. Adamson’s 1 title in 27 years is 3%. Ateneo has had 3 titles in 28 years or 10%. La Salle has had 6 in 20 years or about 30%.

  • swingman  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Sunday, 23 September 2007 at 12:08 am

    Thank you NU!

    And no, I’m not bashing, being sarcastic, trying to annoy anyone or any some such.

    Whether anybody here likes it or not, NU gave La Salle a 3rd chance to both beat Ateneo and secure a twice to beat advantage. Sure, they did not do it for us La Sallians, but are we not allowed to feel thankful to NU for, inadvertently or otherwise, giving us another chance?

    2nd chances in life are few and far between. 3rd chances are even harder to come by. NU might not have set out to beat Ateneo to beat give us another crack at number 2, but that’s what happened. So thank you for that.

    As NU was leaving the court after beating Ateneo, they were chanting “inuman na!” and if I ever come across them at a bar/resto, I am personally sending over a couple rounds of beer to their table, and maybe a couple extra plates of sisig if Jahnke and Fernandez are in the group.

    Why? Because La Salle’s basketball campaign had 1 foot in the grave, and now they have one foot in the promised land. What’s not to be thankful for?

    And if anyone still feels like nitpicking: CONGRATULATIONS N.U.! Thank you for beating Ateneo; you kept our chances alive =)

  • ponching  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Saturday, 22 September 2007 at 4:25 pm

    Thanks speed for the info…

  • Speed  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Saturday, 22 September 2007 at 10:39 am

    Ponching,

    I can only answer re: UAAP championships. I’m not familiar to those times when they were still in the NCAA.

    DLSU has 6 basketball titles (supposed to have 7, but the last one was handed over to FEU due to the ineligibility scandal), while Ateneo has 3.

    Just in case you would also like to know about the other teams, FEU is the leader with 19 titles. UST and UE both have 18. UP has 2 while Adamson and NU both have 1.

  • Speed  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Saturday, 22 September 2007 at 10:30 am

    NU did not win the game against Ateneo for La Salle. But La Salle did benefit from it, and so we thank them.

    It’s not that NU’s asking for gratitude. We just feel like we want to thank them because without them, the Archers won’t have a second chance for the second spot.

  • ponching  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Saturday, 22 September 2007 at 10:04 am

    can pls someone enlighten me…i need to know how many championships ateneo and la salle got?

  • Aminin  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Saturday, 22 September 2007 at 2:27 am

    ”
    username
    Friday, 21st September 2007 at 3:03 pm

    Anyway, I think a number of posts here have made it crystal clear that the AdMU-DLSU rivalry does not merit labels such as “patheticâ€? or “walang kwentaâ€?. If soem may feel that AdMU and DLSU are not important to the UAAP, fine. You are free to think that way. It may not be the brightest idea though to involve yourself in it; it being something you dont understand much anyway.”

    Exactly. On matters that “outsiders” could never comprehend, the Ateneo and La Salle can find a common ground.

    This article is simply between Ateneo and La Salle.

    Mr. Tony Atyade, do not be so sure that La Salle is the most hated school in the UAAP. You’ve got us to contend with. hyukhyukhyuk.

  • Ramirez  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Saturday, 22 September 2007 at 2:09 am

    Please, keep San Beda out of this discussion.

  • ALSALLE  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Friday, 21 September 2007 at 11:32 pm

    *very far behind from San Beda’s 28, Ateneo’s 23

  • ALSALLE  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Friday, 21 September 2007 at 11:23 pm

    The Green Mind,

    Oh yeah? Ok.. What your team has accomplished so far, talking about NCAA and UAAP Basketball?

    In NCAA, DLSU has a total of 10 championships and only 5 of those were from their Seniors team. Very far behind from San Ateneo’s 23. To add, they have numerous instances wherein they engaged themselves in a brawl inside the court. 1980’s 2nd Round elims game against Letran was turned out to be so violent that even led to the abortion of that 1980 season.

    In UAAP, DLSU has only a total of 11 basketball chmpionships (6 Seniors). Still far behind from Ateneo’s 19 and UST’s 42.
    As everyone knows, DLSU has also been part of many anomallies. The recent is their suspension due to fielding ineligible players.

    What a history of your team!
    And the team’s attitude towards the game is also consistent for years.. VERY ARROGANT!
    even their supporters! Ang YAYABANG nyo wala pa naman kayo masyadong napapatunayan!

  • The Green Mind  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Friday, 21 September 2007 at 9:48 pm

    i love la salle,

    In the US, there was a time that the most hated professional teams were the New York Yankees and the Boston Celtics. The main reason for that was their consistency in winning championships.

    Your comments just reinforces my belief that when people like you show how much they hate La Salle, then its because of the success it has had. If La Salle did not excel, then we would not even be given a second look.

    Thank you.

  • i love la salle  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Friday, 21 September 2007 at 8:23 pm

    i hail you for being a great alumnus of a “great” university..you sure know how to define the word pride..
    the hell,all i want to say is your school is a dirt map..full of stupid airheads and most of all,players who don’t have any kind of morals in ‘em..it’s a shame coz they are a bunch of talent but they always let their knuckles do the work instead of their “gifts”..maybe the school officials need to teach the athletes particularly the basketball squad a bit of GMRC..yep,start from the basics..i know they failed that damn subject back in elementary..tsk..
    and to Brian Ilad,kudos..you really are a PCCr crapboy..he has now joined the ranks of green assholes like Joseph Yeo and Mac Cardona..
    Bless the La Salle community..May all of you continue to produce good for nothing trash in the future!!

  • username  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Friday, 21 September 2007 at 3:03 pm

    “And on the topic of ADMU-DLSU rivalry “alienatingâ€? other universities, I would beg to disagree. UP-UST have been jeering at each other as well whenever cheerdance competition is on. There are forums/blogs for their own rivalry as well.”

    Exactly! That’s why I think it is a bit unfair that the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry is the only one being criticized/scrutinized (whatever you call it). UP and UST have done their own rivalry-related-banter. Our school is part of the cheering competition as well yet I dont feel or claim that the rivalry between UP and UST because of their excellence in that field has ever alienated our school or any other school for that matter. Personally, I think it has even inspired others to step up to their level.

    Anyway, I think a number of posts here have made it crystal clear that the AdMU-DLSU rivalry does not merit labels such as “pathetic” or “walang kwenta”. If soem may feel that AdMU and DLSU are not important to the UAAP, fine. You are free to think that way. It may not be the brightest idea though to involve yourself in it; it being something you dont understand much anyway.

    Im sorry if I was quite affected by those posts, in case there would be some who would say that I was overacting or whatever. I just felt like a long-standing tradition of not only Ateneo, but also of La Salle was unreasonably attacked. My defense of it is a way of showing my school spirit, not just my regular presence in the stands.

    I guess Ateneo and La Salle would have found a common ground here after all. Blessing in disguise =) Animo Ateneo, Animo La Salle!

  • polizei  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Friday, 21 September 2007 at 1:33 pm

    “Heck, NU isn’t even congratulated for its win but thanked for its a role in DLSU’s win. I’m not from NU but I doubt that they won that game for the archers. I also doubt they see themselves as mere pawns in the whole blue-green rivalry.”

    I agree. Although ADMU’s loss to NU sure muddled things up especially for us in Ateneo, I highly doubt that that was their main drive in winning that game. I believe NU’s main concern then was to end their season with a win, so to speak, even if it wouldn’t mean a spot in the final four (or five).

    I feel sad though for DLSU fans whenever I see them thanking NU for their win. Sure, ADMU’s loss brightened things up for you. But please, don’t thank NU for that win because they did not do it for DLSU. They did it for their own. Most seem to claim the win as if it was theirs.

    And on the topic of ADMU-DLSU rivalry “alienating” other universities, I would beg to disagree. UP-UST have been jeering at each other as well whenever cheerdance competition is on. There are forums/blogs for their own rivalry as well.

    My two cents.

  • Aminin  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Friday, 21 September 2007 at 1:32 am

    The article is all about the Ateneo and La Salle. Again it is not our fault that Mr. Atayde focused on the two squads.

    There are articles regarding UE, UST, NU and other schools. If some people felt alienated by the intense competition between the Ateneo and La Salle, that’s not our problem anymore. The UAAP is indeed composed of other schools. But it is also true that the Blue-Green rivalry tranformed the UAAP to what it is today. You only have to look at history.

    If others find the rivalry pathetic, we really do not care. To each his own.

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Tony L.
Tony L. Atayde

Very Opinionated. Very Green. Hate him. Love Him. It does not matter and he does not care. A Howard Stern in cyberspace. He bleeds Green, He is purely from La Salle – as a former writer and Assistant Vice President for Events of the DLSU Alumni Association. Played basketball and was on the track and field team for La Salle during the NCAA just don't ask what year.