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Sep 30

I Am Not Going Anywhere….YET!

by Tony L. Atayde
5,757 Views | 368 Comments

Ateneo played a gritty game and wanted to take no chances. After a slow start and allowing La Salle to take an early 7 point lead, the Blue Eagles just would not give up and even overtook La Salle in the first quarter. La Salle however came back and ended the quarter ahead by 1 point.

With Norman Black looking for combinations to match up against La Salle’s sticky defense Ateneo could just not find a way to break it. But Ateneo kept La Salle scoreless in the first 3 minutes of the 2nd quarter and took the lead which they managed to keep……wait….what am I doing here?

Forget this politically correct write-up I was going to make. In front of a crowd of more than 23,000 people, La Salle won the game 65-60 and is now in the finals. HOW SWEET IT IS! First it was 2 is better than 1. Now it’s 2 is better than 3.

Coach Franz Pumaren promised a victory and the whole Lasallian community got what we wanted. Pumaren outcoached a befuddled Norman Black, who just could not find a combination to break the patent Franz Pumaren defense. Black was given a lesson on the difference between college and PBA coaching.

There were 2 things La Salle did today that made a difference. The first and foremost was excellent game clock management and second the players executed what the coach instructed.

When the 2 minute mark was called by the barker and La Salle up by 7, the tension on the La Salle side was so thick, you could cut it with a knife.

It was the best end game that the Green Archers had played all year. They did not hurry the shot and took the ball to the basket. With less than a minute to go and La Salle up by 5, Ateneo’s Baclao hits a 3 that cut the lead to 2.

The turning point of the game was when La Salle was up by 2, takes a shot and Pocholo Villanueva grabbing the offensive rebound. He brought the ball back to midcourt before running down the clock and then making the 2 pointer from the side. Ateneo couldn’t get a basket on their offense and La Salle would get the defensive rebound.

This is where Black really messed up. Ateneo was not in penalty. When a team is down by 5 with 2 minutes to go, the team behind should be in penalty because it is the only way you can get the ball back. La Salle is known for its foul shooting woes but Black could not take advantage of it. When Ateneo finally committed 3 successive fouls to get into penalty, they fouled OJ Cua, who missed both his shots. But it was too late. Ateneo could not make a shot. They fouled JV Casio and he hit his 2 foul shots.

After his awful last game, Pocholo Villanueva finally showed the leadership and experience that was expected of him. He was the player who managed that game clock in the end game. TY Tang took Villanueva’s cue and masterfully directed the offense.

Also having a great game was PJ Walsham. He did not take bad shots but instead concentrated on rebounds and defending the inside, which is what that bulk and size he has is best put to use. He kept Ford Arao stifled and ineffective.

Bader Malabes, though offensively still a feast or famine player, made up for it on the defensive end by taking Chris Tiu totally out of sync. Tiu just could not break free as Malabes stuck to him like bread on butter.

Two players who also gave quality minutes were OJ Cua and Ferdinand. Cua hit some clutch shots in the early going and stood his ground on defense. Ferdinand, who is becoming my favorite player, is a boy in a man’s body but today he showed that he will be a vital cog in La Salle’s future.

Not to be forgotten are TY Tang, JV Casio and Rico Maeirhofer. Tang, who took the entire 2 rounds of the regular season to finally break out had fire in his eyes today. From the opening toss you could see he wanted this game more than anyone else.

The mild mannered Casio, who has been nursing a injury for the last 3 games, may not have hit most his step back 3s but it was the intangibles that made him so effective. His gutsy drives to the basket and his pesky defense will make Salamat and Escueta have nightmares for days to come.

Rico Maierhofer, who was playing with a severely sprained ankle, fought for the rebounds and made the inside plays when it counted. His presence alone under the basket is enough to intimidate the offense.

Lastly, what can one say about Coach Franz Pumaren? Every time they count him out, he pulls a rabbit out the hat. Everytime he has lemons, he makes great tasting lemonade. This team was counted out. Some were calling for his head. But he just keeps finding a way to make La Salle a consistent powerhouse in the UAAP.

This will be a season that Ateneo can call the “WHAT IF SEASON�. What if they beat FEU in the first round? What if they beat NU in their last game? What if they won one of those close games against UE? What if it would not have been a step ladder but a Final Four? What if they won today? The fact of the matter is that they now have a year to think about their season while La Salle is in the finals.

To many of us proud Lasallians, this is one year that winning the finals will be icing on the cake.

ANIMO LA SALLE!

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Posted in The Green Mind

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  • goblue  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Friday, 5 October 2007 at 3:26 am

    Ooopsie! Dinoble mo lang pala yung sinulat ng kasamahan mong si foramen of luschka. So kayo ang La Salle! astig!

  • goblue  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Friday, 5 October 2007 at 3:20 am

    berde2be, quote lang kita. “I’M PROUD TO BE LA SALLE!” Ikaw pala ang La Salle?Great!:)

  • berde2be  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Friday, 5 October 2007 at 1:44 am

    nga pala kanina.. i was in gateway foodcourt with friends a group of guys from UE was complaining about the result of the game sabi nila LUTO DAW? hahaha! hindi ko nalang pinakita na natatawa ako as if naman! ang mga talo talaga puro complain!

    and to foramen of luschka: dude/dudets move ON… kawawa naman mga taga ateneo nag p-prepare na yung mga yun for the next season palampasin mo na! pero sa bagay me point ka about their ACET exams ewan ko ba masyado silang proud eh LET THERE BE NALANG. agree ako sayo: “The De La Salle University System DO NOT BASE OR MEASURE ONE’S TALENT/CAPABILITY on how one student perform on an entrance EXAM! rather they TRAIN their STUDENTS and teach them TO BE EXCELLENT! that’s the reason why I’M PROUD TO BE LA SALLE! and as a matter of fact THES rankings 392 DLSU and 488 (you know who) haha! ciao!” ANG MASASABI KO LANG KOREK KA JAN!

    bye po!

    sa mga taga UE pala: NO COMMENT haha!

  • foramen of luschka  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Friday, 5 October 2007 at 12:27 am

    to all atenista? if meron pa jan… hehehe guys don’t be too proud if you passed the ACET exams! because first of all students who passed your so called ACET — came from different other well known schools! they’re not pure breed ATENISTA! they owe their knowledge to our Creator, to their alma mater and as well all KNOW: what you earned in life is WHAT YOU GET = HARDWORKS! not from the Ateneo De Manila University! (DON’T CLAIM SO MUCH!) especially if those AREN’T YOURS TO CLAIM!

    The De La Salle University System DO NOT BASE OR MEASURE ONE’S TALENT/CAPABILITY on how one student perform on an entrance EXAM! rather they TRAIN their STUDENTS and teach them TO BE EXCELLENT! that’s the reason why I’M PROUD TO BE LA SALLE! and as a matter of fact THES rankings 392 DLSU and 488 (you know who) haha! ciao!

  • jojo  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 10:27 pm

    PRC, I’m a graduate of UE, and some of my best buddies at my workplace are Atenistas. They’re not aloof like what you said, when in fact, they’re really friendly and joke around frequently.

  • Impending Victors  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 10:11 pm

    This is the part where all you lasalle bashers eat your words. Tama na bashing. Let’s just watch the games coz they speak for themselves. WE WILL BE CHAMPIONS. It’s inevitable. :). Haha. Sana.

    PS: All this banter is just what comes out of our passion for our own schools. Walang personalan. Tama na reklamo about refs and all that crap. Nasa utak nio lang yang luto luto na yan. What if the last second 3-pointer was made? Edi panalo UE. Wala sa ref yun, nasa players yun. May the best team win. See you guys on Sunday. Red and green alike. :)

  • juan  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 9:46 pm

    duh, on the other hand, Warriors never look down on the green archers & the blue eagles. In fact, they acknowledge that the green archers & the blue eagles are two of the best teams in the league.

  • ELITE  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 8:36 pm

    To my fellow Ateneans and La Sallian colleagues, let us stop this shameless and childish bantering. I’m sure, my fellow Ateneans, that you have many La Sallian relatives and countless La Sallian friends. I’m sure my La Sallian colleagues, that you have many Atenean relatives and countless Atenean friends. We are elite. We have class. We are basketball!

  • duh!  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 8:02 pm

    haha. sige punta ako sa UE! haha..

  • duh!  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 8:01 pm

    hello. we never belittled UE’s student intellectual capacity.
    kayo minamaliit niyo kakayahan ng aming mga manlalaro! haha. pero kami pa din ang panalo!

  • theREDisALIVE  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 8:00 pm

    Hay nako…Tinalo niyo pa nanay ko sa pagalingan sa dakdakan ha! Sige na nga! Yung mga matatapang dyan! Pumunta nga kayo sa school na kinaiinisan niyo tapos sabihin niyo lahat ng pinagsasabi niyo dito! Sige nga…sige nga….

    PS.
    Aba! Yang sinong hihirit na yan! Linya ko yan ha! Joke lang! ^_^

  • theREDisALIVE  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 7:48 pm

    Oo inaamin ko. Tinatanggap ko kahit masakit sa kalooban. Talo. Ngayon alam na natin kung sinong unang hahalik sa lupa pero tandaan niyo LINTIK LANG WALANG GANTI! Hindi pa tayo tapos! MAGTUTUOS PA TAYO!

    PS.
    Manalo man o matalo……

    Cute pa rin kame ^_^

  • pedro  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 7:46 pm

    Ang UE school kasi is for mass education, ang tuition namin hinuhulugan lamang na mga magulang naming magsasaka. we can’t afford to study in a great school like DLSU or Ateneo. But nevertheless, the school excel in different fields like Dentistry and Accountancy. i think that’s an honor for a humble school like UE.

  • que que  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 7:18 pm

    bakit ba malakas kayo mang insulto at mang asar? porke ba mga mayayaman kayo at mahihirap lang kami?

  • que que  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 7:17 pm

    bakit ba malakas kayo mang insulto at mang asar? porke ba mga mayayaman kayo at nangaapi kayo ng mahihirap?

  • duh!  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 6:36 pm

    64-63 the thing is panalo pa din kami! go fight green and white!

  • Polly Wolly Wanna  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 6:20 pm

    Headlines tommorow…

    Dindo choked with his balls. Franz fought with his balls.

  • Polly Wolly Wanna  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 6:17 pm

    JN labo mo tsong

  • Green Archer  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 6:09 pm

    For La Salle:

    WWIC - Win When It Counts!

    P.S.
    For the violent comment, that wasn’t me. Somebody used my name.

  • JN PANGILINAN  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 5:57 pm

    DSU Archers BEAT the UEagles 63-63!
    Good coaching, Kuya Franz!! hehe

  • JN Pangilinan  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 5:55 pm

    Archers beat the UEagles!!! ANIMO LASALLE!

  • Green Archer  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 5:46 pm

    I didn’t say that. Somebody used my name.

  • berde  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 5:42 pm

    sino hihirit? sino hihirit? hahaha… Go La SAlle!

  • berde  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 5:41 pm

    BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

  • Green Archer  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 5:40 pm

    We took Game 1! Animo La Salle!

  • Polly Wolly Wanna  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 5:37 pm

    Congrats archers! you took game 1. you slayed a mighty team today!

    gallant stand warriors!

  • fINAL  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 5:24 pm

    corny na manood ng UAAP. basta crunch time, ang refs naninigurado mag call ng foul sa kalaban ng lasalle. si roco m. pushing sa rebound parang wala lang. siguro, sabi ni coach franz, just attack ng attack…….kasi di naman itatawag ang fouls e. kawawa naman UE. corny na. ok lang talaga kung fair game e. enjoy kahit sino pa manalo. but now, it sucks to watch.

  • berde  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 4:47 pm

    ano yung WTF? warriors talo forever? hahaha! what the f$%@#@!k!!???

  • berde  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 4:44 pm

    gusto moko makita? ill give you a chance… name the place and the time… ill be there… bitch!

  • greenmanure  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 4:27 pm

    hoy mga baklang kargador sa pier at palengke posers! pretending like from askalasalle maybe youre just a president of a funsclub holding banners for a certain player of la askalasalle. if i do have chance to see both of you i will bury you alive to meet your de la hell university. why should we envy a school w/o reputation and credibility? WTF?! go to hell berde and green archer! go go go go. nyahaha. pathetic

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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.