I Am Not Going Anywhere….YET!
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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!
Tags: Ateneo, blue-eagles, Franz-Pumaren, Green-Archers, La-Salle, The-Green-Mind, UAAP, uaap-70, UAAP-Season-70Related posts
(4 votes, average: 4.25 out of 5)
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Green Archer
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 11:37 am
We give respect to UE. We don’t fight for such small arguements. We don’t even take it personal. It’s basketball. Now, it’s funny that you are too personal, bravehearted. Too much hate. So bitter over us Lasallians.
Green Archer
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 11:32 am
We shouldn’t fight over this guys. This is basketball. We Lasallians are not shallow. We are just enjoying the UAAP games. You people take it too personal already. We are not doing that. We have class.
Green Archer
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 11:29 am
It is because alot of people have the “crab mentality�. Always dragging somebody down. My friend, envy is a sin.
Green Archer
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 11:28 am
It is because alot of people have the “crab mentality”. Always dragging the somebody down. My friend, envy is a sin.
Bravehearted
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 11:18 am
just wonderin…
di lang naman dlrt ang nananalo sa basketball,
di lang naman dlrt ang prestijiosong eskwelahan,
di lang naman din dlrt ang me matatalinong produkto,
bakit kya di nila makuha ang respeto ng karamihan? (funny)
Bravehearted
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 11:06 am
Yan ang values at dignity (kuno)!
Go DLRT!
lahat gagawin,
kahit manakit, PROUD pa rin!
Basta manalo ang lang ang hangarin,
kahit sira na reputation(forever),
nagmamalaki pa rin!
(really funny)
ahahahaha!
Green Archer
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 11:01 am
We will do the talking on the court. Game 1 is ours. Rektikano! Animo La Salle!
Maybe you guys would like to do Rektikano too?
Green Archer
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 10:56 am
In respect with San Beda and Ateneo. We Lasallians are aware of this. But come to think of it. What team goes to your mind first when you hear Animo?
La Salle.
You may attach that in your school but nobody can say that you don’t think of La Salle first when you hear Animo. Infact, hearing that with other schools does not sound right.
Green Archer
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 10:55 am
In respect with San Beda and Ateneo. We Lasallians are aware of this. But come to think of it. What team goes to your mind first when you hear Animo?
La Salle.
You may attach that in your school but nobody can say that you don’t think of La Salle fisrt when you hear Animo. Infact, hearing that with other schools does not sound right.
Green Archer
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 10:49 am
I understand. But when did UE use Let’s go? Using that with the team whose pattern is the same in the championship is pure piracy. Stick to your cheers Ma am with due respect.
Or wear green instead.
sis. stella
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 10:42 am
Green Archer, give us the registration of “LETS GO ___, LETS GO” from the Philippine patent office. Base from my research you also joined the bandwagon of “ANIMOS”… how would you explain the other schools like Ateneo and San Beda chanting also “ANIMO”. Look who’s talking now!
Animo in Green pertains to La Salle.
Animo in Blue pertains to Ateneo.
Animo in Red pertains to San Beda.
All of this are the same! Who used first is not the question, but its a general word like “Lets go”. You’re saying that Ateneo and San Beda copied your “Animo”? what a shame…
Green Archer
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 10:29 am
I’m really excited for this afternoon’s game. Giving UE it’s first defeat when in counted most will give you a taste of La Salle basketball.
WWIC- Win When It Counts.
Looking forward. Animo La Salle!
bro. louie
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 10:25 am
Just wanna ask green archers? PAG “TUMAE” KA BA NG “GREEN MANURES” MASAKIT?
UEstudFast
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 10:22 am
Go find a helmet… Green Archer, it will be a wrestling fight come afternoon. You are a true “Konyotic” archer, seems obvious as reflected from your words.
boborat
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 10:18 am
di bale kahit basketball brawl gaya ng sabi ng iba, basta manalo. tumakbo na lang kayo mga ue at umiyak.
basicx
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 10:12 am
UE Rocks!
rockafella… isa kang alamat!
I don’t think the chant of “LETS GO __, LETS GO! originated from DLSU. NCAA schools also exclaiming that!
Hey Green Archer, I guess your beginning to shiver..as what will happen to your team later this afternoon.
Just be sure, that all of your players will play a fair fight…
duguang archer
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 10:11 am
la salle will win through basket”brawl” very well said nris nyu. haha
maybe la salle undergone so many trainings similar to rugby and nfl. haha. just like what rico did when he headlocked borboran. perfect execution. and ilad acts like a hockey player coz he got the attitude. haha.
la salle aint got nothin to prove but to play brawl. does ilad taken up anger management in la salle? haha.
gudluck greenmanures.
Green Archer
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 10:01 am
What now rockafella rocks? Maybe you want to wear green too? or say Animo UE? Pathetic..
Green Archer
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 9:49 am
rockafella rocks,
You sound so fake and insecure.
Listen to your school’s cheer and use it. Don’t copy our cheer.
You sound so hopeless.
Green Archer
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 9:45 am
LETS GO UE, LETS GO!—- Until when did UE come up with that cheer? Stick with your own cheer man. That’s La Salle’s patent. Pathetic!
rockafella rocks
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 9:05 am
“There must be beginning of any great matter, but the continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory”
LETS GO UE, LETS GO!
“Not only did we play the race card, we played it from the bottom of the deck”
LETS GO UE, LETS GO!
perhaps those, who, trembling most, maintain a dignity in their fate, are the bravest! Which we are, one equal temper of heroic hearts, made strong in will…
to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield; but to be triumphant in the end…
LETS GO UE, LETS GO!
nris nyu
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 8:38 am
I hope DLSU will not initiate basket”brawl” against UE.
duguang archer
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 8:15 am
you think your superior enough to dominate ue’s basketball today? i dont think so.
archerincali yeah wait till 12mn and watch your team defeat.
la salle will mourn because of their great lost today.
warrior in ny(queensbridge)
archerincali818
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 7:56 am
dp is ryt …
nood nalang tayo
eto magpupuyat nanaman ako kahit my work da next day, 12mn kasi live coverage dito sa LA,pero win or lose sulit naman,
sabi ko nga “GUILTY PLEASURE”
dp
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 7:51 am
tama na…nood na lang tayo basketball…
network
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 4:46 am
archerincali818, “UAAP BASKETBALL = GUILTY PLEASURE”. hehe. i like that.
in addition, UAAP member schools may hate each other this time. but in the end, and someday, we will be cheering for this guys when they play for our favorite team in the pros. so our bashing of each other is not permanent.
like, i like the way Intal plays so i will be watching Air21 games. just like TNT where Cardona is playing now. so easy lang mga ‘pre.
network
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 4:39 am
La Salle’s last game with UE went to overtime. Hindi naman sila talaga lamang.
All La Salle had to do, and I’m sure Franz has already done this, is to study what happened in those last 5 minutes in overtime period.
archerincali818
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 4:17 am
sikat na inboundpass…!! yahoo spread da word…keep those hatin coming…no matter wat, we r still playing for the finals, win or lose, we r still a better team than the rest, so y dont u just worry about ur bsktball program and start training now……and dont tell us basketball is not a big deal to u, the ROOT of all these is basketball..whether we admit it or not, this is the only reason y we are keep coming back to this site and chcking out if we incite anyone to post their comment..isa lang panalo dito…INBOUNDPASS.COM, dati i havent heard of this site, now i have to chck this site everyday….”UAAP BASKETBALL = GUILTY PLEASURE”. more power to this site and its contributors….REKTIKANO!!
network
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 3:51 am
I don’t think La Salle beating UE today is an upset. That’s already expected because La Salle is SUPERIOR!
Hindi nakakatakot ang UE.
pana
+0
Thursday, 4 October 2007 at 1:07 am
mga henyo mga tao d2 mga bobo daw tayong lasalista…thank god for creating ms word saka internet madali maging matalino!
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