Sans Casio, Green Archers shoot down Blue Eagles
Saturday, 7 June 2008 3,942 Views / 16 Comments
DESPITE missing the presence of their best player, the De La Salle University Green Archers turned to the swagger that’s brought them three championships this decade.
De La Salle overcame the absence of JV Casio to post a come-from-behind 78-72 overtime win over bitter rivals Ateneo De Manila last June 7, 2008 in Filoil Flying V Preseason Invitational at The Arena in San Juan.
Casio was a mere spectator along the sidelines due to an injured hand, so Rico Maierhofer, James Mangahas and Hyram Bagatsing stepped up when it mattered most to bail out the Green Archers.
After Bagatsing hit a game-tying triple with 7.8 seconds left in regulation, swingman Peejay Barua scored the first five points in overtime to stretch the Green Archers’ lead to 70-65 with 2:45 left in the extra period. Ateneo’s Chris Tiu and Nonoy Baclao scored after that juncture, but the Blue Eagles failed to contain coach Franz Pumaren’s wards down the stretch.
Maierhofer and Mangahas made their presence felt by scoring 18 points apiece, while Bagatsing, a rookie off-guard, added 15 for the defending UAAP champions.
“We [were] undermanned in this game because we only [had] 11 players. Casio and Bader Malabes are still out. But we’re lucky to win this one. Our stepped up their games,� Pumaren said.
“Right now we are still 75 percent. We’re not totally in great shape. And we want to use this preseason tournament for the coming UAAP season. Hopefully we can peak in time for UAAP,� he added.
The Green Archers and San Beda Red Lions both topped Group B with 6-1 records, but De La Salle clinched the top spot owing to a more superior quotient. They will face No. 4 Mapua in the quarters beginning this Tuesday.
Ateneo, meanwhile, fell to 4-3 and the No. 3 spot in Group A, behind University of the East and Adamson University, both of whom have 5-2 records. The Blue Eagles play the Falcons in another quarterfinal tiff.
The Katipunan-based cagers drew 20 points from Tiu and 13 markers from rookie Ryan Buenafe.
Doing what their senior counterparts couldn’t, the Ateneo Blue Eaglets, meanwhile, bested La Salle Green Hills, 82-72, in the lone junior’s exhibition match. Incoming high school junior Ael Banal led the Blue Eaglets with 21 points.
The Scores:
First Game
ATENEO 82 – Banal 21, J. Dumrique 18, Enriquez 15, Ravena 9, Tiongson 7, Reyes 7, Bugarin 6, Dumrique 6, Pessumal 6, C. Dumrique 2, Gamboa 1.
LA SALLE 72 – Mikee Reyes 21, Flores 19, Martin Reyes 14, Franco 7, Henares 4, Vergara 2, Malimban 2, Marcus Reyes 2, Cruz 2.
Quarters: 17-13, 36-36, 59-56, 82-72.
Second Game
LA SALLE 78 – Mangahas 18, Maierhofer 18, Bagatsing 15, Atkins 8, Barua 7, Revilla 6, Walsham 6.
ATENEO 72 – Tiu 20, Bunafe 13, Baclao 7, Chua 5, Al-Hussaini 5, Reyes 3, Salva 3, Salamat 2.
Quarters: 14-13, 20-22, 43-38, 65-65, 78-72.
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