Ateneo beats UP, assured of playoff for twice-to-beat advantage
Sunday, 24 August 2008 1,199 Views / 23 Comments
NEXT TARGET: A twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four of the 71st UAAP men’s basketball competition.
Another double-double performance from Rabeh Al-Hussaini and a scintillating display of passing skills by Chris Tiu have assured the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles of at least a playoff for that coveted advantage in the semifinals after a 79-58 demolition of University of the Philippines last August 24, 2008 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Al-Hussaini put up solid numbers that once again made a solid case for an MVP award. His fifth double-double of the season – a 24-point, 17-rebound performance – steered the Blue Eagles to victory in the so-called “Battle of Katipunan.�
Tiu, for his part, recorded a career-high 10 assists, incidentally the most since ex-National University playmaker Jason’s Malcontento’s 11 in the 69th edition of the UAAP. He also netted 14 points and grabbed six boards.
The final score, though, hid the difficulties Ateneo encountered against UP, especially in the early goings of the match.
“I felt that our teamwork was bad in the first half,� Ateneo coach Norman Black said. “At halftime, I talked about [the fact] that we have been an unselfish team all year, [so] let us not start to change now.�
Egged on by their coach’s halftime pep talk, the Blue Eagles dished out 13 assists in the second half en route to 23 fastbreak points for the game. They stormed to a 54-39 lead in the third period then clustered a pair of 7-0 runs to secure the win.
Black also credited the team’s second unit, which sustained the team’s big lead in the second half.
“In the last two games, I don’t think they stepped up. But they did a particularly good job of separating from UP. Usually, they either maintain the lead or go down a little bit,� said Black.
Woody Co and Magi Sison each scored 10 points to pace this year’s hosts, who went 0-14 last year.
The Fighting Maroons, who sported black uniforms for the first time this season, slipped to 3-9, and are officially out of contention for the Final Four. They failed to advance past the elimination round for the 11th straight year. Their last stint in the semifinals was in 1997 with the likes of Paolo Mendoza, Bryan Gahol and Ogie Gumatay leading UP’s charge.
The scores:
Ateneo 79 – Al-Hussaini 24, Tiu 14, Buenafe 8, Baclao 6, Reyes 6, Baldos 5, Long 4, Escueta 3, Gonzaga 3, Salamat 3, Salva 3, Burke 0, Chua 0, Gonzaga 0, Sumalinog 0.
UP 58 – Co 10, Sison 10, de Asis 7, dela Victoria 6, Sorongon 6, Lopez 5, Astorga 4, Braganza 3, Gamboa 3, Hipolito 3, Reyes 1, Maniego 0, Marfori 0, Pajela 0.
Quarter scores: 12-11; 36-28; 54-42; 79-58
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Di bale mga tol kahit talo tayo ang angas naman ng bago nating itim na uniporme. Apir!
I dig the UP jersey.
black jerseys, bad omen… gayunpaman, solid UP pa rin ako.
a win to clinch the 1st spot, and twice to beat advantage. I also feel FEU will get the 2nd twice to beat incentive..
go ateneo from the ateneo faithful, we only dont just start the game we finish it one big fight
Mathematically, Ateneo can still lose the twice to beat advantage. FEU-DLSU-ADMU can be tied for first. if ateneo loses its next games and feu and dlsu win all their remaining games right? The title is deceiving.
it’s not deceiving. the word “playoff” makes the difference. even if the quotient system is used, the bottom two teams will have to battle it out. i think. :))
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i wonder where that guy who said chris tiu doesnt know how to pass is? you gotta be kidding me after watching that game yday! wonderful passes that no other player could probably dish off. putting the ball in the right spot. first double digit assist game in 2 years! not bad
@kunatz
yes, that is still possible. if ateneo loses to NU and DLSU and FEU win all their games. wala pa naman atang nagclaim na sa ateneo na yung first sa top 2 slots. they just have an advatange now because they already have 11 wins. if they get 12, they own that slot. they said that ateneo’s worst case scenario right now is a playoff for the top 2 slots
@sixthman
that was actually the first thing that came to my mind when i saw that tiu had 10 assists. sakin kasi reply nung sinabi niya that tiu cant pass
Does anybody know the story behind the change in uniform of UP?
I found it ironic 8 black uniforms (refs included) were in the court during play and yet the 5 white shirts still prevailed.
Rabeh can only be the MVP if Jervy Cruz and the UST Tigers wont reach the final four. hanggang Mythical 5 si Jervy pagnangyari yun. Dylan might be kicked out too, and Ben Fernandez of the FEU Tamaraws WILL take his spot. Hard-earned naman di ba?
De Ocampo Cobra,
Where do you have access to Team and Individual stats? How can I verify if Ben Fernandez will take Jervy’s place in the MVP race if UST fails to advance.
Re Blackshirts of UP:
Hindi kaya they were only trying to get some sympathy from coach Black? Hehe.
@belboy
si Dylan Ababou, hindi si Jervy.
I think Dylan deserves to be in the mythical 5 but
UST is losing. FEU is surging and their leader is Ben
Fernandez so I think he deserves a spot in the Myth 5!
rabeh gets his stats cause the defense is so worried about tiu! feu is the most well balanced team. if you ask me who there mvp is, its baroca, he does everything for them, defense, rebounds, steals, assists, scoring when they need him (making big baskets, and that 26 point performance!) and he is their point guard and court general.
@sixthman
I’m doubtful if it will be andy to get the mvp. Counting out rabah, jervy and maierhoffer (the big men), the next candidates would be casio and tiu. Casio has had monster games where he scored 25+ and so has tiu. In the first round they were 3 and 5 in statistical points.
http://www.ubelt.com/blogs/jonasterrado/viewpost.aspx?id=840
I dont know where to get the updated statistical points but i’m pretty sure barroca is still far from the leaders.
no no no! im sorry! i meant barroca is the MVP Of FEU and not fernandez.sorry for that! haha come on, no doubt my vote is for tiu :) or casio. haha
@sixthman
then we’re voting for the same people. im hoping the press give the MVP to a guard this time around. Tiu or Casio ill be happy. preference over tiu of course :)
agng uaap lang sila..haha.. gudlak sa Uaap career pero sa PBA? haha gudlak lalo! pansin ko lang..gang uaap lang magagaling sa PBA indi na makaporma haha!
@hmmm?
so what is your point? really?
We’ll rule. ateneo all the way
@hmmmm
well from whatever school you are, your comment just shows your stupidity.
PBA is another level. UAAP is amateur. so why are you surprised that college players do not shine in the PBA? Eh siyempre pag pro level, mas mahira ang competitiion. Ngayon kung high draft pick ka, most probabaly you are assured of a good career in the PBA, just like James, Enrico etc..