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Oct 05

40 minutes

by Christian Soler
6,553 Views | 73 Comments

A FAMOUS Broadway musical says we have approximately 525,600 minutes to spend in a year. For one team after Thursday, that same period of time will be lovely. For the other, excruciating.

After 8,622 points, 5,353 rebounds, 1,709 assists and 61 games, 2,400 seconds will decide the fate of two teams with a combined 22 UAAP seniors titles to determine one champion. A mouthful, eh? In a nutshell, that’s Season 72, and all the hustle and bustle will come to a conclusion in a winner-take-all Game 3.

With just a solitary game left in the 2009 UAAP calendar, it wouldn’t hurt to dish out one last survival guide, or souvenir program, for both Blue and Red. So far, our Bucket List has held water. To recap:

1. The team that’s played like Far Eastern University in the Final Four has lost on both occasions. In Game 1, UE looked tentative offensively and settled for those outside shots. Its patented dribble penetrations were absent. Last Sunday, Ateneo was reduced by that stifling Warrior zone defense to a jump-shooting team. The entry pass to the post was as difficult for the Blue Eagles to execute as getting Allen Iverson to attend practice.

2. The unit that has held its opponent to a sub-par shooting performance has won both games. Ateneo held UE to just 34.2 percent shooting from the field in Game 1. Coach Lawrence Chongson’s unit then returned the favor in Game 2, limiting the Blue Eagles to 34.7 percent.

3. The five that’s taken the better shots, and more accurately at that, has won every game. The defending champions hit 42.4 percent of their attempts in Game 1, while UE rattled in a torrid 51.1 percent in the next game. Beyond the numbers, the Blue Eagles, in Game 2, looked as if they’d have a difficult time guarding a chair.

4. The better rebounding unit hasn’t lost. Ateneo had the edge, 50-42 in Game 1 while UE won the battle of the boards in Game 2, 41-33.

Decisive knockout games, however, entail that unique, extra hit. Both schools have given us some hints as to what that final blow looks like, or, conversely, how they’ll fold when that lethal strike hits them.

Ateneo’s final blow: More fluid ball movement. By all accounts, Chongson will live and die with a zone since his wards give up a few inches with a man-to-man. So far, and especially in Game 2, the Blue and White’s ball rotation has been dismal.

In general, teams play zone defense to 1) prevent the opponent from passing the ball inside; and 2) force that opponent to hoist up outside shots. And guess what? Ateneo has fallen for both so far. A case in point: In Game 2, UE had Ateneo on the ropes, but only by a manageable 10 points after three quarters. Instead of even trying to establish Rabeh Al-Hussaini on the post, the Blue Eagles took higher percentage shots [i.e. outside shots = greater chance of missing]. In fact, the 2008 Most Valuable Player had just seven touches of the ball in the final period. Yes, seven, and that’s already including possessions after offensive rebounds. In those seven touches, Al-Hussaini got the ball in the post only twice, and did not back down to make a move on both occasions. And, the 6-foot-7 stalwart only sat down with a little more than a minute left in that period.

Granted, UE’s zone is making Al-Hussaini look like Toni Kukoc of Chicago Bulls fame. But that shouldn’t stop coach Norman Black’s squad from setting him up. Should that prove really difficult, the next best thing would be to move the ball around at a faster pace. One of the best weapons against a zone defense is crisp passing. Sound ball movement forces defenders on a zone to move more. And, in the words of RP Developmental Team assistant coach and good friend Jude Roque, “someone’s bound to be left open when you play zone.”

UE’s final blow: Discipline on both ends. Chongson’s free-flowing offense gives his players a lot of freedom to decide what to do, and how to do it. The result: UE has turned the ball over a combined 22 times in the two games played. That figure is superb, but has to be maintained if the repeat-seekers are to be defeated.

On defense, some trouble spots have already emerged. In the first half of Game 2, UE’s perimeter players left a lot of shooters open. Luckily for them, Ateneo couldn’t buy a basket. But don’t expect that to continue in Game 3; brace for the worst-case. Jai Reyes was able to light up the basket in Game 1 precisely because UE’s zone was careless at times. And in those little times [since Chongson has had that defense working wonders for the most part], Ateneo has capitalized.

Of course, the intangibles are not to be discounted. Momentum, the will to win and nerves of steel are just as important. UE looks to have all that at the moment, but Ateneo did own those things just three days before. That’s how fast things change in the game of basketball, and how small the margin for error is.

Madonna and Justin Timberlake once sang that there are four minutes to save the world. Both Ateneo and UE will have a little more time to save themselves. They’ll have 40 minutes.


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Posted in Columns, Postgame

Comments

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  • leander  Add karma Subtract karma  +1
    Friday, 9 October 2009 at 5:15 am

    @TGM

    yeah i’m an atenean.. yup i do believe salamat and buenafe passed ACET.. instead of you insinuating that they didn’t pass or ateneo doctored the results of their exams, why don’t you try to prove that yourself? provide evidence.. if it’s true they had bad grades in high school, they probably did well in ACET.. yes you’re right high school grades are important but not the only deciding factors of being accepted in ateneo..

  • old school  Add karma Subtract karma  +1
    Friday, 9 October 2009 at 1:02 pm

    @the real TGM

    And if Eric were in your school, he would HAVE been bashed no end by your alumni…like you have done all season long to your veterans. Or maybe even suspected just as well like Mike Cortez? To each his own. In Ateneo, players are given the breaks; they understand too well that athletes can have off-games too and are not super humans.

    @Christin Soler

    As usual, spot on with your analysis. Kudos! More power and cerebral writings from you!

    All she wrote in Season 72. Grats ADMU. Go Ateneo!

    /sign off

  • well  Add karma Subtract karma  +1
    Saturday, 10 October 2009 at 5:51 pm

    Suck it up TGM. You delete posts here too, right? so let Mr Soler have that prerogative. The fact he can do that means he’s in a higher position here or wherever your reply and consequent deletion/editing was.

    Ganyan talaga kung mas nakakababa ka sa posisyon.

    I’m not totally privy to the circumstances revolving around TGM’s resignation (and to me that reason he wrote is just so ‘babaw’ and I still want to hear Mr. Soler’s side) but in the battle of wits and principles, the more reasonable usually wins. Or the higher-ups.

    And up until the last moment, Mr. Atayde, you have the penchant for blaming adversities that come your way on anyone and anything, except for your own culpability; pretty much how you dissect games that went against your way and expectations and put the blame onto all other factors and aspects but the game itself.

    As I said, I don’t know the facts or, if there are any, the principles violated but only you can answer for your own decision and the circumstances you are in right now. In other words, you alone probably brought it to yourself.

    It’s been said before, ayaw mong mabastos, huwag ka rin mambastos ng iba. Ayaw mo ma delete o ma -edit? Wag ka rin mang-delete. Simple. Period.

    Besides, between Messers. Velasco/Soler and you, they seem more professional and level-headed. And it’s true, you are not a journalist. Face it. Maybe, you really just belong to other venues and forums being the writer that you are aptly described as full of ‘anaylsis-paralysis’ cum tsismis. In other words, sheer bullshit. There are better places for that kind of writing. Try the tabloids.

    Adieu.

    PS: I’m reproducing this in another column lest it gets deleted by the author.

  • Blue Dessert  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 12 October 2009 at 1:37 am

    @well@old school@leander
    Well said.St.Ata_de deserves to be asked to leave,separated or dismissed from almost
    any institution except perhaps a rehab center.
    Let him learn more about sports writing,
    etiquette and the true spirit of sportsmanship.
    Yes,at age X.X=50 to 65 years old.
    Hoho!
    @TGM Rules!
    In the No. 1 Institution,”No one is indispensable.Not
    even Cris Tiu,Hussaini,Baclao or Jai Reyes.”
    Goodbye TGM.Wish you luck and success in your
    future endeavours including Season 73.

  • colorblind  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 12 October 2009 at 2:29 am

    @TGM

    baka gusto mo din tanungin paano nakapasa sa entrance exam ng la salle ang dalawang hindi nag-graduate ng high school (gatchalian & benitez)?? with fake PEPs at that!

    or tanong mo na lang personally si ryan at eric ano course nila.im sure hindi si norman black ang sasagot para sa kanila.

  • Tiger  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 12 October 2009 at 6:11 pm

    kelangan pa b ng player makapasa sa entrance exam?

    wla lng.. akala ko kasi iniis-scout lng sila tapos kapag nagalingan sa kanila.. o-offer-an ng scholarship parang gnun ba..

    kinda confuse

  • bebecat619  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 12 October 2009 at 6:46 pm

    As for the question whether or not Basketball players need to pass their respective school’s entrance exam, i can’t speak for any other school aside from Ateneo, and yes, potential Ateneo basketball players need to pass the ACET before being rostered to play. For skeptics, try asking players from Jesuit schools around the country, there has been many cases of scouted players in Visayas and Mindanao who didn’t pass the ACET and hereby not admitted into Ateneo and thus, the team. IMHO, it’s because, if they do let you in Ateneo, but you can’t keep up with the academics and you flunk out in a year, then what’s the use of getting you in the first place?

  • pinaupong eagle  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 12 October 2009 at 8:47 pm

    bebecat619 says
    “IMHO, it’s because, if they do let you in Ateneo, but you can’t keep up with the academics and you flunk out in a year, then what’s the use of getting you in the first place?”

    that’s why i don’t know why you guys still have bueanfe and salamat.

  • The Green Mind  Add karma Subtract karma  --5
    Tuesday, 13 October 2009 at 12:30 pm

    This is not my column. You guyds miss me huh? Can’t qwrite me directly so you go to the next most popular columnist. I am out of here. Leave me alone.

  • daniel rey  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Tuesday, 13 October 2009 at 2:03 pm

    @ Christian Soler

    How does one apply to be a columnist here in inboundpass? Seriously.

  • trygemg  Add karma Subtract karma  +1
    Tuesday, 13 October 2009 at 4:18 pm

    “This is not my column. You guyds miss me huh? Can’t qwrite me directly so you go to the next most popular columnist. I am out of here. Leave me alone.”

    on the contrary, tgm, for someone who said that you want to resign and leave inboundpass completely, you keep coming back. get out of here already.

  • RED_CUB_POINT  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Tuesday, 13 October 2009 at 4:56 pm

    Mr. Soler

    Would it be too much to ask for your NCAA Final Four prediction? How should a team in the Final Four perform to win the Championship?

    Thank you.

  • eastern_tiger  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Tuesday, 13 October 2009 at 9:57 pm

    I think inboundpass will be much quieter now not because an author has left but simply because the uaap has just concluded. Nothing is like the uaap basketball games.

  • blue spectator  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Tuesday, 13 October 2009 at 11:01 pm

    @ TGM

    Kulang ka talaga sa pansin, you old loser. You hoping to read about people missing you? Count ‘em – all your friends and relatives and your La Sallian followers.

    Everyone else is haapy you’re gone!

    You keep saying you’re “out of here” but you keep talking and posting comments. Using your favorite line, if you don’t like what you read here, stop coming back.
    Well, no one’s forcing you to read or answer these comments, even if they may be addressed to you. In your column, you would always address the “you Ateneans out there” and when they respond to you, you tell them to bug off.

    If you say you don’t care what goes on in inbound pass, get lost and stay lost!!

    Inbound pass doesn’t need you. “Most popular columnist”? It’s more like “MOST HATED columnist”. People read your column to bash you and to prove you wrong.

    Knowing you, sasagot ka pa rin. Sige….ipakita mong uto-uto ka. Good riddance, you arrogant hypocrite!

  • solidasul  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Tuesday, 13 October 2009 at 11:12 pm

    @TGM

    Ano, wala na kasing pumapansin sa ‘yo kaya balik ka ng balik dito, no? Akala mo, wala nang magbabasa ng inbound pass dahil umalis ka, no? Mali ka, lolo!

    Inggit ka lang kay Mr. Soler dahil mas magaling siya magsulat sa ‘yo; may katuturan ang sinasabi. Di tulad mo, puro insulto at pang-aasar ang sinusulat.

    “Next most popular columnist”? Ang yabang mo talaga. Ang lakas mong magtawag ng mayabang sa ibang tao, e, ikaw ang sukdulan ng yabang. Nakakahiya ka sa pamilya at eskuwelahan mo.

    HIndi ko maintindihan, ang babait ng mga kapatid mo. Black sheep ka siguro. Sama ng ugali mo.

    Alis diyan!

  • bluespectator  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Tuesday, 13 October 2009 at 11:37 pm

    @ the real Tony Atayde

    I stand corrected! All those people who are addressing their comments to “TGM” are actually addressing an obnoxious person who posted comments under the name “TGM”.

    Therefore, the real Mr. Atayde, all those comments you thought were addressed to you were actually addressed to the impostor, “TGM”. Hahahahahahaha…ang yabang mo pa! And you thought these people were talking to you? What a laugh!

    You pathetic old fool! Typical Atayde….sagot ng sagot, hindi naman naiintindihan ang context! Magbasa ka muna kasi. Bill Velasco was right, you never get your facts straight! Always shooting from the hip. What a big fool!

  • itlog  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Tuesday, 13 October 2009 at 11:48 pm

    @the green mind

    kung nasaan ka man… dyan ka na lang.ü

  • asan ka man  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Wednesday, 14 October 2009 at 4:23 am

    Si TGM may sariling blog na. http://tonythegreenmind.blogspot.com/2009/10/time-to-do-it-on-my-own.html

  • sickntired of TGM  Add karma Subtract karma  +1
    Wednesday, 14 October 2009 at 2:29 pm

    To everyone who can’t stand Tony Atayde
    (that means 95% of us):

    Let’s all avoid Atayde’s blog. Let’s show Atayde he is nothing outside of inbound pass. Let his loyalist La Sallian fans follow him there. By his own admission, he writes only for them anyway….

  • concernlangpo  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Wednesday, 14 October 2009 at 3:56 pm

    sa mga nakakaalam, sino yung tinutukoy ni TGM na nag pull-out ng article nya? thanks!

  • wahaha  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Friday, 16 October 2009 at 3:00 am

    @ concernlangpo : si batman!

  • obf  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Saturday, 17 October 2009 at 4:57 pm

    ue sucks wait 25 yrs kahit my paul lee kayo iyakin naman coach nyo

  • TGM BOBO  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Tuesday, 20 October 2009 at 1:58 pm

    ambabaw naman ng pinagmamalaki ni TGM. he gets the most hits here. ano un? quantity is all that counts? makita mo lang 20000 views 500 comments sa tabi ng name mo proud ka na?

    how about the quality? try reading those comments if they are worth being proud of. problema dito kay atayde kung ano natutunan sa alma mater nya inaapply sa totoong buhay. quantity is better than quality. pay more, learn less

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Christian
Christian Soler

When you meet Chris, chances are you'll assume he wants to be a rock star. He's currently completing his Master's Degree in Population Studies, and is a game analyst for ABS-CBN's coverage of NCAA Season 85. Before getting his feet wet in the world of college hoops, he served as opinion editor for a nationally-circulated newspaper.

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