Archers never yield twice-to-beat edge

By Abac Cordero
Philippine Star
Tuesday, September 25, 2007

La Salle has never squandered a twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP. And the Archers are not about to throw that privilege, particularly against the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

“Yes, so far it has never happened,” said coach Franz Pumaren yesterday, knocking on wood as his team prepared for Thursday’s big game against Ateneo at the Araneta Coliseum.

Once again, the Green Archers will carry that advantage when they face the Blue Eagles in a showdown that promises to be nothing but another classic duel for the right to face UE in the best-of-three finals.

“Each time we were awarded the twice-to-beat advantage, we got to the finals,” said Pumaren, who added that his Green Archers intend to keep that record intact this year.

“We all worked hard for this. I don’t think my players will allow that advantage to be taken away,” he said before presiding over the team practice on a dark, rainy afternoon.

This is the eighth time in nine seasons that the Green Archers earned the twice-to-beat advantage. Since Pumaren became head coach in 1998 La Salle has won five titles.

The only time they failed to secure the twice-to-beat privilege was in 2003.

“That was the year when almost 80 percent of my players were rookies. That was the rookie year of JV Casio, Ryan Arana and PJ Walsham. And we did not get to the finals,” he said.

La Salle won four straight titles starting in 1998, and added another one in 2004, only to be stripped of the crown due to a highly-publicized player eligibility scandal.

La Salle and Ateneo have met thrice this season with the Blue Eagles winning the first two and losing the last, the one that really mattered as the twice-to-beat edge was staked.

“It’s still 2-1 this year in Ateneo’s favor. We plan to get even on Thursday and at the same time advance to the finals,” said Pumaren, elder brother of UE mentor Dindo Pumaren.

Ateneo coach Norman Black may not be aware of La Salle’s perfect “twice-to-beat” record but is confident that beating the Green Archers twice is not an impossible task.

“We’ve proven we can beat them before (twice in the elimination round) so we’ll be out to beat them again. It’s going to be tough. All our games against La Salle are tough,” he said.