Headlines for a cliffhanger

THE SPORTING CHANCE
By JOAQUIN M. HENSON
The Philippine Star
September 12, 2007

Rather than analyze the game to death, I thought of 15 headlines that could summarize what was probably one of the most exciting duels in recent UAAP history.

It was Sunday Suspense Theater at the Araneta Coliseum last Sunday as Ateneo and La Salle slugged it out in a crucial UAAP senior men’s basketball game before about 20,000 fans.

The outcome was decided only after the referees viewed a TV replay machine to determine that La Salle center Rico Maierhofer’s shot was released a split second after time ran out. The replay showed the ball in Maierhofer’s fingertips at the 0:00.00 mark, nullifying the conversion which, if counted, would’ve sent the game into overtime.

Ateneo held on to win, 89-87, in a thriller that featured nine lead changes and three ties, the last at 79-all. The Blue Eagles’ biggest lead was 10, at 13-3 in the first quarter, while the Green Archers’ largest margin was 13, at 51-38 in the third.

Ateneo alumnus Manny Pangilinan called it “another epic game which only La Salle and Ateneo can write.” He said, “La Salle deserves equal credit for an excellent game” and in a text, added “see you at the finals!”

There was talk of La Salle filing a protest since one of the referees, Ronald Bermejo, signaled Maierhofer’s shot as counted at the buzzer. But even if the protest is filed, nothing will come of it because in effect, Bermejo’s call was overturned after the referees consulted the replay machine.

Rather than analyze the game to death, I thought of 15 headlines that could summarize what was probably one of the most exciting duels in recent UAAP history.

Eureka, It’s Yuri! Nobody imagined Ateneo guard Yuri Escueta would play like he did, except perhaps his cousin Olsen Racela and Eagles coach Norman Black. Escueta was Black’s magic, the rabbit that jumped out of his hat. He fired 16 points, including 3-of-3 treys, and knocked down the triple that erased the Archers’ 84-83 lead with 1:04 to go.

Tiu For Two. Twice, Ateneo guard Chris Tiu has stuck the dagger in La Salle’s heart this season. In their first meeting, Tiu buried a three that pushed Ateneo on top, 78-74, with 21 ticks left and sank two free throws to ice it, 80-77, in overtime. Last Sunday, he put in the killer triple to seal La Salle’s doom with 17.8 seconds remaining and finished with a team-high 19 points.

Jobe Well Done. Burly Jobe Nkemakolam came up big off the bench with 10 points, including 6-of-6 foul shots, and six rebounds in 15 minutes. Jobe bears a striking resemblance to San Beda College’s Jay-R (Baby Shaq) Taganas.

Long Came Up Short. Kirk Long, the hero in Ateneo’s buzzer-beater win over UST and one of the Chosen Few in recent Manila visitor Kobe Bryant’s elite camp, was not a factor. He scored only three points, all in the second period.

Sweet Charities. Spoiling La Salle’s chances to win was the Archers’ poor showing at the stripe. La Salle flubbed 13 while Ateneo missed only six. The Archers clanged three in the fourth period and they wound up losing by two.

Rico’s Recovery. It was the biggest basket that wasn’t. Maierhofer rebounded Jayvee Casio’s turnaround 15-foot jumper and hit the put back but the referees ruled it came after the clock expired.

No Casio and Carry. The roof caved in on La Salle’s star guard. Casio scored the Archers’ last five points – his only points the entire game – and missed the shot that would’ve forced an extension. He was AWOL almost the whole stretch, hitting 1-of-15 from the floor. If only Casio played half his potential, the Archers would’ve probably won.

Thanks to Salamat. Ateneo guard Eric Salamat stepped up to make a difference with 15 points, including 5-of-5 free throws, in 23 minutes. He rifled in a huge triple that tied the count, 75-all, in the fourth quarter. Curiously, his La Salle counterpart is also blessed with a grateful name TY Tang.

Atkins Diet. La Salle coach Franz Pumaren sprang a surprise on Ateneo by sending in rookie Simon Atkins to barnacle Eagles guard Jai Reyes who was held to only a triple and a free throw.

Sandal Sa Bader. La Salle unveiled a rising star in Fil-Bahrainian Bader Malabes who contributed 11 points, including a triple and two bank shots on daring incursions down the middle. The downside was he failed to score in the last period, when it mattered most.

KSP or Kulang Sa Pukpok. La Salle’s backup centers took a day off as P. J. Walsham, Ferdinand and Kish Co scored a combined five points. Co missed two gift shots which would’ve expanded the Archers lead to nine in the third quarter. The Eagles then ignited a 10-4 blast to finish the period.

Magandang Arao Bayan. Ateneo’s top scorer Ford Arao was blanked in the first quarter but still wound up with 18 points, 13 in the second half. His field goal brought the lead back to Ateneo, 83-82.

Double Black Eye. That was what Black gave to La Salle, sweeping both games in the eliminations. Black had to sweat for the twin wins but the hard work was worth every drop of perspiration.

Seeing Red. Pumaren showed up wearing a red, not green, shirt, probably because in the UAAP, red is the color of the season with the UE Red Warriors still unbeaten. Now, Pumaren hopes red will be the losing color in UE’s final elimination game against La Salle on Thursday.

Chiller from Cholo. La Salle’s graduating Cholo Villanueva provided chilling heroics from the bench, pouring in seven points in the first period and ending up with 18. His back-to-back baskets highlighted the Archers’ 8-0 run early in the fourth period. Ateneo, however, countered with an 11-2 bomb and Villanueva didn’t score again.

And that’s all she wrote.