UE, MEET LA SALLE: GREEN ARCHERS SET UP TITLE DATE WITH RED WARRIORS

By Reuben Terrado
Business Mirror
October 1, 2007



For De La Salle U, two wins are better than three.

After a heartbreaking loss in Game One, the Green Archers defeated the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 65-60, in the rubber match of the last stepladder phase yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum and moved into the finals of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 70 men’s basketball tournament.

Ateneo has beaten De La Salle thrice this year, the third time happening on Thursday, 76-75, in a rare season that saw the Blue Eagles win out against their bitter rivals in head-to-head standings.

But that didn’t matter as the Green Archers’ win Sunday—only their second against Ateneo—moved them to the championship round a year after they served a full-season suspension to face undefeated University of the East on Thursday at 3 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.

“I guess winning two is better than three,” said De La Salle coach Franz Pumaren. “I made a bold statement that we are going to win on Sunday. I guess my players love me so much. They don’t want me to get burned.”

“It’s going to be Christmas in October,” Pumaren added, referring to the red-and-green finals match-up. “It’s good to be back in the big dance. I hope that we can compete with UE.”

De La Salle faced UE in 1990 where they won via sweep.

Since the Final Four was instituted in 1994, the Green Archers have appeared in 12 of the last 14 championship series. Not counting the 2004 championship they won but had to rescind because of an eligibility hullabaloo, the Archers will be gunning for their fifth title.

“We will be facing a well-rested team. But I’ll do a different approach,” Pumaren said.

Equally more interesting is his match-up with his brother Dindo for the first time. “My parents will be happy because the championship will be won by either of us,” Pumaren quipped.

Cholo Villanueva sparked the Green Archers with 13 points, including nine in the fourth. He also nailed a triple to give them a comfortable 58-49 lead with 4:03 left. Villanueva also grabbed three offensive rebounds in the fourth to save crucial possessions for the Archers.

“It feels like a welcome-back party for us,” said Villanueva, the 24-year-old shooting guard who is in his final year as an Archer. “I’m happy that my last game against Ateneo ended like this.”

“I told [Villanueva] that this will be his last game against Ateneo and he responded well,” said Pumaren.

Ateneo tried to pull off another comeback that had become a hallmark of their three victories against De La Salle this season, but the Eagles fell short this time.

Down, 62-57, center Nonoy Baclao connected on an uncharacteristic three-pointer with 13.6 left to pull the Ateneans to within 62-60.

But JV Casio showed nerves of steel as he nailed two pressure-packed charities to give the Archers a 64-60 edge with 11.2 ticks remaining.

“We played smart along the way. After those losses, the team was criticized for losing games that we should have won. But still, I’m confident about my team. Mistakes will come along the way. Mistakes will turn into experience later on,” said Pumaren.

TY Tang chipped in 12 points, while Rico Maierhofer added 12 and 10 rebounds for the Archers. Casio had 10 points, six rebounds and six steals.

De La Salle had more offensive rebounds than Ateneo, 19-6, leading to 16 second-chance points that proved to be the back-breaker for the Eagles.

Pumaren admitted that the team is tired going into their finals series with UE. “I won’t be a hypocrite. We are tired. It was a mentally, emotionally, physically draining series. I hope that the spunk will be there when we face UE.”

The Blue Eagles failed to connect on the offensive side making only two field goals in the fourth period.

“Personally, I felt Ateneo looked tired. When you play that many games, conditioning should come in,” said Pumaren.

The loss, in their lowest scoring output this season, ended Ateneo’s campaign marked by a late-season comeback that saw the Eagles piling up impressive wins over dethroned champion Santo Tomas U and De La Salle in the stepladder phase. This, even as the Eagles failed to secure the twice-to-beat edge.

“There is nothing to be ashamed off,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black after emerging from the dugout after the game. “We weren’t given a chance to get this far.”

Ateneo will lose Arao and Zion Laterre next season, but Black is still optimistic for next year as he is eyeing quality players in the high-school division.

Ford Arao got a game-high 14 points, while Eric Salamat had 10. Thursday’s hero Chris Tiu produced 10 points but could only score two in the fourth.

Tiu scored six points in a 12-6 run to put the Eagles in the driver’s seat, 26-22, entering the twilight of the second quarter. That was the last time Ateneo got ahead as the Archers clustered seven straight points, five courtesy of rookie Simon Atkins, to help De La Salle take the lead at the half, 29-26.

The Archers jump-started to a 16-8 margin in the first quarter, but the Blue Eagles scored six straight including four by Salamat to close in, 16-14.

Game Two of the title series is on October 7, Sunday, and if necessary, Game Three on October 11, Thursday.