Growing
Pains!
First
off, I apologize for not coming out with my article earlier. Because of the game starting so late (4:40
pm) and the traffic going back to Makati, I got home later than usual, hungry,
tired and of course disappointed. It did
however give me a chance to think about the game more objectively.
Let’s
get straight to the point. The Green
Archers played very well from the 2nd to the 4th quarter. It was the 1st quarter that killed
us. This should teach the players that there
is a reason that the game is 4 quarters and that you have to play your best
from the opening tip-off to the ending buzzer.
La
Salle won the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarter but
not enough to erase the plus 16 given to Ateneo. We were down by 16 in the 1st down
by 5 at halftime and ended the game down by 10.
We
cannot beat a veteran team like Ateneo by giving them a plus 16 after the 1st
quarter and expect to them to wane. Veteran
teams know how to keep a lead and that is exactly what Ateneo did.
The
shooting percentages of both teams were not that wide apart. La Salle shot 23 out of 67 and Ateneo 27 out
64. I would imagine that the difference
was mostly in the first quarter.
In
spite of the plus 16, La Salle was able to trim the lead down to 2 but just did
not have enough to tie the game. If La
Salle was able to tie and take the lead even once, the game would have changed
dramatically as the confidence level of the Green Archers would definitely
zoom.
I
can’t stop talking enough about Jeron Teng.
He is a player any coach would dream of having on his team. His competitive
spirit is beyond question and his dedication, not just to the school, but to
the game exceeds expectations. He is a
also a very cerebral player and has the one quality that separates a good
player from a great player, the courage to carry the team and even take that
last shot if needed.
Almond
Vosotros has finally gotten his confidence back. This is his 3rd straight game where
he played extremely well. His 3-point
set shots kept us in the game. Vosotros
also showed very good decision making.
It’s really unfortunate that LA Revilla is still out because they would
have made a potent combination. Hats off
to Almond for not backing down and having the will to take over when Revilla
went out.
Vosotros’
set shot reminds me of one best set shooters of the past in Jun Papa. For those who remember him, he was amazingly
accurate even if weight problems plagued his career.
Van
Opstal, Torres, Paredes, Andrada and Mendoza may not have had a great offensive
game but he made up for it in the defensive end. Slaughter was a non factor in the Ateneo
offense scoring only 1 field goal a 2 foul shots. With his size, he will get his blocks and rebounds. However, keeping his point production in
check was critical.
The
surprise of the game was the good play of Oda Tampus. He has hardly been used in previous games but
Coach Gee did not hesitate to put him in.
The players should be ready at all times because they don’t know when
they will be called on to play. Tampus
came in and played very well. Hopefully we see more of him in games to come
because he has a very good feel for the game, especially as a 2 guard, the
position that is very important, moreso when you have your point guard waxing
hot.
On
another note, I was extremely surprised at the disparity in the number of
people watching the game. It seemed like
an Ateneo home game. It was almost a two
thirds Ateneo and one third La Salle crowd.
There were even Ateneans seated among a sea of green. Not the regular 1 or 2 but groups seated together.
This
always seems to be the case when Araneta is the venue of a La Salle – Ateneo game. This was not the case in the first game that
was held at MOA. The UAAP should look
into this disparity which is totally unfair to the supporters of La Salle who
have a hard time getting tickets.
The
division in previous years was one school would have the side where the benches
are and the other team would get the other side. This year, it was changed wherein the
division is the center court jump ball line.
This was done so that the benches of both teams would have their alumni
behind them.
However,
what happened yesterday was a travesty.
The Araneta management should be held accountable for the distribution
of tickets. Allegedly, tickets are made
available even before they are given to the respective schools.
I
would also like to commend 2 Ateneo players, Elorde and Capacio for raising
their arms while the La Salle Alma Mater was being sung. Elorde has shown his commitment to Ateneo by
playing very well when called upon so it cannot be said that he slackens when
playing against La Salle.
Even
though they were being stopped by former Lasallian Nico Salva from doing
so, Elorde and Capacio did not mind him.
It was sad that while all the other Ateneo players respected Elorde and
Capacio’s decision, and for that I commend them, it had to be a former
Lasallian who did not.
If I am not mistaken, Salva spent more years in La Salle
than he did in Ateneo.
All
in all, I feel good about the future of La Salle basketball. The team started below zero coming from a
forgettable season last year, then acquiring am extremely talented player to
blend in, getting a new coach and staff, unlearning the past system and
learning a new system and many other changes will definitely result in growing
pains and that was definitely evident
Notes:
I
was seated next to Mac Cardona and RenRen Ritualo during the game and both of
them were saying how good this team will be.
It always feels good to see former players watch La Salle games and
cheer their lungs out. There were times
I could sense Cardona wanting to be on the court.
The
scene even became more poignant when former La Salle great, Mr. Ramoncito
Campos came by to talk to Mac and RenRen.
130 comments:
I think it's also because it's finals week next week for the DLSU students that's why we didn't have that many supporters... I would've watched if it wasn't.. :(
The demand for tickets from the La Salle community was heavy. I saw people lining up at the OSD and Alumni offices trying to buy tickets but there were sold out right away.
For those who are just going to make derogatory comments, dont evn bother. I am screening the comments and will not publish the trash and vile language that you post. If it's me you are going to criticize, I can take it but I will not let my blog have any profanity in it.
Please tell us more about jayson perkins and other newbies in the pipeline, thank you
I may write about them after the season. It would not be fair to the current team to talk about them in the middle of the season.
I will mention this though. It is no secret cos you see them in the games. Aside from Perkins, there is also Henderson and from LSGH we hope we get Bolick (hope I spelled it right) who scored 48 points in an NCAA game this season.
As an Atenean, I'll commend you for keeping objective. I admit I am not a fan of your writing but good analysis cannot be denied.
Teng is the real deal. Sure he shot 6/21 but it was because there were barely any other options on offense. N. Torres disappeared and Van Opstal still cannot be relied on to create for himself. That said I do feel like AVO should work on cutting and catching. At 6'9" with his athleticism, he should be the best drop pass target in the league.
I do contend with your comments on Tampus though. He provided great energy for the first few plays of the 3rd quarter but after that, he was nonexistent on both ends of the court. Ravena simply had his way with him later on. I think Dela Paz needs a lot more playing time. I feel like he's La Salle's most consistent shooter and he rarely forces things.
Hope to read more articles like this from you in the future Mr. Atayde.
Thank you for your comments. I was happy to also meet a number of Ateneans yesterday who said hello and that they read my blog.
sir tony, i'm disappointed with salva's attitude. It got me so curious yesterday why he didn't raise his arm while the alma mater was being sung, now my curiousity is answered... tsk tsk no i know why he went to admu...
What these players have to realize is that what they do on the court is seen by thousands of people. Being in the limelight carries with it a great amount of responsibilities.
Salva did not have to raise his arm. That was his choice. However he should not meddle with choice made by bothe Elorde and Capacio.
Salva was from LSGH, then moved to San Beda for 2 years then went to Ateneo.
I'm not sure if it was the right decison of coach Gee to pull out Teng and Tampus in the middle of the 3rd, when we were just behind by 2 and both players were getting into the grove. Ateneo ended the 3rd on a 13-4 run after that. Good overall game though for DLSU, lakas lang talaga Ateneo.
Nice article Tony! Good read. Thanks for sharing. Animo Lasalle!!
Thanks Ren!
Nico salva has been extra arrogant this year! You're right that he needs to respect the decision of elorde & capacio to raise their hands for the dlsu alma mater. Kung ayaw nya, e di wag. Wag na syang mamilit pa ng iba. Anyway, saw you at starbucks before the game. Wanted to say "lim eng beng" to get the lower box ticket but got shy hehe =D next time, my husband and I will muster enough courage to walk up to you and say hi =)
Rose,
Please say hi the next time you see me. I always enjoy meeting those who read my blog and personally thank them. Remember we are One Lasallian family.
We came inside araneta around 3:00 and saw the admu and dlsu practicing their outside shots. Then an atenean player went in the middle of the court and met with a bunch of la salle players. It was Nico Elorde. They were hugging each other, giving high fives and you can really see that the team misses him and he feels the same way to his former team.
I did see Salva trying to put down Elorde's hand during our Alma Mater, good thing both Elorde and Capacio brushed him off...
Why does Salva have to be like that?! It goes to show how a school can brainwash easily a small minded person...
Like any La Sallian, it was painful seeing our team lose especially to Ateneo. My hats off though to the players and coaching staff for playing a good game. The season's not done though and we can only learn from all these and make necessary adjustments.
It's very obvious that it was hard to score inside for the team with Slaughter patrolling the paint. In those instances when we succeeded I noticed that it was because Slaughter is not quick with his laterals. Same thing with Buenafe who was guarding Jeron. Proof of this was when Jeron scored off a spin move to the basket. Maybe it is something we need to capitalize on either in the final four or in the finals. Oh yes! I believe! This team is complete with skills, and most of all with right attitude and mindset. We just need to zero in on the things we need to work on. Keep the good work, Archers! Animo!
Sir Tony, I agree with your analysis. It's good to see Oda Tampus playing minutes yesterday and all of us saw how aggressive he was especially during those drives towards the basket. I hope to see more of him playing for our team in the coming games. I also have to comment on the ticket distribution. I hope future games in all venues can balance ticket distribution amongst competing schools.
I am a fan of yours and I love how your blog always cheers me up after a heartbreaking loss by the Green Archers (lalo na sa Ateneo). You always point out the positive stuff. I'm a proud Lasallian and an avid supporter of team, all the way from Canada. I know all of us are tired of losing to Ateneo, but our time will come. That's what I always keep in mind. Our team will get better and better through experience. I'd also like to quote what AVO has posted on Twitter: "Don't worry guys, this isn't the last time we will be facing them." More power and Animo La Salle!
Happy to see tampus playing again. He's really good and I hope he'll get more playing time soon. <3
Like I said before, he may not know the meaning of school loyalty cos he went to LSGH, then to San Beda and finally Ateneo. Yet among all 3 schools,I think he spent the longest at LSGH.
I also do not think it has anything to do with brainwashing because the rest of the team did not interfere with Elorde and Capacio. It's the individual.
Thank you Ralph. Keep the Animo spirit burning even all the way in Canada. If you are in the Vancouver area, the La Salle Alumni chapter there is very active.
Hi Tony, I appreciate you blog and have always read it with gusto. I also appreciate the objectivity in your comments. I have to agree with you that, there needs to be a system change on ticket distribution. As you stated from your observation that there pockets of blue shirts within a sea of green. Why is that? Doesn't that tell you that ticket designated for La Salle were sold to the other school. Similar circumstances happened at the first DLSU/ADMU at MOA when their tickets were sold out within 30 minutes after sales opening. Anyway, looking forward for a better ticket distribution system. Keep up the good work and am proud of your commitment as a La Sallian and a Christian gentleman.....Animo La Salle.
Thank you very much Jimmy. Really appreciate the kind words.
Hi Mr Tony, I'm a big fan all my life of the Green Archers. Unfortunately I am here in Western Visayas, and can't watch them live. Though I regularly watch the UAAP games on TV.
I was once a student athlete myself here playing football and basketball way back in High School and College and have idolized the green archer when they dominated the UAAP Basketball Men games.
I am a real fan of your blog and would like to ask permission to right comments about the archers.
I am also an article writer and a blogger for various technological sites so I definitely know the netiquette.
For the archers:
It's good to see that the archers management have finally acquired players who dare to take the challenges of being the go to guy.
Teng and Vosotros may have realized it and grab it just the way the team needs.
Compared to last season, the Archers now may have the better chances to get to the final 4, with the still the right push and motivation, these guys (Archers)will make other team fear them again.
Mikhail,
Go right ahead. I only take out comments with profanity and improper content. I'm sure you will give some good insights.
Thank you Sir Tony, as an ardent fan, I did want to go up to you myself when I saw you after the game and ask how things will go for our team....it was doubly heartbreaking for me seeing that now I believe Ateneo is now 1 game above us in terms of all the games we've played together...we used to lord it over them, now that feat is gone. But seeing that this team is still potent with a bright future after reading your article, makes me a bit comfortable. I was beside your son in the lowerbox...I was the one holding the banner "Keep the Faith" I really hope we reach the final four because this team deserves that and more. I just noticed together with my friends and we can't deny how Ryan Buenafe seems to be the "La Salle killer" and how Norbert seems to lose his element when we face ateneo...any thoughts on this? I'm happy the Animo is burning...and I hope that it's enough to get us through. Here's to keeping the faith.
FYI - I am from ADMU and I watched with my friends on the DLSU side BECAUSE a friend from DLSU sold us all his tickets. We were a fairly big group.
We had trouble finding tickets from ADMU, so it is highly possible that the pockets of blue in the DLSU side received tickets from their DLSU friends. I posted a request for tickets on my Twitter account and a lot of my friends from DLSU offered me tickets in Upper A and Lower Box.
So I doubt that there was a HUGE discrepancy in ticket distribution between DLSU and ADMU, but rather, a lucky draw for Ateneans who had Lasallian friends offering tickets.
To those Lasallians who did sell their tickets, shame on you. You could have sold it to your fellow Lasallians and you would have had a lot of takers. If you don't want to watch the games and have no school loyalty then at least show some respect for your Alma Mater.
To the person from ADMU, I dont blame you for buying the tickets. I would too if I were in your shoes.
MC ID98,
Like Kim Atienza says, "weather weather lang yan".
We are starting all over and in such a short span of time, we have progressed gretaly compared to last year.
Let them win their 5th title. That will give us more incentive to even reach higher.
At least we did not have to hire a PBA coach with numerous championships to bring us there. We won 4 straight with a home grown coach who never coached in the PBA.
but it would be poetic justice if we could be the one who will stop them from getting their 5th title just like what they did to us 10 years ago...
i still believe in our team (ironic, this was their mantra 10 years ago)... animo! :)
Hi sir! I agree with what the other Atenean said. My friend allowed me pa nga to access his MLS account para makapag- reserve ng tickets. He gave it to me pa for free. Saka most of my Atenean friends got their tickets from their DLSU friends.
To the Atenean who claimed that he bought tickets from a Lasallian friend, I'm sorry but I just don't buy your intriguing revelation. I still believe that every Lasallian possesses an innate dignity and pride in him as a Lasallian, and that he wouldn't sell his dear alma mater to Judas.
I'm sorry but I cannot confirm or deny your story regarding the tickets.
If it came from students, it's even harder to imagine because they have very limited access to tickets.
The Office of Sports Development handles the tickets and they are very strict as to who gets them, especially Lower Box and Patron tickets.
However, for the sake of argument let's say 100 tickets were sold by Lasallians. With over 17,000 tickets sold, thats less than .05%.
The disparity between the crowd yesterday was about 3 Lasallians for every 5 Ateneans. It just does not make sense especially considering the lines that were present at DLSU of alumni and students trying to buy tickets.
By saying that a Lasallian sold you all his tickets, it would mean that he would have had access to a lot of tickets.
The most I have seen 1 person other than the contributors are 4 tickets, and these were Upper A.
You are not from La Salle so you have no idea of how strict ticket distribution is.
It's fine if you don't believe my story, gusto ko lang mag-share:)) They were selling Upper B tickets lang naman to Ateneans! Not naman lower box :))
Also an Atenean here, but kudos to you for not offering up excuses for the loss. For some objective observations:
- Nice move by Coach Gee hiding Tampus for a couple of games, I'm pretty sure the coaching staff of the Eagles weren't as prepared for his offensive barrage when he got inserted.
- Teng, while being a super rookie scorer, needs to learn to trust his teammates to elevate his game to superstar status. This in turn would make it harder for teams to focus on him, making it easier for him to score in the long run.
- Hoping this doesn't sound offend, but the Manguera + AVO lineup make it practically 3v5 on the offensive end of the floor, the defensive stops won't mean anything unless you convert on the other side.(While AVO managed to score some points, almost all came from offensive putbacks or broken plays).
- Almond's resurgence coinciding with LA's absence means Almond always had it but putting them both in at the same time may result in a lot of mismatches at the other end because of their height. Best wishes to LA for a speedy recovery as I've heard that his injury is really serious and unlike any other simple sprain.
- While I wasn't at the game live, I had a couple of La Salle friends offering their tickets as well. Sadly, the games have become a business opportunity for some. I think the lackluster years La Salle have gone through contributed to this, and once the team is on the up and up again, you will see less of the pockets of Blue in the sea of Green.
We'll be seeing you soon in the F4 as I think NU are the pretenders this season.
Thank you for your comment. I believe that you are part of the majority of Ateneans who have dignity and a good education. I wish more Lasallians and Ateneans act in the same manner.
Sir Tony, I apologize for my actions. ( I think you know who I am) It was immature of me talaga.
Hi TGM.
I am the equalizer! My tickets were from the Ateneo side that I had to go and approach 2 Ateneans to get our seats exchanged (they agreed!)
I do agree with your observation that the blue side seems to get more seats each time we meet them in araneta. I always hear La Sallians complaining about the difficulty of getting tickets so I don't think there are less takers from our side.
Keep blogging and more power to you.
Animo
Hi Sir Tony! it's my first time to read your blog and i really enjoyed it. La Salle student here. Well, in my opinion, the rivalry of La Salle and Ateneo is only during basketball games. After the game, when Ateneans were singing their alma mater hymn, some La Sallians were actually clapping as sign of admiration and respect. Same with the Ateneans, when La Sallians sung their hymn. It's just that some bring the rivalry outside the court to the point that they put dirt on each other's reputation.
Anyway, do you have any idea on how to purchase lower box or patron tickets? or do they sell these to students? :D
As always, great analysis, Tony. I have always been a fan that I immediately look forward to what you have to say after each game. More power!
Though we lost to a clearly more experienced team, this Archer team is not done yet. In fact, we've made great strides since this season started. The players have shown grit, great attitude, and huge heart to win. Kudos also to the coaching staff for the transformation. However, it is also evident that there are areas to polish. We need to zero in on these and focus on the remaining games in our push for a good position in the final four. We need to go back to the drawing board and look at the takeaways from yesterday's game.
Great game Eagles. My hats off to Elorde and Capacio for their gesture. See you in the next games.
Keep your heads high, Archers! You make us proud. La Salle faithful, let's keep supporting our school. Animo!
Apology accepted. It takes courage to do what you did. Saludo ako yo.
Johni,
The times have changed. I have also experienced the same thing where I get tickets in the Ateneo side and Blue and Green mill arounbd the exchange table talking to each other and exchanging tickets. One time an Atenean exchanged his Patron tickets in the La Salle side with my Lower Box tickets in the Ateneo side.
Hi Tony. It's disappointing to hear about the disparity in the distribution of tickets. I always have a hard time getting tickets to big games.
I agree that the 1st quarter did us in. I think it was a gamble to start with Torres at point. He's a talented kid but still lacks the experience. If LA had played or even if Vosotros started, I think it would have been a different story.
I'm also glad to see Tampus get some playing time. I always liked his aggressiveness and no fear attitude. If only he could always play with control and consistency like this game then that should get him back into the rotation.
I also like the development of AVO. Except for some blunders in the 1st Qtr, I can see he was not afraid to take it strong against Slaughter. N.Torres though was a bit tentative taking his shots against Slaughter.
Also, why is Dela Paz being benched? Is he still injured?
Welcome Norman. Thank you for reading my blog. To get tickets, maybe it would be best to talk to the OSD.
Tony, what has happened to Luigi dela Paz? In our last game against the Eagles, he made his presence felt and immediately created an impact when fielded. He is also one of those who can shoot from the outside and create his shots. It'll be good to have him back. Also, we need for Tallo to show himself up in the games. He was clearly tentative in yesterday's game. I know he has good shooting touch but in the game yesterday, when he had a clear shot and uncontested, he opted to pass rather than take the shot. Tallo could definitely help us in our goal of making the final four, and so does Dela Paz.
I was happy to see Tampus "back". We need all the help that we can get.
Looking forward to the remaining games. Go La Salle!
I have always maintained that both are great institutions for education. No rivalry shall exist if they were not.
Thank you Jayvee. I really appreciate the kind words.
I am not really sure about the status of Luigi but I know his shoulder injury was severe. Coach Gee might just surprise us by bringing him in when least expected.
I believe Tampus was perfect from the field. Correct me if I am wrong. I always thought Tampus would be crucial this season. He can score and we know we need scorers. This makes me question why Coach Gee has to sit him the past how many games. Even Luigi's benching is strange.
Our weakness are our big guys. AVO however seems to be improving with every game. In fairness, Yutien, was like 70% of his usal self in this game. As for Norbert, the defenses have already adjusted on his limited inside game. He has to hit those midrange shots more often if he is to contribute.
Holy crap, I thought you hated Ateneans. I was supposed to approach you after the game but I got scared =)) Next time na lang pala po! :)
Who the hell apologized to you? :)) (HAHA ultimate chismosa)
HAHAHAHA! I have a lot of Atenean friends. Some Ateneans even said hi yesterday. They said that they read my blog and I thanked them.
Sir I think one of the factors which caused the blow out in the 1st quarter was Thomas Torres' jitters. That is not how Thomas plays. Most of the turnovers on that quarter were attributable to him (directly or indirectly). I hope Torres finds his groove back since he is an integral cog of the Green Archer team.
But I am very positive though that the team will improve, if not this season, in the seasons to come. Can't wait for that day to come!
P.S. Coach Gee should revive the "Nightmare Press!" It's not DLSU basketball without the Nightmare Press.
Sa amin na lang yon. I just admire his courage for doing so.
Oh I forgot, like Thomas, Tallo was also not playing his game. Both rookies must've been pressured by the atmosphere inside the Big Dome. haha. I guess we can charge this one to experience. I'm sure those two will redeem themselves on their next games and on our goal to be champs in the years to come. It may even happen this season, who knows. hahaha
I'm staying positive for the team. ANIMO!
sana si Nico mag apologize kahit na pa-joke lang yun
pero dlsu is still the best!!!! HAHAHAH
Your thoughts on our players wearing shirts that say Tengsanity and Arnold Van Awesome?
I find these shirts very un-La Sallian. We were raised to be Christian Gentlemen. In addition, Teng and AVO have not won any UAAP titles, and yet they have the gall to proclaim how "great" they are?
Ritualo won 4 titles, and he never wore a shirt that said "Greatest Player Ever To Play In The UAAP!"
My message to these players: win several UAAP titles, before you even think you have the right to wear such pompous attire.
Stay humble, stay hungry. These are words that one should live by.
what if Salva raises his hand while singing the Alma mater if we ended up getting the 4th slot in the final four? ang face against ateneo again? what if He decided to raise his hand for the 1st time what is your thoughts for him?
i am still sad after we lost to Ateneo yesterday.
but after reading this blog, and the comments of my fellow LaSallians who keep on holding THE GREEN AND WHITE BANNER HIGH AND PROUD and also the comments of Ateneans who also noticed how well our players played, i am comforted. (listening to the LaSalle Alma Mater hymn over and over also helped).
btw, i want to add/i agree that our big men should also develop their outside game.
keep on writing Mr. T :) kudos to your work.
HAIL TO DE LA SALLE! Congrats Ateneo :) hope it won't be the last time we will experience the sea of Green and Blue this season. :)
Well im not a sport analyst but i love dlsu and bsketball so i want to say something too.
Jeron is jeron and definitely he can bring dlsu to f4 but if we want something higher, we need other guys to step up.
Almond - dlsu needs him even if L.A is around. His snipping is definitely an asset.
Dela Paz - His perimeter shots like Almond will help compliment jeron's slashing ability. Jeron will just need to attract defenders and kickout to the perimeter.
Jovet - with Norbert's offense ineffective with f4 teams, we need a guy who knows how to position himself without the ball.like yutien, this guy is pure hustle.
These guys we need them if we really want to be considered as legit contenders.
Sir, what if one of your grandchildren decides to study at Ateneo, payag kayo?:))
Hi everyone, hope you could help me with my question. When is the DLSU FEU game? The original schedule list and the official UAAP website by Studio 23 says September 19 but goarchers.com and Studio 23 themselves during games say its September 16. Thanks!
Tony, as a La Sallite by heart, losing is of course disappointing. Our loss yesterday, I believe, was due to our young team's lack of maturity. But what was gratifying to see was that the team never lacked the fire. The famed La Salle Animo spirit. They kept coming back. With the La Salle community as One, our glory years will be back very soon indeed. Animo!
Hi Tony, big fan of your blog, really looking forward to reading your posts even off-UAAP season.
Did Salva really try to discourage Gwynne & Elorde from singing our Alma Mater?
What a fool, SHAME on him if so. Wow. As a huge La Salle fan, I've always admired and had great respect for Salva's game. But with what he did, shame! It is unbecoming of an LSGH GS grad to do so.
Nice read again sir! Hope I can catch you at the games next time. I just posted my own write-up. Hope you can check it out, too! More power to both schools :)
CSR,
You have a good point there.
Alfred,
Whatever Salva decides is his choice. I will respect his choice, whatever it may be. For me, the issue is closed.
Thank you Shayne for your kind words. Hope to meet you at the games so i can personally thank you for reading my blog.
If one of my grandchildren decides to study at the Ateneo, I won't be hypocrite and say I won't be disappointed but that will not make me stop loving my grandchild. You may not agree with a decision but you always have to respect it. Besides, my grandchild will still be getting an excellent education.
We have to remember that these players are still in their formative years. I wrote about what Salva did and I am sure he will learn from it. Let's not condemn a person for one act. That's the Lasallian way. No matter what, you can take a person out of La Salle but you cannot take being a Lasallian away from a person.
I forgot to mention Isaac Lim, another Zobel player who is now with Ateneo who also sang the Alma Mater with Elorde and Capacio.
Thank you Enzo. Will check out your blog.
That loss has value. It serves as good preparation for the next game (or games) with Ateneo. Given our standing, there's a big possibility of meeting them again this season. And for the purpose of stopping the Ateneo juggernaut, Coach Gee is well-advised to bring Coach Franz Pumaren on board. Though the last season of the coach who gifted us with 6 championships was uneventful, no one, still, has had greater success against the Eagles come final four time.
Ateneo's offense is all about creating opportunities. Coach Norman, himself, said that Buenafe is getting extended playing time because they are taking advantage of the Slaughter-oriented defense. Coach Franz knows this strategy of Coach Norman very well and it helped him deliver the W in the Blue vs. Green Dream Game. Among other things, he was able to have the passing lanes guarded by not giving Aguilar too much of the expected attention.
With regard to adjusting to the quick calls of the refs when playing Ateneo, the boys may actually have to be more deliberate instead of going soft. Hesitation will only make it easier for the Eagles to pass the ball around and score off fouls. How the refs officiate should not change their game much less affect their morale. Deviating from what they have practiced is disastrous. Attributing ill-motives to the refs, whether with basis or none, is also counter-productive as they are a variable beyond our control. If it helps, maybe the boys could just convince themselves that the officials are only trying to avoid a messy outcome since every La Salle-Ateneo game has the potential to turn ugly. They can also choose to bottle it up, to be released at the end of the season; either way, the important thing is for them not to be affected. If committing to the established defensive patterns puts Jeron, Norbert and other key players in danger of fouling out, so be it. Their replacements, provided they play what was done many times in practice, will be just as effective in defense as well as offense.
Class act. Truly La Sallian.
oh em, you said "THE" ateneo :))
If they want to be called The Ateneo, then so be it. It does no harm in giving them that.
it's okay, guys... we had our time before and we're slowly getting it back again, just give the boys a little more time! :) for a fresh team, we've exceeded expectations so all they have to do now is focus on getting better and doing their best! the rest will follow :) ANIMO LA SALLE and KEEP THE FAITH!
I never knew that the Great Tony Atayde knows the existence of One La Salle Vancouver.
Thanks for acknowledging that the Vancouver Alumni Chapter is very active.
We have also touched based with our La Sallian brothers in Hong Kong. Their president attended our summer picnic and was awed by the number of La Sallians in attendance. And I quote him, "I feel at home among La Sallians."
I always look forward for the Green Mind to speak out through his articles.
Live the Animo,
Bong Domdom
Prez - One La Salle Vancouver
British Columbia, Canada
huge game for Buenafe. if he plays like that the rest of the season, i don't see anyone beating Ateneo.
Onto the game, the 1st quarter did us in AGAIN. It happened in the first game, happened again last saturday. Like Sir Tony said, we can't spot a veteran team +16 points early on.
Comment on the coaching, i felt that Coach Gee should've let Tampus play more minutes, especially during the 2nd half. He started out waxing hot in the 3rd quarter, big reason why we trimmed the lead to 44-42. He played i think the first five minutes then got subbed out.
The best thing about starting him in the 3rd quarter was not only because he was to guard Ravena, but he also made Ravena play defense on him because he's a born slasher.
If we see Ateneo again later on in the Final Four, Defensively i think we should try what FEU does to Ateneo. Pogoy guards Salva, and they let Hargrove, who's supposedly guarding Buenafe, roam the court defensively for help. We can let Jeron guard Salva at first, then send help with Andrada, doubling off Buenafe. We'll take our chances with Buenafe hoisting up threes rather than Slaughter killing us inside. It worked for FEU during their first game against Ateneo, until they choked.
Hi Mr Atayde,
Just wondering, is dela paz injured also? I did not see him play the other day? Moreover, hardly see him play this season or I might be wrong. Any news thanks
I think Tampus should see more minutes.
Great Article Mr. Atayde!
Jun Zulueta - as always, a great read from you Mr. Atayde. From one member of a traditional La Sallian clan to another, I look forward to meeting you in person and even maybe share some java when we the chance...AN1MO! & +SIGNUM FIDEI+
As always a great read from you Mr. Atayde. I totally agree with you that the boys are definitely getting back in fighting (championship) form, we really just have to give them time. Gee's program has definitely gained credibility and we just have to trust him right now, as always, unconditionally. We have our time and we can do it again. From one member of a traditional La Sallian clan to another, i look forward to meeting you in person soon and probably sit down for some java while we're at it. AN1MO! & +SIGNUM FIDEI+
I believe Luigi de la Paz should be given more playing time. He was more consistent than Tallo. Just my two cents worth.
hello tony
just to compliment you on your consistent and highly analytical commentary on the games and on the performance of the team. certainly learn a lot about basketball through your write ups and keeps the spirit of la salle very much alive.
I believe Luigi de la Paz should be given more playing time. He was more consistent than Tallo. Just my two cents worth.
It does not really come as a surprise if there is some disparity when it comes to ticket ditribution when its at the big dome. The Araneta's are die hard alumni's/fans of admu. even way before, tickets are available to admu before anyone else. actually, scalpers are second in line even before dlsu.
as for the archers, we should now move forward and the team must prepare hard to beat ateneo's sister team, FEU. its a crucial match that will make a big impact on the teams chances of getting in the F4. But we should all be proud of this team. they are so raw and young, both players and coaches, and yet they always manage to give good fight. it will be a force in the years to come. and with ecj guiding the team, we can expect to be on top again very soon. Heads up ARCHERS!!! ANIMO LA SALLE!!
OH and for that Salva...not surpised..if you guys only knew..
More power Tony!!!Looking forward to reading your blogs again.
Thanks to alll the kind words in your comments.
I still believe that La Salle will be in the final four and that will be a plus as we have surpassed the last two years of wins. Ateneo has the experience right now as someone stated we do not need to bring in a pro PBA coach. We need a true green blooded coach that was educated in La Salle. You know what basketball is just one event but we have always been on the top two overall in standings, So don't dismay we should be looking forward this season.
Bong,
Of course I am very familiar with the Vacouver Chapter. I was very active with the DLSAA and now am active with UMAEL (the international La Salle Alumni Association). Also I have many batchmates who are part of your chapter.
Luigi de la Paz had a severe shoulder injury that limits his mobility. It is similar to the season ending injury that sidelined Alex Huyles of Adamson recently.
Mr. Atayde,
I really enjoy your blog.
As a Lasallian, I can't help but use your blog as a scapegoat that gives hope that one day, we will be domineering once again.
But I guess I have to be logical as well. I just two items to point out.
1.) Was Slaughter really contained?
Obviously he was playing D. And that generally means he wasn't struggling. The big guy had fewer touches four assists. I don't even think he was given the ball to score in that first quarter run. Sorry to say, but using Slaughter as decoy was really part of Black's plan.
2.) Ticket allotments. I don't think it's Araneta's fault. Rather, if there was really more for the blue side, it could be the UAAP's fault for allotting tickets to be sold in the school grounds. There two parties Ateneo may have taken advantage of: Sponsors and Scalpers. Naturally, the winning team will always have more gusto to witness a match they would probably win. I remember well that during our 4 peat in the lat 90's Lasalle always had the edge.
Thanks Tony and more power!
It's my first time to watch as an alumnus but the intensity that me and my friends bring to the bleachers never diminished. We're still the same old group of people who'd scream and shout not minding the other spectators.
With regards to the game, I agree with you Mr. Tony, DLSU could've possibly won if they didn't let Ateneo pull away in the first. After the 1st quarter, we're staring down at a 15-point deficit I guess. And we're even a bit disappointed when Tallo left Buenafe wide open which gave the latter a trey.
Sir Atayde,
Exactly my thoughts as well. The Ateneo juggernaut is too much but that doesn't mean we can't do anything about it. I saw in the 1st quarter that the boys were tentative in attacking the rim. And if they do, it's either they kick out too late or turn the ball over. Ateneo's dangerous if given the chance to capitalize on mistakes.
We gave Ateneo fits during the 2nd and 3rd quarter and the first 4 minutes of the 4th quarter, but after that' it seems that the Ateneo bigs just got the rebounds more by willing themselves into grabbing those rebounds. Can't blame fatigue, but maybe youth can be a factor. Buenafe got a lot of offensive rebounds at the expense of Jeron. But trust me, as a former LSGH and DLSU Graduate School basketball player, I see talent and heart in this kid! No offense to the other DLSU players, but sometimes Jeron is really WILLING himself to lift DLSU up. If no one can execute, he gets the ball, attacks and has no regard if he'll be blocked or fouled. Jeron will be HUGE!
Love the blogs by the way. As much as I want to be biased in commenting, maturity is something I hold dear. In live games, yes, we are biased; but after the game, we look at the game in an objective and mature way so that we can identify what needs to be worked on and what to improve. :)
ANIMO!
Hi Tony,
Great article! If you could replay the game, who would you match up against Buenafe? The guy was just too much for Jeron don't you think?
Inspirational.. is all I can say with this article.. Thank you. Let's keep the animo fire burning
Great article Sir Tony!! I love reading your blogs and i agree that the UAAP chairpersons should do something about the ticketing system. Hats-off to Oda Tampus for playing his heart out, Coach Gee should give him decent playing time. On the other hand, there`s no doubt that Jeron Teng is the new king archer. I believe that they`ll make it to the final four this season and they have a huge chance to make it to the finals. Just keep the faith. Animo La Salle!!
While we do have a a number of players in the bench that can really play, sometimes the coaching staff needs to maintain a stable rotation of at least 8-9 players per game. Even Team USA had to freeze Harden, Davis and Iggy.
Plus, its always about the match-ups. Oda on Kiefer is the better matchup compared to Manguera-Ravena. (in fairness Manguera does a monster job to the rest of the UAAP studs)
From what i saw in the 1st quarter, we forced it to AVO too much(resulting in 2-3 instant TOs), and not enough of the Bear.
I haven't seen anybody posting on Ryan Buenafe... but he killed us that 1st quarter. He should be checked as well. But then its a really talented starting five for Ateneo. Solve one piece and the others take over. Put a stopper on another and our offense takes a hit.
I've been through the painful 93-98 so-near-yet-no-title days and I've seen the Allado-Cortez-Ritualo-Cardona-Casio title hauls... we will see better years ahead with this year's core.
Sir:
First off, I would like to properly identify myself as an Atenean.
The ticket problem is more a supply and demand problem. There is simply too many who want it and too little to go around. In theory Araneta should have been divided 50-50, but in recent years it looks more like 55-45 or even 66-33 in favor of Ateneo.
There are many reason why ADMU fans seems to have been outnumbering their DLSU fans and I offer several hyphothesis:
1. The DLSU Finals week- The 2nd Round of the UAAP Men's basketball is scheduled near DLSU's finals. Many DLSU students would prioritize their exams than to go to the games. ADMU with its two semester school year does not have this problem.
2. ADMU has been beating DLSU - The record since 2007 is 14-3 in favor of ADMU. DLSU has not won since the first round of 2010. This means that half of the student body has seen only one win and the other half has not even seen a win. Do not take this as a sign of lack of loyalty, but it would take a lot of effort to convince these youngster about pride if they are not exposed to winning. I was there during the ADMU-DLSU championship series of 2001, 2002 and 2008. DLSU can pack the numbers--but you got to give them a reason to believe. It starts by winning.
My hyphothesis however does not discount the possibility that there is indeed a group of heartless individuals who may be involved in organized scalping. Till we find them, we wish you all the luck in finding tickets.
i was singing our alma mater hymn with all my heart so i wasnt able to see that salva's bad deed. kudos to elorde and capacio.
sir tony, just so you know, it's like a ritual that after every game your blog is always our first blog to read. :) animo!
Jeron Teng will be a great player, but there are two things he must adjust to achieve this greatness. First, he can easily be checked. Once he has the ball, defense will collapse on him because 100% he will shoot the ball. Since the defense will come to him, he must learn the drive and pass technique. Surely, his assist will soar sky high. And second, he seems to float on defense. This is the reason Buenafe scored high because he was left open by Jeron. Maybe his father, a great defensive player, can teach him a note or two. Watch the tape Jeron and you will see what I mean.
Nico Salva, people are watching... that little act of putting former LaSallians' hands down is unacceptable... A classic case of all looks, all swagger, with a lack of breeding... It's not a general statement on Ateneans... i do also have good Atenean friends... and i know they accept me for being a LaSallian.. if you can't take your team mates' former school, then you're just blaming your coaching staff for hiring these former lasalle players..that includes a former lasallite like YOU
Is it just me or do our boys seem to have trouble with post entry passes (both the passer and the post player) and it was more evident in this game. When entry passes are made Norbear and AVO seem to lack control of the ball. Against a taller and longer Slaughter they can't even get the ball because Slaughter regularly tips it. Post moves taught by asst. coach Limpot are rendered useless if we can't even get the ball in the post. What do you guys think?
Well siguro I speak in behalf of our barkada. Kung manuod kami ng games full support kumpleto ang barakda kung baga cheer kung cheer every La Salle - Ateneo game. Mahirap makita na natatalo tayo ng University na talagang kalaban natin sa lahat ng bagay. Nakakatuwa nga dahil parang ang UAAP dapat La Salle - Ateneo nalang para mas maganda. Pero bilog ang bola, nakakamiss ang panahon nung laging nananalo - Batch 07' nga pala kami. So yeah, alam niyo na siguro Sir Tony kung bakit miss na namin ang tuwing nanalo dahil iba talaga ang players natin dati. Pero di naman kami nawawalan pa ng pag-asa sa team natin ngayon, meron at merong liliyab sa team natin ngayon. ANIMO! And next time papaicture na kami sayo Tony! :D If you don't mind without the "Sir" ANIMO!
Sir Tony, my comment may sound too trivial to be worthy of discussion, but hasn't anybody also noticed the disparity in the assignment of light and dark uniforms in the scheduling of the games? In the two DLSU-ADMU encounters this season, Ateneo had their blue uniforms on and won. La Salle should have at least worn green once, and who knows? I know jersey colors do not decide the game's outcome, but lady luck sometimes works in different and mysterious ways. To be fair to all the teams, the designation of light and dark color uniforms should be reversed in the second round by the league organizers so that each team can wear their dominant school colors at least once during the entire tournament. I do not remember the Archers wearing green against the Eagles twice in both rounds during previous seasons of recent memory.
Hi Sir Tony. Hope you're doing good. I always read your articles even the ones then at the inboundpass.com site. It pains to see our team lose to the other fence. I'm in Melbourne, Australia working for Jetstar Airways and be back in October (but will miss the games). I have a son who loves to play basketball though only born with a right arm. He'll be taking his test in October and he dreams to be a La Sallite like his Dad someday :). I hope I can bring him to a DLSU game though it's hard to get tickets, especially in (Not-Smart) Araneta. See you next game! More power Mate! Animo!
If Yutien Andrada was healthy, I would have had him guard Buenafe. Though Buenafe has the bulk, Andrada has the height speed. He could have been able to better guarad against the 3s, which was what killed us.
Thanks to all of you. I am truly humbled by your kind words.
It will be my pleasure to meet you all. Papicture tayo, pero bigyan niyo ako ng kopya.
Thank you very much.
A shout out to the Lasallians in Australia. Tell your son to persevere. Teach him what the word ANIMO really means.
For those who want to follow me on Twitter, my handle is the_green_mind
whats the fuzz about lasallians offering their tickets to ateneans.
im from ateneo... had an extra ticket... and i brought a lasalle friend with me. my tickets. my side. so he was in green in a sea of blue.
saw several people wearing green on our side too. :)
La Salle did not win the 3rd quarter. Ateneo 22 - La Salle 17!
Qtr Scores: 26-10, 9-19, 22-17, 20-21
Hi sir,
What Coach Black did was to take advantage of the mismatches in all positions, would have been a different story if LA and Yutien were present and atvleast we might have a fighting chance. Gee had difficulty matching up as he had to prioritize scoring.. Oda as great as he was on the offensive end, was also a liability on defense as Kiefer was taller and quicker on the dribble. I think Norbert, Almond and Oda could come of the bench and sustain firepower once the BE first five are off the court. Hope we get the chance the fight back in F4.
Next year would be a different story...
i think that our interior defense was bad.. buenafe and ravena had a lot of layups/putbacks.. there was no rebouding and help defense inside.. plus they didnt close out on shooters, buenafe tourched us in the 1st quarter.. i think that they should practice more on defense and free throws because our offense is already there..
sir as i said before oda can be a roi sumang for the green archers and it shows in the last game against the eagles ....it's just his time was taken by webb
Wow Tony! Your public is increasing in number. You deserve it.
What I found especially interesting in the game was how the more dynamic defense on Slaughter worked well. There's really no need to be too much on his face like what they did in the first round game. He is good but not exactly a Tim Duncan. Now that this has come to fore, maybe the help D can already pay more attention to the other aspect of defending against a slotman(i.e. limiting his ability to pass the ball to a well-positioned teammate). Stopping Slaughter, after all, is just a means to stop the prolific Ateneo scoring machinery. If he can still dish out the ball to just anyone, the higher purpose is barely achieved. I'm sure Coach Gee knows this and is already working out a surprise total defense on Slaughter and the entire game of Ateneo as well. That is why I am looking forward to watching the Archers play them again in the final four phase of the season. I know it will happen.
Wow Tony! Your public is increasing in number. You deserve it.
What I found especially interesting in the game was how the more dynamic defense on Slaughter worked well. There's really no need to be too much on his face like what they did in the first round game. He is good but not exactly a Tim Duncan. Now that this has come to fore, maybe the help D can already pay more attention to the other aspect of defending against a slotman(i.e. limiting his ability to pass the ball to a well-positioned teammate). Stopping Slaughter, after all, is just a means to stop the prolific Ateneo scoring machinery. If he can still dish out the ball to just anyone, the higher purpose is barely achieved. I'm sure Coach Gee knows this and is already working out a surprise total defense on Slaughter and the entire game of Ateneo as well. That is why I am looking forward to watching the Archers play them again in the final four phase of the season. I know it will happen.
I am not a Norman Black fan ever since the Billy Ray Bates era!
Thank you. I agree with you about Slaughter. We have his number already. What surprised us was the output of Buenafe.
Hi Sir Tony, I have been following your articles for years now and always found it comforting especially during our tough couple of years. I am from CBE id98, we are part of the lucky batches because all four years we were champion (thanks ren ren). I think all we need is a great point guard who will make things easier for our big men to score. Our championship years all had point guards who are leaders at crunch time. Do we have anyone in the pipeline that will fit in this role? I believe we are set in our big men for the next few years. For this year we need LA to be that guy in order to have a chance. More power and ANIMO LA SALLE!
That must have felt great to be in school when La Salle won 4 championships. My son also entered DLSU in 1998.
We just need to hang in there fellow La Sallians. Unfortunately our storied basketball program has to go through dark ages as well. But I think we can all see the light. It sure looks like we will be dominant again very soon and we will be for many years to come. ANIMO LA SALLE!!!
Ayaw mo nang mag GUARANTEE na mananalo kayo over ATENEO in the next meeting, sir Tony Atayde?
Hi Tony. I am an Atenean but i have always admired your passion for the green and white. Your blog, iis always a great and informative read. Sometimes i agree, and sometimes I don't, with your views, but you are truly a gentleman who calls it both ways.
Weather weather lang yan. Dlsu will have a really great team next year, while we will lose 5 seniors, which makes for an interesting next season. More power and see you in the final four.
"La Salle won the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarter but not enough to erase the plus 16 given to Ateneo." - not sure what you meant here. Did La Salle give the game away to Ateneo? You mean Ateneo did not work for the 16 points? then after La Salle gave those away..they were then working their way to get it back what they gave away freely.
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