The Road To Fivefold Glory Part 1: Rivalry Renewed

UAAP Season 75 Final Four
Semifinals
Ateneo 66, De La Salle 63
Blue Eagles Advanced To Season 75 Finals

They say that it is in facing adversity that fuels us, but who would want to face do-or-die situations that can make or break you?

The Blue Eagles have faced a radical sort of adversity before they entered the Final Four. A two week lay-off has given them the opportunity to polish their plays and improve their skills for the big games to come; however, this lay-off has also been marred by one big controversy that the school has faced. Manuel V. Pangilinan, the top sponsor not just of the Blue Eagles but also of the University as a whole, decided to cut ties with the school and the Jesuits. Coach Norman Black, as MVP's employee, offered to step down as a sign of professionalism, but fortunately was allowed to coach the team until the end of the UAAP season. This quick turn of events have somehow left the team confused and disoriented for their next game, not knowing what to do if ever their coach of eight years and now gunning for his fifth title would leave.

Fortunately, MVP decided to stick with the team until the end of the UAAP season, but the problems are far from over, because these Blue Eagles will have to face a streaking Green Archers team, set to return to the Final Four after defeating the Far Eastern University Tamaraws twice, sending the Green and Gold home before they can even vie for a shot at a third Finals appearance. Now that the Green Archers are back in the Final Four following a dismal Season 74 which in turn ushered changes in the coaching staff, each one of the Gang Green would want to get back at the Blue and White for winning 10 of their past 11 matches, a kind of revenge that pushes their rivals to the limit.

And such hunger drove them to play a close game against the Blue Eagles, one that did not start with big Blue Eagle runs that practically defined and determined the first and second rounds during the eliminations. The first quarter ended with 14-12, in favor of the Blue Eagles, with players trading baskets and quickly responding to each other. This went on even until the second round, and before the halftime buzzer, Kiefer Ravena, who has always played big against La Salle, scored six straight points to turn a 3-point deficit into a 5-point lead.

The third quarter has been a golden moment for the Blue Eagles during the past five years, for this is the time when they usually leave their opponents behind en route to a big win; however, this has not been the case against this invigorated La Salle team. By the end of the quarter, the Green Archers threatened the Blue Eagles with a 21-7 run, sending a message saying that they might see each other for one last time this season as they enter the final canto with a 47-38 lead over the defending champions.

Things got worse for the Blue Eagles as the lead stretched to double figures, as the La Salle lead ballooned to 13; however, this moment of adversity served as an opportunity for the Blue Eagles to show what they are really made of and how far they have come since winning their first championship way back in 2008. Coach Norman Black made adjustments to the lineup, reinserting Ryan Buenafe after a long rest and giving Kiefer Ravena the go-signal to dominate and make the game his.

Normally, it's a risky move to put one player in charge of everything during the final minutes, knowing that the opponent can make various adjustments to stop this one player from leading the charge; however, with the Phenom as "that one," the Blue Eagles were able to incredibly claw back into the game. With a 22-6 run that chipped away that Green Archers lead, the noise at the green side of the Coliseum died down, only to be taken over by "Fight!" and "Get that ball!" And just like that, the Blue Eagles are ready to send the De La Salle community home to their Razon Sports Complex to practice for Season 76, all thanks to Kiefer Ravena who, in that run, scored 16 of his own and assisted on the remaining baskets.

Facing a four-point La Salle deficit, Almond Vosotros sparked hope for the green and white after scoring five unanswered points and grabbing the lead during the last two minutes of play. However, the man of the moment, the guy who would always frustrate La Salle as long as he plays for the Blue Eagles would hit another one of his big baskets in his legendary basketball career. Ryan Buenafe, returning to the Final Four after hitting perhaps his biggest three in his career two years ago, hit another corner three to put the Blue Eagles up by two with only a few seconds to go in the game.

The game all the more got interesting when Kiefer Ravena was slapped with an unsportsmanlike foul after an attempt to stop Jeron Teng from getting a quick basket. The Rookie of the Year, with the game on the line and a 60 percent free throw percentage, unfortunately split his charities, followed by a turnover when the ball slipped out of his hands as he was driving towards an open lane. Ryan Buenafe calmly sunk in his freebies and punched the Blue Eagles' ticket to the Season 75 UAAP Finals, where the Growling Tigers await them.

The Blue Eagles swept their season and playoff series against La Salle this season, but with the way the Green Archers overhauled the whole team with promising pieces, it seems that the local basketball scene should be ready for another storm between the Green and Blue.

The scores: 

Ateneo 66 – Ravena 28, Salva 12, Buenafe 10, Tiongson 5, Slaughter 4, Chua 4, Sumalinog 3, Pessumal 0, Gonzaga 0, Elorde 0, Golla 0

De La Salle 63 – Andrada 17, Vosotros 14, Teng 12, N. Torres 6, T. Torres 5, Tampus 4, Van Opstal 3, Mendoza 2

Quarter scoring: 14-12, 31-26, 38-47, 66-63

Credits to Fabilioh for the image.

6 Points: AdMU vs. AdU (Round 2)

Ateneo 79, Adamson U 72

-Since 2008, the Blue Eagles have always won after a game in which they would lose, usually coming out big and showing that they are still the most dominant team in the UAAP. In Ateneo's twelfth game of the elimination, the Adamson Soaring Falcons seem to break the four-peat champions' record, using all means to separate themselves and consequently deal another second-round loss to the Blue Eagles. However, late baskets coming from the Blue Eagles in the closing minutes of the game enabled them to separate themselves from the feisty  Falcons and secured their 10th win of the season and 11th straight Final Four appearance since 2002.

-The Soaring Falcons' early lead, which they sustained most of the game came mainly from Eric Camson who shot the ball like frenzy both from the inside and the outside. However, in the dying minutes of the game, it was Nico Salva's turn to hit those big shots that gave the Blue Eagles the lead until the final buzzer. After struggling for much of the second round, Salva shot his way to 24 big points, with most coming from the long-two area where he is at home. If the former SBC Red Cub, now in his last year as a Blue Eagle, continues this splendid performance on both ends until the Final Four, he might just grab his second Finals MVP plum.

-Nico Elorde finally emerged out of the shadows of beneficial intangibles and made himself visible in the stat sheet. Elorde, who snapped his arrows for a pair of wings, became the fourth Blue Eagle to score in double digits off a few short stabs and long jumpers, proving to be an effective replacement to Juami Tiongson, who at that time was struggling on the defensive end which greatly affected his offense. With Elorde around, it seems that the future of the Blue and White at the one spot would be safe, as his toughness and ability to get past defenders (which brings him close to being an Emman Monfort) would be the greatest asset of the Blue Eagles in the near future, insofar as the backcourt department is concerned.

-What everyone witnessed in this game is not so much about the skills and talents of the players involved, but more importantly, the coaching war that occurred. Adamson's Coach Leo Austria knows Coach Norman Black and his Ateneo team very well, and he has every weapon for everything that the Blue and White throws at him. He came up with a quick lineup to provide double, triple teams to Slaughter in the low post, devised a way of clogging up the lanes which lessened the chances of Kiefer Ravena and Ryan Buenafe to drive in the lane, and when it's the Blue Eagles' turn to clog Adamson's lanes, he brought out the snipers and hit big threes to keep themselves afloat. However, the closing minutes of the game belonged to Coach Norman Black, as he tightened the clamps on defense, put more pressure on the red-hot Camson while letting guards run past picks and keep their men intact, and let his own players create their own offense.

-Eric Camson definitely had the license to shoot, finishing with 26 points thanks to six big triples that kept the Soaring Falcons afloat most of the game.  However, his struggles to get past the defense of the Blue Eagles just to score cost him in the final minutes, as fatigue crept up on him and hindered him from scoring big in the final stretch. Worse, other Falcons who were supposed to play second fiddle to him and back him up were seemingly missing. Roider Cabrera hit his threes early, but he cannot find his own position in the final minutes of the game. Rookie Jericho Cruz seemingly lost his ability to finish inside the basket, and Jansen Rios and Ryan Monteclaro failed to put the clamps down on Ravena as soon as he was barraging his way inside for quick layups.

-This win earned the Blue Eagles their Final Four spot for this season, their 11th straight since winning the championship in 2002, the most recent Ateneo championship before the historic 4-peat. They will be facing the streaking National U Bulldogs next. However, they will have to face their remaining UAAP games without the services of their backup center JP Erram, who tore his ACL after going for a rebound late in the third quarter. Erram will be out for the rest of the season for therapy, leaving Justin Chua and Frank Golla to man the four and five spots for the reserve unit.

The Scores:


Ateneo 79 – Salva 24, Slaughter 16, Ravena 15, Elorde 10, Chua 6, Tiongson 3, Buenafe 3, Sumalinog 1, Erram 1, Gonzaga 0, Golla 0

Adamson 72 – Camson 26, Cruz 14, Cabrera 10, Brondial 8, Monteclaro 8, Rios 4, Etrone 2, Trollano 0, Petilos 0, Agustin 0

Quarter scoring: 21-25, 38-38, 55-59, 79-72

3-in-1: vs. UP, FEU, DLSU (Round 2)

Once the UAAP Season 75 Schedule was released, followers of the Blue and White were quite puzzled (some even enraged) as to why the Blue Eagles will have to play 3 games in 8 days, with the last 2 of that stretch against teams that will most likely enter the Final Four and will pose legitimate threats to their championship run. However, instead of being seen as a hindrance, the team took it as a challenge, and within these 8 days, big adjustments have been made, coupled with results that even until now surprises everyone.

Ateneo 73, State U 66

The Blue Eagles started the second round with a match against a team that has all the potential to stage the biggest upsets this season. Coming off from a win against the UE Red Warriors, the Fighting Maroons brought out their best against the Blue Eagles, with big man Raul Soyud and gunner Mike Silungan leading the way to keep the score close and even take the lead at the half. However, once the third quarter kicks in, star sophomore Kiefer Ravena took charge and made up for the woes that Greg Slaughter and Nico Salva experienced early on. The Fighting Maroons threatened to snatch a win by coming in as close as four points in the final minutes of the game, but misses by rookie Henry Asilum and Silungan from beyond the arc allowed the Blue Eagles breathing room at the end.

Ateneo 77, Far Eastern U 64

Four days after that close win against UP, the Blue Eagles prepared for one of the biggest second round matches where winning is not an option but a necessity, knowing that any complacency on the Blue Eagles' part would cost them the number one spot and even the twice-to-beat advantage that they have held onto since Season 71.

As usual, the battle against the Tamaraws on the court was not an easy one. Punches and elbos came in the way of the Blue Eagles, as they shot charities after two unsportsmanlike fouls called on FEU. Afterwards, Ryan Buenafe was likewise called for an unsportsmanlike foul against Anthony Hargrove, and was then sent out of the playing court after being confronted by Mac Belo, from which Buenafe defended himself.

The Blue Eagles started with a huge 11-point lead, only to be relinquished and made into a 2-point deficit by the Tamaraws during the half. However, the third and fourth quarters proved to be crucial, as Juami Tiongson and Kiefer Ravena made up for Buenafe's absence by a barrage of wing triples that gave the Blue Eagles the lead for good. Another altercation happened in the final canto, when Arvie Bringas spit on the face of Justin Chua as the latter tried to stop the former from getting back at Greg Slaughter, who silently delivered an elbow at the back of Bringas before heading to the bench during timeout. As a result, Bringas was sent out of the court and later on was given a two-game suspension (one from the UAAP board and another from the FEU athletic committee).

What could perhaps go down as one of the dirtiest games between Ateneo and FEU ended up with a 13-point win for the Blue and White, who never gave up the lead once they were able to grab hold of it. However, the big win came at a cost as backup center JP Erram was suspended for the next game as he was retroactively slapped with his 2nd unsportsmanlike foul.

Ateneo 77, De La Salle 67

Everyone thought that JP Erram's absence would make things harder for the Blue and White to face their rivals, who in turn did not have top point guard L.A. Revilla at their disposal due to his nagging ankle injury. But then, Ryan Buenafe assured the Katipunan squad that everything would turn out just as fine for Ateneo.

Buenafe led a 26-10 first quarter run that silenced the sea of green in Araneta, as the returning forward hit a barrage of threes (Buenafe ended the game with 5, three short of all the 3-point field goals made he made last Season 73) that puzzled everyone at the Araneta. He also was able to defend top rookie Jeron Teng, who worked double to earn his 22 points as he struggled from the perimeter with Buenafe guarding him. The Green Archers tried to stage a comeback led by Almond Vosotros, who hit threes of his own. The Gang Green even came close to within 2 points early in the third, but Buenafe and Ravena led another charge that cushioned the lead and gave the Blue Eagles an 11-point lead by the end of the third, which, once again, they maintained despite being in the penalty early in the fourth.

At the expense of Greg Slaughter's measly 4-point production (the big man, however, grabbed 11 points, 4 assists, and 5 blocks), four Blue Eagles scored in double figures (Buenafe, Ravena, a lethargic Nico Salva, and Juami Tiongson) as they swept the Green Archers in the elimination round, a team which they would most likely face in the Final Four Semis.

These three wins gave them a strong grip of the number one spot, at a distance from FEU, UST, and DLSU who still have to establish their spots in the Final Four. And at this point, it will only take them two more wins (the next games against UE and Adamson, respectively) to seal their 11th straight Final Four spot and fifth straight twice-to-beat card.

The Scores:

Ateneo 73 – Ravena 21, Salva 10, Gonzaga 10, Slaughter 9, Erram 9, Tiongson 6, Chua 3, Buenafe 2, Elorde 2, SUmalinog 0, Pessumal 0, Golla 0

UP 66 – Soyud 14, Silungan 13, Asilum 10, Lopez 8, Padilla 6, Gamboa 6, Gallarza 5, Montecastro 2, Hipolito 2, Mbah 0, Wierzba 0, Romero 0, Manuel 0

Quarter scoring: 17-17, 32-34, 53-46, 73-66

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Ateneo 77 - Tiongson 16, Salva 15, Ravena 12, Slaughter 10, Erram 8, Chua 8, Pessumal 4, Elorde 4, Gonzaga 0, Capacio 0, Golla 0, Capacio 0, Buenafe 0

FEU 64 - Garcia 14, Romeo 13, Hargrove 10, A Bringas 7, Mendoza 6, Escoto 5, Cruz 3, M Bringas 2, Inigo 2, Pogoy 2, Sentchu 0, Jose 0, Belo 0, Guerrero 0

Quarter scoring: 15-13, 32-34, 49-43, 77-64

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Ateneo 77 - Buenafe 24, Ravena 18, Salva 12, Tiongson 10, Slaughter 4, Chua 4, Sumalinog 3, Gonzaga 2, Golla 0, Elorde 0

La Salle 67 - Teng 22, Vosotros 20, Van Opstal 8, Tampus 8, N Torres 4, Manguera 3, Mendoza 2, Andrada 0, Paredes 0, T Torres 0, Tallo 0, Webb 0

Quarter scoring: 26-10, 35-29, 57-46, 77-67

Credits to GMA Sports for the box, Fabilioh.com for the pics.

6 Points: AdMU vs. FEU

Ateneo 74, Far Eastern U 71

-During last season's second round eliminations against FEU, Ateneo found itself trailing by more than 16 points by the halftime buzzer, only to come back in the second half by forcing overtime and taking over from there. In this year's first round match against the Blue Eagles' Finals opponents for two straight years, they found themselves in that same double-digit hole; however, they need not force another period as they took care of things within regulation time, overcoming a 10-point first half deficit to seal the victory.

-The last time we saw Ryan Buenafe against FEU was in the Finals of Season 73, when he hit a big 3-pointer to seal the victory for the Blue Eagles. Returning from a season-length hiatus, Buenafe remained to be a threat to the Tamaraws, as he made various crucial plays that let Ateneo crawl back and take the game in the last five minutes of play, which includes his classic drive-and-pass play for Greg Slaughter and and-ones over two or three FEU defenders as he gets inside the paint. So far, this has been Buenafe's best game, and as one who will take over after Season 75, the new coach might want to maximize his talents, especially in playmaking and scoring during crucial stretches.

-Playing the four position, Nico Salva had difficulty on both sides, and he was not able to get over that slump until the fourth quarter, where he made that basket which gave the Blue Eagles the lead. However, in one's seeming absence, another one stood out and made a big contribution. Being a quick and athletic big man, JP Erram gave the burly bigs of FEU problems when it comes to hauling rebounds after misses. When Slaughter fails to make it inside, Erram will be jumping out of nowhere to grab that second chance opportunity. When Slaughter is double or triple teamed, Erram will come out of nowhere and into the paint, receive the pass, and make the easy basket. It really is baffling that since Season 73, the Tamaraws have not yet found a way to stop Erram when he plays alongside dominant bigs.

-The Blue Eagles are not known for shooting threes, and would only take them when there are no options available. Fortunately, key triples were made in that third quarter run, thanks mostly to Juami Tiongson (who had two straight from the same spot) and Nico Elorde (who in one play made himself available to shoot a three after a play executed by Buenafe). This game showed that Ateneo's point guards can also be relied on to score big baskets and not just make big plays. If Tiongson and Elorde develop to become reliant offensive options before the Final Four (at the same time, improve on their quickness and perimeter defense), then it would seem like Emman Monfort had not left the team at all.

-One can easily notice the Blue Eagles' fourth quarter strategy in a close game. In the crucial minutes, slashers would pound it inside and force fouls in order to bring the opposing team to the penalty, with Ravena and Buenafe leading the charge. The defense, on the other hand, will tighten in the paint, but the guards will keep coming at the perimeter players. This strategy has worked so far, and there seemed to be no way of winning against Ateneo if each Blue Eagle is at his best in clutch situations.

-With the way FEU was playing before they faced Ateneo, one might wonder how it happened that they were not able to capitalize on their early lead against the Blue Eagles and snag the win. RR Garcia proved to be a threat to the Blue Eagles' run for their fifth straight championship, as he went by all his defenders to score a three or a layup under the basket. Anthony Hargrove and the Bringas brothers tried to shut Slaughter down, only to be overpowered by a lanky Erram. However, Terrence Romeo somehow failed to live up to the expectations, as he went out hot only to falter in the dying minutes of the game, mostly due to simple, unforced mistakes. Nevertheless, it would be interesting how the Tamaraws would adjust, given that they have at least one more game to play against the Blue Eagles. Will they be again the legitimate rivals to the Blue Eagles for the third straight season, given that UST and DLSU have largely improved and have the right weapons against both the Blue Eagles and the Tamaraws?

The Scores:

Ateneo 74 – Slaughter 17, Tiongson 12, Ravena 12, Buenafe 10, Salva 6, Erram 6, Sumalinog 3, Chua 2, Gonzaga 0, Golla 0

FEU 71 – Garcia 21, Hargrove 12, Romeo 10, A. Bringas 10, M. Bringas 7, Belo 6, Pogoy 3, Sentcheu 0, Cruz 0, Mendoza 0

Quarter Scoring: 18-21, 27-37, 49-53, 74-71

Credits to GMA News Online for the box, Fabilioh for the image.

6 Points: AdMU vs. UP

Ateneo 76, State U 70

-In the Blue Eagles' past games, they have started strong early on and built huge leads that secured them the victories, but can they still get the W even if they play catch-up against their opponents? The Fighting Maroons started out hot and took advantage of a disoriented Ateneo team, but the Blue Eagles woke up just in time to remind UP that they are still a team to beat, and that the day will not end with a repeat of 2009.

-The third quarter storm returned in Araneta after its disappearance in the fight against the Growling Tigers, and it completely turned the tables in favor of Ateneo. Down 8 points entering the third quarter with the Fighting Maroons threatening to seemingly blow this game wide open, a magnificent run has been set up again by the Blue Eagles, pounding in 29 big points while allowing a measly 17 markers (which was even 2 points more than the "Norman Black standard" of 15 points a quarter) against a Fighting Maroons squad who scored a game-high 40 in the first half. Nico Salva and Kiefer Ravena led the Blue Eagle's climb out of the shallow pit, slashing their way into the basket, fishing fouls, and finishing strong just to get ahead of the Fighting Maroons. As a result, the quarter ended with 61-57 in the Blue Eagles' favor after trailing as much as 10 points at the start of the second half, and they never looked back. Should we blame the shot clocks' return after their disappearance due to malfunction?

-The Fighting Maroons should be credited with coming up with a good strategy to defend Slaughter, primarily using Raul Soyud and a bunch of double teams to stand in his way toward the paint, and one can even say that they did a better job than the Green Archers, insofar as this particular game is concerned. However, the Blue Eagles were able to adjust in the second half, not only penetrating through the Fighting Maroons' weak spots, but also giving Slaughter more space to operate inside.

-The absence of Juami Tiongson due to a minor injury made it difficult for the Blue Eagles to gain momentum, but fortunately, transferee Nico Elorde was up to the challenge of playing as starting point. The former Green Archer tallied only 2 points, 4 dimes, and a rebound, but he played great second half defense against former U-18 playmaker Henri Asilum. Perhaps a little more polishing and someday, Elorde will be at the ranks of Ateneo's top perimeter defenders, something which, unfortunately, La Salle was not able to bank on and hope for.

-The whole Fighting Maroons team have been exceptional, and this is the first time that they have shown the UAAP how strong they can be. Alvin Padilla and Marc Lopez were fearless in getting past their defenders. Soyud was just solid against Slaughter, and Chris Ball showed that he is potentially a threat to the opponents' defense. However, the largest question mark has been Mike Silungan, who was expected to be the Fighting Maroons' top gunner for this season. He came out of the bench to give him a breather and ease the pressure off him, and still he was swallowed by the tendency to save his team by chucking jumpers here and there in the final minutes. In the end, he only scored 2 points, his lone basket as that which he received from a lob. If there is something urgent that the Fighting Maroons' coaching staff has to address, then it has to be Silungan's way of playing the game and how he can be molded to adjust Coach Ricky Dandan's system.

-This is the first ugly win that the Blue Eagles have received, which brings them to a lot of important things that they have to learn, especially that with the UE Red Warriors being the next opponent, they might have this tendency to be complacent. On the other hand, the Fighting Maroons have shown that they can be resilient potential contenders, having lost only by single digits in all save one of its games. And for both teams, adjustments are crucial. The Blue Eagles need to adjust and keep their game up, now that it has been explicitly made known to them that they have bigger targets on their backs. For the Fighting Maroons, however, they have to establish themselves as valuable targets.

The Scores:

Ateneo 76 – Salva 21, Slaughter 13, Ravena 11, Sumalinog 10, Chua 7, Gonzaga 5, Buenafe 5, Erram 2, Elorde 2, Pessumal 0, Capacio 0

UP 70– Lopez 13, Ball 11, Padilla 11, Gamboa 10, Soyud 9, Montecastro 6, Asilum 6, Silungan 2, Romero 2, Mbah 0, Manuel 0, Hipolito 0, Gallarza 0

Quarter scoring: 17-19, 32-40, 61-57, 76-70

Credits to Rappler for the box and the Guidon for the pic.

6 Points: AdMU vs. DLSU

Ateneo 71, De La Salle 61

-The fourth game of the Blue Eagles' run for a fifth straight championship, this time against their rivals, seemed to be a piece of cake as they gained a large lead early, threatening to put this game away as early as the first half. But then, the furious 19-9 La Salle run during the third quarter gave the Blue side of the Mall of Asia Arena the chills, as the Gang Green from Taft threatened to pull an upset over the four-time UAAP champions. The Blue Eagles, however, calmed down and regained their composure, which led to unleashing a run of their own, which led to them ending the game in style and showing that what happened a few weeks ago against the Growling Tigers will never happen again.

-As always, defense played an essential part in the Blue Eagles' victory. Down 10-26 in the second quarter, DLSU pulled off small scoring runs to bring the game closer to them, showing how they can be an offensive powerhouse given their various scorers, especially L.A. Revilla, Rookie of the Year candidate Jeron Teng and big man Norbert Torres. However, during the last stretch, it was the Ateneo defense that prevailed, from which their offense follows. With the Green Archers up late in the third quarter, the Blue Eagles initiated the crucial 13-3 run that kept the Green Archers relatively at bay. In the final stretch, Jed Manguera's three-point basket helped the Green Archers to close the lead to three, but clutch plays by Salva and Slaughter eventually prevented La Salle to complete their comeback.

-Kiefer Ravena really has a penchant for playing big against La Salle. In the first half, he took the responsibility of finishing with quick layups, one of which includes swiping the ball away from a playmaking Almond Vosotros that led to another fastbreak basket. He was the first person to score in double digits late in the first half, and despite not scoring much in the second half, he provided the crucial baskets that made it difficult for La Salle to catch up and get ahead of Ateneo. On the other hand, Greg Slaughter reminded the Ateneo crowd that the team's loss to the Green Archers in th preseason was due to his absence. His excellent post game forced DLSU to throw double-teams at him, providing opportunities for Ravena and Nico Salva to finish strong. He also proved too strong for the La Salle big men, as Coach Gee Abanilla threw all of his big men at him without any real success at all . This shows how Slaughter's importance in the team, and with him playing in his last year, it would be difficult for the Blue Eagles to thrive in the post without him.

-The Ateneo bench played magnificently during long stretches, not in terms of the points that they have contributed, but more importantly in the intangibles. Justin Chua led the offense with quick inside stabs and jump shots of his own, while Tonino Gonzaga, despite not scoring in the game, did a good job in rebounding and defending Teng and, later on, Revilla in the final minutes of the game. Ryan Buenafe, on the other hand, distracted the La Salle defense once again with his drive-and-pass strategies, despite always being left behind by the faster Teng (who shot a three in front of him during the third canto). Perhaps this serves as a call for Buenafe to shape up in order to improve on his defense.

-The most crucial moments of this match came in the last five minutes of play. All through out the game, Revilla has carried the burden of the Green Archers on both ends, and his effort got them really close to winning this game; however, because of the pressure exerted to him by the Ateneo backcourt, was not able to set up shots either for his teammates or himself. On the other hand, Jeron Teng committed a horrible rookie mistake that must never happen again: a 5-second violation after having been hounded by Ravena on the inbounds. This unforced turnover paved the way for the Blue Eagles to pad their lead even further and eliminate the possibility for the Green Archers to stage a last-minute comeback.

-Judging from the way that the two teams played against each other in the second half, one can say that an Ateneo-La Salle game is something to look forward to every UAAP season, and this could happen in Season 74 not just one, but two or three more times. La Salle's huge upgrade enables them to possibly book a Final Four slot, giving them the chance to battle the Blue Eagles on the biggest games of the UAAP and possibly break their championship streak (which ironically, Ateneo was able to do so way back in 2002). Furthermore, this round one matchup can serve as a crucial turning point in both team's rallies this season, with important lessons and points for improvement that they need to consider to win their remaining games before the first round ends. And for Ateneo, who will face UP, UE, and FEU, this is a sign that generally, they have been doing quite well.

The Scores:

Ateneo 71 - Slaughter 20, Salva 16, Ravena 16, Chua 6, Tiongson 4, Elorde 3, Buenafe 3, Pessumal 2, Erram 1, Sumalinog 0, Gonzaga 0

La Salle 61 - Revilla 16, Teng 13, N Torres 11, Dela Paz 7, Manguera 6, Van Opstal 2, Andrada 2, Webb 2, Mendoza 1, Tampus 1, Paredes 0, Vosotros 0, T Torres 0, Gotladera 0, Tallo 0

Quarter scores: 20-8, 35-26, 53-50, 71-61

Credits to GMA Online for the box, The Guidon Facebook page for the pic.

6 Points: AdMU vs. NU

Ateneo 89, National U 65


-The Blue Eagles entered the third game with the specter of a loss looming over their heads, but they sent those negative vibes away as they trampled upon the one who is favored to steal their trophy. Once the Blue Eagles got hold of an early double digit lead in the first quarter, they never looked back and cruised to victory by a totally unexpected 24-point margin.

-It was just another day at the court for the trifecta of Nico Salva, Greg Slaughter, and Kiefer Ravena, who scored 52 points overall. Salva and Ravena took care of Ateneo's transition game, making most out of the fastbreak opportunities by scoring strong inside and fishing fouls. Slaughter, meanwhile, proved that he ought to be counted as one of the best bigs in the history of the Blue Eagles, by manhandling the paint, dropping dimes everywhere and finding opportunities to score easily against whatever the Bulldogs threw at him. With these three on fire and playing a team game where their teammates are given opportunities to score, Ateneo is again headed for another dream season, closer to winning their fifth straight title.

-Juami Tiongson has again showed his brilliance in the one spot, more than the six quick points that he has delivered in the opening canto. It as the third game where he has showed that he can take over the position and develop his own brand of pinpoint passing and playmaking which hopes to surpass that of Emman Monfort. After three games, Tiongson led the league with 19 total assists, notching a little less than 8 a game, and he has so far orchestrated a few good plays that lead to easy scores for the Blue Eagles. With this adjustment, the Blue Eagle crowd can only hope that he gets to play better as the season goes along.

-It would perhaps be fitting to bid farewell to big bench slumps that the Blue Eagles had during Season 74, as Ryan Buenafe once again led the bench, not statistically but strategically. As playmaker who doubles as a scorer for the second squad, he has not only given opportunities for Justin Chua and Tonino Gonzaga to show what they can do once they get their big backs of the warm benches, but also hit a shot that reminded us of Season 73: that left elbow triple that bailed the Blue Eagles out in the third quarter, ruling out the possibility of an NU comeback in the final minutes of the game.

-Parks's 22-7-4 is usual for a player this dominant; however, what kept NU from putting up a good fight was the loss of two weapons that supported Parks' own armory: Emmanuel Mbe's inside scoring presence and their scoring from beyond the arc. Mbe only had 14 markers against a dominant Slaughter, the former having to slug it out to actually free himself of the latter's clamps. The Bulldogs' snipers, on the other hand, seemed to be at their worst, as they hit only 2 out of their 21 attempts from beyond the arc. From these, it looks like the Bulldogs is still haunted by the specter of Season 74, where they received their worst losses from the Blue Eagles, and that their Fil-Oil experience of beating Ateneo by 17 points did not not really prepare them for what is to come.

-Finishing a big game with an even bigger lead should give the Blue Eagles enough confidence and determination to shut down another team to watch, namely their archrivals the De La Salle Green Archers. With the Taft squad having gotten a huge revamp, expect the next game to be a puzzle for Coach Norman Black, and unlike the games of old against DLSU, this will not be an easy walk to the park.

The Scores:

Ateneo 89 - Salva 21, Ravena 17, Slaughter 14, Chua 12, Gonzaga 9, Tiongson 8, Elorde 3, Buenafe 3, Erram 2, Porter 0, Pessumal 0, Capacio 0

NU 65 -  Parks 22, Mbe 14, Villamor 10, Ignacio 6, Rono 5, De Guzman 2, Betayene 2, Alolino 2, Khobuntin 1, Javillonar 1, Rosario 0, Neypes 0, Labing-isa 0

Quarter scoring: 28-17, 55-34, 72-54, 89-65

Credits to GMA Sports Online for the box, and The Guidon Sports for the pic.

6 Points: AdMU vs. UST

Ateneo 70, UST 71


-Keeping the opponent within the 30-point range in the first half had never been easier for the Blue Eagles than today, as they had a huge 15-point lead as the halftime buzzer sounded. However, it seems that the game is played for 40 minutes, with 2 more quarters left in the game. Sadly, they gave time (and space) for the UST Growling Tigers to crawl back and eventually control the game, which led to a close Tiger victory, one that has not happened in more than 6 years, after that 2006 Finals victory that was UST's for taking.

-The famous "third quarter storm" of the Blue Eagles did not come, with Greg Slaughter sitting for most of the third in foul trouble. Instead, the Growling Tigers took advantage of the lack of inside presence strategically, as they had Jeric Fortuna and Aljon Mariano drive into the paint, while Jeric Teng and Clark Bautista took care of matters beyond the arc. As a result, the 15-point halftime lead turned into a 4-point deficit for the dominant Blue Eagles, and with that, the Tigers never looked back, as they made key baskets thanks to the Jerics, Teng and Fortuna, with the former hitting a big three to keep things difficult for the Blue Eagles to make a huge comeback.

-Ateneo offense thrived in the open court early, and with Kiefer Ravena running the breaks and finishing magnificently after a slump in the summer league and in the first game, it seems that it will be an easy win for the Blue Eagles. However, whatever he has given, he has also taken away. Ravena went to the line twice during the final five minutes of the game, and he both split those charities, missing the first in both instances. Had those charity shots been made, then the Blue Eagles could have easily won the game. Nevertheless, it's good news for those in blue that the former Rookie of the Year has recovered from his slump and ready to take over once again.

-Starting PG Juami Tiongson performed exceptionally well in this match, as he notched 9 assists and made two big triples to bring the Blue Eagles closer to the Growling Tigers' fourth quarter lead (albeit the last one was too late for Ateneo to stage a comeback). For a team that needs an excellent point guard to lead the team on both sides, Tiongson is gradually fitting in the role, and perhaps he just needs to improve on his defense in order to match faster guards.

-The Growling Tigers have to get all the credit at the time they threw everything at the offensive end. Teng, Fortuna, and Mariano handled the situation very well and took advantage of the Blue Eagles' faltering defense. The biggest improvement for the Tigers, however, is Karim Abdul, who bravely faced the Ateneo big men and forced his way into the paint, With Abdul being the Tigers' legitimate center that can dominate the paint, their shooters will have enough space from beyond the arc, which makes the Tigers a legitimate offensive powerhouse, and in the last two minutes of the game, we have seen how this one went on.

-With this loss, the Blue Eagles can only look forward, and it is an imperative that they review this game and learn from their mistakes. Up next is the NU Bulldogs, who dominated without a single loss in the Preseason Cup. All the Blue Eagle fans could hope is that they use this loss as a motivation to avoid another one, which would place them below the .500 bracket for the first time in years.

The Scores

Ateneo 70 - Ravena 19, Salva 17, Slaughter 9, Tiongson 8, Buenafe 5, Sumalinog 4, Elorde 3, Chua 3, Golla 2, Gonzaga 0, Erram 0


UST 71 -  Mariano 21, Teng 16, Abdul 14, Fortuna 11, Ferrer 4, Bautista 3, Lo 2, Pe 0, Daquioag 0, Afuang 0

Quarter scores: 27-12, 43-28, 54-58, 70-71


Credits to Guidon Sports for the pic and GMA News TV for the box.

Update: Tim Cone Lands Consultancy Job for DLSU

It seems that the Green Archers are not yet done with their major revamping, showing that they are doing all that they can in order to put the Green Archers back into the radar.

Just days after acquiring prized high school standout Jeron Teng, the Green Archers hired Coach Tim Cone of the B-Meg Llamados to serve as the team's consultant for Season 75. The post has been held by Coach Jong Uichico, who left the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and landed a position as one of the coaches of the next Smart Gilas Pilipinas team and a consultant for the Meralco Bolts.

Before handling the reins of the B-Meg Llamados, the former head coach of the Alaska Aces, which won 13 titles under his leadership, expressed his interest in becoming the Green Archers' head coach. But due to his commitments with B-Meg, the DLSU management gave the post to Gee Abanilla, following Coach Dindo Pumaren's departure.

Known as the master of the famous triangle offense, which became the key to NBA Coach Phil Jackson's success with the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers, Coach Tim Cone would contribute largely to attaining the goals set for the Green Archers come Season 75, which primarily include returning to the Final Four after a dismal Season 74 where they were booted out of the final four with a 5-9 record.

Credits to Manila Bulletin for the news and Inquirer Sports for the image.

Ryan Buenafe Back In Practice?

It seems that the Blue Eagle gone stray has come back and is set to reclaim what he was and has earned in his three-year stay in the UAAP. According to members of the Gameface Media Forum, Ryan Buenafe has gone back to practice alongside other Blue Eagles (together with a lot of hopefuls) at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center of the Ateneo. Quoting a conversation between a certain "stow" and the "5footcarrot":

"i probably missed something but is there any new development to ryan's comeback? nagpractice na ba siya w the team?"

"Yes, I understand he scrimmaged with the team yesterday. I hope that those who were actually present could give us some first impressions of how he might jell [sic] with the rest of the team (especially the new guys last season)."

This still has to be validated by empirical evidence; nevertheless, having the former Rookie of the Year and Finals MVP at practice, which is an indication that he will have a chance at landing a roster spot in the Season 75 Blue Eagles, will boost Ateneo's chances of grabbing its fifth straight plum in the UAAP. Buenafe has been one of the most important players of the Blue Eagles from Seasons 71 to 73, and he might just play a bigger role now that the team is in need of a more dynamic small forward (having only Von Pessumal and Gwynne Capacio, which definitely need more improvement), now that Nico Salva has taken over the four spot. Plus, Buenafe, alongside Greg Slaughter, Nico Salva and Kiefer Ravena, could constitute the "big four" of the Ateneo offense, which could perhaps serve as the best offensive combo in Season 75.

With Ateneo winning their fourth straight title without Buenafe, his absence seems to be a blessing in disguise. Had he played in Season 74, he is set to graduate this year alongside Slaughter, Salva, Justin Chua, Tonino Gonzaga, and Oping Sumalinog, which consequently will leave a big hole in the Blue Eagles roster to fill up come Season 76. Fortunately, Buenafe will be there to stay and will have to lead a team that might just undergo a process of rebuilding.

But then, all of these are just mere speculations, and nothing is yet to be finalized. The team is currently having regular practices, and players, both included in last year's roster and those who have yet to vie for a spot, will have to be evaluated, giving them the opportunity to belong to the Blue Eagles' 16-man roster.

Photo from Fabilioh.com