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. FEU (Fil-Oil Flying V Preseason Tournament)

Ateneo 74, Far Eastern U 63


-After a very slow start for the defending Fil-Oil and UAAP champions all through out the elimination round, the Blue Eagles finally had a big win that fans were waiting for, as they dismantled the FEU Tamaraws to enter the semis. However, this came after three tight quarters, where the Tams somehow managed to find their offense early thanks to RR Garcia and new import Anthony Hargrove. In the end, it was still Greg Slaughter who came out on top, with Ateneo not looking back at the Tams who mustered all efforts just to keep the score close.

-This game showed the importance of Slaughter in the Blue Eagles' offense this season. While the Ateneo backcourt has struggled to find their shots from the outside, the Blue Eagles were very comfortable in the paint, as Slaughter's presence helped them haul second chance opportunities to score. His presence could have also contributed in . On the other end of the court, his presence gave the other Eagles the confidence to go for the boards, something that they failed to do during their game against DLSU.

-Kiefer Ravena remains to be a question mark up until this game. The former rookie of the year's shooting has gone down to the low thirties in this Fil-Oil tournament, not even making those simple midrange jumpers and fastbreak lay ups. However, in this game, he garnered 9 rebounds and 7 assists, which is an amazing feat considering his scoring slump lately. Is this just a case of poor shooting on his part? Or is it a matter of adjusting to the pace that the Blue Eagles are playing right now? Either way, we hope to see a better Ravena as the UAAP season opens.

-Thanks to scoring spurts late in the fourth quarter, the Blue Eagles have firmly padded the lead that they had in the third, finally sealing the victory earlier than expected, and surprisingly, it came from long bombs that the Blue Eagles have been wanting to put in since the first day of the preseason tournament. Tonino Gonzaga, the energetic scorer who did not get a single shot in during the first three quarters, started the fourth with a 5-0 run of his own. Juami Tiongson, heavily criticized because of his playing style as a starting guard alongside Ravena, hit two more threes to finally give the win to Ateneo. It's a consoling thought that with Ravena out cold in the backcourt, there are guys who can carry his load and actually score when it's needed; however, consistency should be the key for them, and perhaps the team needs to really work out their offensive sets before the UAAP season kicks in.

-As far as the first three quarters are concerned, the Tamaraws have shown that they are still championship contenders after experiencing two straight Finals losses against the four-time champions. The trio of RR Garcia, Terrence Romeo, and Mike Tolomia have not changed in terms of scoring. The backcourt got a huge upgrade with the addition of American Anthony Hargrove (who once trained for the Blue Eagles) and former DLSU forward Arvie Bringas (who was slapped with two technicals in this game and was consequently ejected from the game due to trash-talking). Right now, all the Tamaraws need to do is to work out their combinations in the court, and if they ever find the right ones, then they still have a good chance of entering the Finals for the third straight year.

-Another championship contender is next in line to test the Blue Eagles, as Ateneo now gains a semifinal match with the National University Bulldogs. Keeping in mind the huge improvement that the Bulldogs had this season, it will be exciting to see how the defending champions will adjust and keep up with Bobby Ray Park's team that is sure to make it big come Season 75.

The Scores:


Ateneo 75 - Slaughter 29, Tiongson 12, Salva 9, Gonzaga 9, Sumalinog 7, Ravena 6, Erram 2, Babilonia 0, Pessumal 0, Lim 0, Cipriano 0, Chua 0, Buenafe 0, Elorde 0, Porter 0, Golla 0

FEU 63 – Romeo 13, Hargrove 12, Garcia 8, Tolomia 8, Cruz 6, Belo 5, Mendoza 4, A. Bringas 4, Escoto 2, Sentcheu 1, Huevos 0, M. Bringas 0, Pogoy 0, Inigo 0

Quarter scoring: 15-16, 30-33, 51-50, 75-63

Credits to Inquirer for the pic.

Drive and Desire: AdMU vs. FEU Finals Game 2 (UAAP S74 Final Four Special Recap)

Ateneo 82, FEU 69
Blue Eagles clinch fourth straight Championship
(Finals MVP: Nico Salva)

As the moment for Ateneo to claim its fourth straight championship draws near, people have been talking about the second game of the Finals through historical references. Some would like to go back to Season 73, expecting that FEU can deliver a better game and bring out another Ryan Buenafe who would seal the deal for the Blue Eagles. Others would go back to the 2009 championship against the UE Red Warriors, which practically broke the "October curse" (wherein Ateneo, in the past decade, loses to its Finals matches set in October). Even others, doubters specifically, would go back to 2003, telling the Blue Eagles that they should watch out, because the Tamaraws are hungrier with their backs against the wall.

But for this year's Blue Eagles, as part of Coach Norman Black's philosophy, the past has always been the past. The Game 1 domination over the FEU Tamaraws has given them both so much and so little. On one hand, they have the advantage and is one game closer to the fourpeat that they and the Ateneo community wanted so bad. On the other hand, the scores are back to 0-0 and they will have to start again, especially now that things might change because both teams have been given so much time to prepare and see what needs to be improved. However, one thing has remained the same for them, something that they have carried over since summer break: that the Blue Eagles are hungry for the win and they will go for the kill if presented with the opportunity, and they entered the possibly last game of the season with this mindset.

The first quarter became a tit-for-tat battle of some sorts. Both teams were able to find opportunities to score, with one team getting a small lead which the other would then take away in a matter of few seconds. However, the Blue Eagles were able to gain a safe five-point lead after ten minutes, thanks to a last minute basket by Justin Chua.

The Blue Eagles threatened to blow the game early when the second unit continued their superb play, when Juami Tiongson extended the lead of the Blue Eagles to ten, 28-18. However, the Tamaraws weren't ready to give up yet, as RR Garcia and Aldrech Ramos led a furious rally that had them up 37-36 after the first half.

At this point, many would think that this would be similar to Season 73's Game 2, saying that it would be a gut-wrenching fight to the finish, where at the last minute it could be anybody's ball game. However, later on, Coach Norman Black would say that he held back the team's offense in the second quarter after getting that large lead, letting the players find their own groove in the offense while at the same time playing excellent defense. It was a wager, but nevertheless, it worked, because after the halftime break, the Blue Eagles surprised the Tamaraws by executing perfect screen-and-roll plays that allowed Kiefer Ravena and the rest of the Ateneo backcourt to find their spots or attack the basket. After Gonzaga's relentless attack to the basket that resulted into an and-one, the Tamaraws were in the same hole that they were in during the first game, staring at an eleven-point lead, a margin that the Blue Eagles would not want to relinquish as they enter the final minutes of the g ame.

The Tamaraws had a few attempts to crawl back into the game, with RR Garcia desperately finding ways to score against a tight Ateneo defense. But then, all was too much for them. Kiefer Ravena responded to Garcia's basket that trimmed the lead to ten, extending it back to fourteen, and the Tamaraws have been silent since then.

The last two minutes have been garbage time, with the Blue Eagles and the four-finger-flashing Ateneo supporters, composed of more than 70% of the Smart Araneta Coliseum crowd, just waiting for the final buzzer to sound . And when it came, there was a thunderous roar of celebration, as the Blue Eagles, led by Coach Norman Black, became the first team to win at least four straight championships, joining the ranks of the UST Growling Tigers under Coach Aric del Rosario, the DLSU Green Archers under Coach Franz Pumaren, and the UE Red Warriors under the legendary Coach Baby Dalupan.

The Blue Eagles finished off the Tamaraws without anything essentially new, and they utilized their one and only weapon against them: dynamic team play. They could have centered both their offense and defense on Slaughter and Ravena, but perhaps what surprised the Tamaraws, Coach Bert Flores specifically, was the way it was decentered during this final game.

Yes, it is true that the two newcomers, Greg Slaughter and Kiefer Ravena, became vital cogs in this run, but it was not theirs alone. Of course, there was the "third banana," Nico Salva, who, after a perfect offensive performance in the first game, came back with a splendid Kobe-esque performance in Game 2 to bag the Finals MVP Award. Emman Monfort and Kirk Long also gave headaches for the Tamaraws, especially when the pick and roll surprise was executed in the second half.

Lastly, the bench delivered the punch that the Sixth Men demanded from them. Tiongson astounded everyone with running jumpers and a quick corner three, finishing with 11 big points. Tonino Gonzaga, the team's epitome of burning passion to win, had an and-one play and a huge triple that put the Tams away for good during the third canto. Justin Chua effectively kept the FEU big men at bay, conquering the paint in his own way.

The Blue Eagles, in the end, were once again too much for the FEU Tamaraws. In the two Finals games, Coach Bert Flores threw everything against the Blue and White, even plugging in those whom he would not normally put in, such as Roger Pogoy, Clarence Foronda, and the injured Christian Sentcheu. The three-guard combination alongside Aldrech Ramos did not make things work in terms of the offense, as they threw in miss after miss, lucky enough to grab offensive boards and take their chances once again. Garcia and Ramos, however, put up a fight in the first half, showing the determination to survive, hoping that the two of them could force a rubber match. Apparently, their teammates did not join them well in their endeavors.

The FEU defense was just horrible, as the Tams were unable to hold on to their slim one-point lead in the third quarter. Still, they could not contain Slaughter, Ravena, and Salva altogether, and they even allowed the Ateneo bench to find their spots on the court. Their lack of ability to adjust their offensive and defensive plays became their downfall. And as we have seen, it was the same thing that happened during the second half., even with Coach Bert Flores admitting to Ateneo's near-perfect game.

The Tamaraws, together with the six other UAAP teams, will start the work of rebuilding, hoping that they can grab the crown that comfortably rests in Loyola Heights, now on its fourth year. Of course, the Blue Eagles will do just that after two weeks, when they enter the Unigames and wait for their PCCL matches. But now, they only have to celebrate and relish the blessing.

The Scores:

Ateneo 82 – Ravena 18, Salva 15, Slaughter 11, Tiongson 11, Monfort 9, Gonzaga 6, Long 5, Chua 5, Erram 2, Pessumal 0, Sumalinog 0, Golla 0, Austria 0

FEU 69 – Ramos 20, Garcia 16, Tolomia 7, Romeo 7, Escoto 4, Bringas 4, Exciminiano 4, Foronda 3, Cruz 2, Noundou 2, Pogoy 0, Mendoza 0, Knuttel 0

Quarter scoring: 23-18, 35-36, 57-45, 82-69

Credits to Fabilioh for the picture and Inboundpass for the box scores.

By Mere Inches: Ateneo vs. UST (UAAP S74 Final Four Special Recap)

Ateneo 69, UST 66
Blue Eagles clinch Finals spot

Unlike last season, the Blue Eagles' down-the-wire games were really few. The first game against the Adamson Soaring Falcons was one (ending the game with a 55-51 card). After that, all the Blue Eagles' wins were blowouts, with most of them having the fourth quarter as mere formalities that will settle the final score and allow the opponent to at least catch up.

But then, there was the near-shocker against FEU during the start of the second round. Thanks to Kiefer Ravena, the Blue Eagles still held a perfect record after turning a 16-point deficit in the first half to a 6-point overtime win. The Red Warriors, one of the lowly teams of this season, put the Blue Eagles' standings at the line, but Emman Monfort silenced the reds with his free throws. Everyone wished that the battle against the Adamson Soaring Falcons would go the same, but time (and shooting and defense and everything else) ran out for the Blue Eagles, instead losing in double digits.

Nowhere in the previous paragraph did the UST Growling Tigers got mentioned, who were defeated by the Blue Eagles twice during the eliminations. Their first meeting was close up until the middle of the third quarter, when the Ateneo first five pushed the gas pedal and went all the way to a 13-point win. It was even better in the second round, when the Blue Eagles were excellent on both ends of the floor, and the bench even stopped the UST first five from even getting close in the final canto.

Having those wins against the Growling Tigers, this semi-final match should be a walk in the park, a mere formality to enter the Finals, right?

Wrong. After the defeat against the Blue Eagles in the second round, Coach Pido Jarencio made the necessary adjustments to win the next four games, only to lose to the National University Bulldogs in their final game (due to Karim Abdul's suspension and Carmelo Afuang's operation) which brought them to the fourth seed. In this semifinal game, the Growling Tigers have shown that the Blue Eagles would have to work hard, harder than their elimination round efforts, to punch their ticket to the Finals.

In the first half, crowds of the blue and the yellow show a shuffling between two teams. Leads were switching early on, and the Blue Eagles first five could not cool down the Tigers, especially Karim Abdul. Fortunately, the efforts of the Ateneo bench on both sides of the court, especially Tonino Gonzaga and Juami Tiongson, gave the Blue Eagles some breathing room, before the starters went back out and extended the lead to 8 by the half.

Cruise control was the theme of the third quarter, as an offensive surge led by Nico Salva extended the lead to fourteen. But then, a bad bench effort during the dying minutes and an offensive surge led by Chris Camus and Jeric Teng led to a critical situation for the Blue Eagles. Fortunately, time was on their side, as Nico Salva sunk his two free throws to keep the lead at thee after a Jeric Teng trey brought UST as close as one point from forcing a second do-or-die game. When the final buzzer sounded, there was no trace of premature celebration either from the team or from the crowd, for everyone knows that there is still a lot to work on, and the blue crowd could only thank the Growling Tigers for giving the Blue Eagles one hell of a game that shows that they are mortals, far from basketball gods who can make their way to a fourth straight crown and carve their destiny without looking at mistakes and keeping their focus in the game.

Perimeter offense and defense. Making the right passes and plays. Keeping the enemy at bay. These are some of the things that the Blue eagles will have to redraw and reprogram. Greg Slaughter and Kiefer Ravena have done so much, but the rest will have to exert the same effort and produce the same results as they do. To put it short, it's time for them to bring back the hundred and ten percent that brought them to a 13-1 record. Consider themselves having their backs on the wall even though they don't, because as we all know the Falcons and the Tamaraws are hungry for the crown, as hungry as the Blue Eagles were during these past four years.

And for the Blue Eagles' Sixth Men and Women? It's time for them to get serious. Of course, they would want a semifinal blowout like the past championship years, but they would rather have this win than have another semifinal game. After all, there is a time to feel that, and it's certainly not in the semifinals, but during the final two (or three) matches that really matter.

The scores:

Ateneo 69 – Slaughter 17, Ravena 13, Salva 12, Chua 9, Tiongson 5, Gonzaga 5, Monfort 4, Long 4, Golla 0, Austria 0

UST 66 – Abdul 16, Camus 13, Teng 11, Ferrer 10, Fortuna 8, Afuang 5, Tan 3, Sheriff 0, Pe 0, Lo 0, Ungria 0

Quarter scoring: 18-18, 38-30, 52-40, 60-66

Credits to inboundpass.com for the box and Fabilioh.com for the pic.

6 Points: AdMU vs. NU (Round 2)

Ateneo 61, National U 39

-The thirteenth game of the Blue Eagles did have some elements of bad luck in it, part of which includes poor outside shooting. However, luck did not even play a big factor in this game. Instead it was their trademark defense that got them going in the second half against the Bulldogs, who were now done for the season and could pack their bags after their fourteenth game. By the way, this season's Blue Eagles made another entry into the record books by allowing the fewest recorded points since 2004.

-Nico Salva truly became a dominant force this season, and this game was not an exception. He tallied 14 big points, as one of the four Blue Eagles who scored in double digits, which includes one of the three dunks in the game (one was from Slaughter, while the other, albeit missed, was by Bobby Ray Parks who was seen limping after the failed feat). Evidently, Salva already got his game going, and if this continues, then the Blue Eagles will be more dangerous entering the last game of the season.

-The Blue Eagles made explicit the key to beat the Bulldogs: clamp down Parks and Mbe, and the game is yours. Kirk Long showed how he can play defense, as he used his speed and athleticism to neutralize Parks, a twenty-something scorer who only had 10 markers that day. Also, Greg Slaughter and Frank Golla (who recovered from a mild sprain that hindered him from playing against UP) took turns defending Emmanuel Mbe, who settled for throw-ups rather than clean jumpers and lay ups and ending up with 10 points as well.

-Surprisingly, coupled with bad luck, the Blue Eagles found themselves in a tight game during the first half, even having consecutive turnovers from each team as if they were passing the balls to their opponents. But come second half, the boys did what Coach Norman Black usually tells them: play their D, and let the offense take care of itself. And it turned out to be effective for the Blue Eagles, who unofficially ended the game by the end of the third quarter, after Kiefer Ravena's buzzer beating trey.

-Bad luck struck the Ateneo bench in terms of offense, with only Golla and Tonino Gonzaga scoring for them, tallying 10 points together. The rest, however, which includes Justin Chua (who has been scoring big prior to this game) were firing blanks. But then, the role of the bench right now is to keep the game going while the starters rest, so it may not be totally bad for the Blue Eagles.

-Perhaps this game is an indicator that the Blue Eagles are really in a good place right now to grab that sweep and hence an easy Finals ticket. With such defensive dominance and an offense that clicks at the right time, it would be certain that they will pounce on Adamson quickly and extend the streak to 29. Thus, the more important question: will it be the usual knockout Final 4 game, or a stepladder match?

The scores:

Ateneo 61 – Salva 14, Slaughter 13, Ravena 12, Long 10, Gonzaga 6, Golla 4, Monfort 2, Tiongson 0, Sumalinog 0, Chua 0, Austria 0

NU 39 – Parks 10, Mbe 10, Javillonar 9, Alolino 4, Ignacio 4, Neypes 2, Villamor 0, Roño 0, Celiz 0, Khobuntin 0, Terso 0

Quarter scoring: 12-11, 26-19, 48-27, 61-39

Credits to Fabilioh.com for the pic, and Inboundpass for the box scores.

6 Points: AdMU vs. DLSU (Round 2)

Ateneo 79, De La Salle 62

-Who says that the Blue Eagles will have a difficult time without Greg Slaughter? With the towering threat on foul trouble (and hence a relatively weak post game), the Katipunan squad earned their eleventh straight win in fashion, hitting timely shots and never letting the Green Squad initiate runs through a stifling defense that forced them to score from the outside and chuck up jumpers and threes.

-Nico Salva was not able to hit anything save one during the UE game, and maybe he thought that this was the time to bring the groove back and provide another stellar performance. And come out big he did, as he was able to tally 19 big points not so much by hoisting jumpers but by bringing the ball inside in a Kobe-ish manner. Emman Monfort, on the other hand, proved that he is not only the best point guard but the gutsiest one as well, grabbing boards here and there and increasing his free throw percentage for every push and shove inflicted by the green guards on him. Finally, one might ask, how about the first round match's hero, Kiefer Ravena? The Phenom had his own turns as well, becoming the third Blue Eagle who scored double digits alongside Monfort and Salva… including that difficult magnificent side jumper after a Simon Atkins three that trimmed the lead to two during the second quarter.

-That must have hurt for the Green Archers when they were struggling even when the Blue bench took their roles (despite not scoring much compared to the DLSU bench). But the one who really did serious work was the most energetic Blue Eagle of this season, Tonino Gonzaga. He had 12 markers part of which were two treys, and one of them stopped a possible DLSU run early in the fourth quarter that could have given them a chance to trim the lead to as little as five. People watching on TV could have seen his "Angry Eagle" face once he made another lay up, which explicitly told everyone that he was meant to be taken seriously.

-Two important concepts that emerged in the Black's Board today would be "match ups" and "deference." Coach Norman played a game of strategic basketball, as he put JP Erram to man the paint in order to check the DLSU frontcourt and force crazy jumpers from everyone. He even made it a point to tire out the DLSU bigs by putting Salva and have him take the ball inside through dribble-drives past the slower Torres and Van Opstal. Apparently, it worked, right? On the other hand, one key to Ateneo's success today would be the way everyone makes the extra pass to the people in the right spots during the right time. When it looked like Erram would take a jumper, he saw Nico Salva down under and handed him the ball for the easier deuce. Monfort did the same when he executed the classic pick and roll and have someone drive or pound the ball inside. Oh, and did anyone see that outstanding passes to Salva and Chua?

-On the green side, props to Van Opstal for taking advantage of Slaughter's foul trouble en route to the only DLSU double-digit marker. This also goes to Almond Vosotros for being the only DLSU player to get things right. Seriously, perhaps LA Revilla could go off the bench, since Vosotros seems to be familiar with the system more than he does. And by the way, did anyone note that Ponso Gotladera came in? Maybe too insignificant to mention.

-With the Final Four spot nearly out of the equation, perhaps it's nigh time that the Green Archers think about the future, or at least provide immediate solutions to their problems. Is it with the players? Perhaps. Is it with Coach Dindo Pumaren? Most likely. However, at least they should look at their current problems and provide short term solutions. How about a new player rotation? Or perhaps, a day for free throw shooting, where until no one gets 500 made, no one is to leave the training facility?

The scores:

Ateneo 79 – Salva 19, Ravena 13, Monfort 13, Gonzaga 12, Slaughter 8, Chua 7, Long 6, Tiongson 1, Erram 0, Sumalinog 0, Golla 0, Austria 0

De La Salle 62 – Van Opstal 13, Vosotros 9, Tampus 9, Torres 8, Revilla 6, Villanueva 6, Atkins 4, de la Paz 3, Paredes 2, Webb 2, Gotladera 0, Mendoza 0, Marata 0

Quarter scoring: 14-11, 31-26, 53-42, 79-62

Credits to Fabilioh for the pic and Inboundpass for the box.

6 Points: AdMU vs. UE (Round 2)

Ateneo 74, UE 70

-There will always be days like this, when the team is not shooting well and almost everyone was too lazy to defend. But then, why does this have to happen to the same team that nearly got the blue boys when they were half-asleep? The Red Warriors once again threatened to take a win from Ateneo (which they successfully did against De La Salle almost a week ago), but the Blue Eagles held on to a safe four-point advantage by the sound of the final buzzer.

-On the other hand, props to the Red Warriors who have always played their hundred percent when they face the Blue Eagles, despite having a poor record that seems to pose no hopes of making it into the Final Four (but then, who knows?). The Blue Eagles were even lucky to have them as opponents before the bout with the Green Archers, as the Red Warriors have shown them situations that they might face as well when they come to face the greenies. Part of their success was due to their luck in making jumpers, while the rest were that of Paul Zamar and J.M. Noble, the one who played the game of his life as he had his way with 21 points, including a big three that put UE closer during the dying seconds of the game. Too bad, their opponent was too calm and too clutch for down-the-wire games like these.

-Fortunately, when all shots from the outside didn't come in, Greg Slaughter and Kiefer Ravena rescued the Blue Eagles. The former got himself in position during the whole game, taking on every Red Warrior big man banged at him, while the latter made turnover baskets that turned the tide after the first half, when UE takes a four point lead at 37-33. We just can't stop praising these two blue chips; nevertheless, they deserve this. On the other hand, Nico Salva's jumper was found nowhere, with him hitting only one of twelve, with most of them failed jumpers that he used to hit the previous game against UST.

-The bench also played relatively well on the offensive bench, with their 18 points well spread among them. Tonino Gonzaga, the most consistent one from the bench so far, led the pack with 7 points, followed by Chua's six markers, two of them from midrange.

-But highest individual praises should be given to Emman Monfort, who, a lot of people have been talking about as the best point guard this season. He tallied 13 markers, 6 boards, 6 dimes, and a steal, but his most important contribution was basically that which he does best: making those clutch free throws to give Ateneo the win.

-Perhaps we might also skip what was given and branded as plain stupidity, that Lourd Casajeros flopped and it worked for him.

The Scores:

Ateneo 74 – Slaughter 19, Monfort 13, Ravena 12, Long 7, Gonzaga 7, Chua 6, Salva 5, Austria 3, Golla 2, Sumalinog 0

UE 70 – Noble 21, Zamar 15, Duran 8, Casajeros 7, Enguio 6, Javier 4, Sumido 3, Sumang 2, Santos 2, Tagarda 2, Flores 0

Quarter scoring: 15-17, 33-37, 56-49, 74-70

Credits to Fr. Nemy Que, SJ for the pic, and Inboundpass for the box scores.

All In A Day's Games (4 August 2011)

State U 76, FEU 63

Shocking. This could perhaps be the only way to describe this game. While FEU came in as a legit contender, the team that used to be tagged as cellar-dwellers hit the crucial shots and kept their poise, en route to their second win of the season (a thirteen-point win at that). Jett Manuel served as the main man for the Maroons who had 20 markers, leading the charge against the sleeping Tamaraws. And where was Terence Romeo during the whole thing?

UP 76 – Manuel 20, Silungan 16, Montecastro 14, Mbah 14, Gamboa 3, Romero 2, Maniego 2, Juruena 2, GIngerich 2, Wong 1, Wierzba 0, Pascual 0, Evangelista 0

FEU 63 – Garcia 17, Ramos 13, Tolomia 12, Bringas 8, Romeo 6, Escoto 2, Knuttel 2, Exciminiano 2, Cruz 1, Sentcheu 0, Pogoy 0, Fabian 0, Foronda 0

Ateneo 66, UST 53

Ateneo basketball is about two things: team play and overall performance. While it may be true that Greg Slaughter was locked down (thanks to UST's superb defensive effort early in the first half), the rest of the team, led by Kiefer Ravena, picked up the slack (and yes, Bacon Austria had five points, while Justin Chua had his usual two). While it may be true that the Blue Eagles shot poorly from outside, their defense and transition offense made up for it. The result? Not really a satisfying win for the blowout-hungry Sixth Men, but still a win.

Ateneo 66 – Ravena 18, Salva 14, Gonzaga 8, Austria 7, Slaughter 6, Long 6, Sumalinog 2, Monfort 2, Chua 2, Golla 1, Erram 0, Tiongson 0

UST 53 – Fortuna 18, Teng 12, Ferrer 6, Pe 6, Camus 5, Abdul 4, Afuang 2, Vigil 0, Tan 0, Sheriff 0, Lo 0, Ungria 0

Postscript:

• Too bad Ateneo didn't reach its 70-point quota, although this was the second least points allowed by the Blue Eagles, Adamson being the least with 51 points.
• Tonino Gonzaga will get better, and hopefully he peaks in the second round.
• BACON Breakout?
• Mr. Atayde, you amuse us.

Jett Manuel photo from Hoop Nut, Zags photo from Fabilioh.com, and box scores from inboundpass.com.

6 Points: AdMU vs. UST (Fil-Oil Flying V Pre-Season Tournament)

Ateneo 59, UST 46

-Coming off a win against the Lyceum of the Philippines University, it was a relatively good game for the Blue Eagles as they tried to pounce early and get that huge lead. Their offense seemed to have a better flow now, after three games. One good observation is the fact that each guy on the floor knows that each one is a potent offensive threat, and it's just about letting each one find their spots and score easily.

-On the other hand, the fact that each one is an option can be somewhat a problem if the Blue Eagles do not execute plays that allow their men to go to their spots. As a result, there were turnovers and some ill-advised shots taken. Perhaps the plays just need more polishing in terms of execution, as well as deciding how to go through with it especially when the defense adjusts.

-Slaughter has been all over Karrim Abdul in the course of the game. The Smart Gilas rookie forced UST African to shoot from the outside, stopping him from attacking the inside. Despite not hitting much, Slaughter was able to score six markers, four of which were from the charity stripe. But more important than that was his 13 rebounds that had the Blue Eagle guards immediately running to score out of a break.

-UST is still a threat from beyond the arc, and with Clark Bautista in the zone during the first half, things got a little more challenging than expected. He staged his own 8-0 run with a couple of treys and a wing jumper, leaving his man behind as he stops and jumps quickly. Same goes for Jeric Fortuna who had notable markers of his own to bring the game closer.

-The pre-season games became an instant opportunity from the little voices of Ateneo to step up and show that they can face real opponents. Tonino Gonzaga hit a couple of threes and three field goals to score ten, and Juami Tiongson made full use of the picks given to him to score seven. The biggest of all was JP Erram's two big blocks, plus a jam after faking Abdul and finding that the lane is all for him. Hopefully in the UAAP, despite playing limited minutes, these guys can really step up and become a threat to opponents

-At the end of the day, it has been the defense that made the difference. Ateneo was able to execute their usual defensive plays against UST, preventing good looks for their guards. On the inside, they were able to fill in the paint and prevent Chris Camus and Abdul to score off layups. Also, Kiefer Ravena did a good job defending Kevin Ferrer, especially in terms of ball movement. Plus, the bigs had their own share of fly-swatting, preventing anyone inside the paint to easily score. Despite a mediocre 38 % from the field, their trademark defense got them the big lead and thus the game.

Scores:

Ateneo 59 – Long 10, Ravena 10, Gonzaga 10, Tiongson 7, Chua 6, Salva 6, Slaughter 6, Erram 4, Monfort 0, Golla 0, Austria 0, Sumalinog 0, Pessumal 0, Capacio 0

UST 46 – Bautista 14, Fortuna 10, Abdul 8, Ferrer 6, Teng 4, Camus 4, Afuang 0, Tan 0, Pe 0, Sheriff 0, Lo 0

Quarter scoring: 14-12, 29-27, 46-31, 59-46

Photo from GMANews.tv and box score courtesy of Inboundpass.com