Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Still Rusty
It's been a while since Rocky and I last watched an Ateneo UAAP basketball game. The last one was back in September 25, 2005, when La Salle defeated Ateneo in the final four. The Ateneo-La Salle Dream Games back in December 8, 2005 was close to a UAAP game, only that there was PBA music during play instead of the Babble/Pep Squad's drumbeat and cheers. Before I packed-up for this game, I made sure I brought the right jersey to wear (not a Ginebra jersey) and the right aura and attitude. I started chating "Gi-neb-ra" instead of "One Big Fight" during the UAAP game and Rocky had to constrain me (withdrawal symptoms). "This is UAAP and not PBA," I kept on repeating to myself those words so that I would be convinced that the PBA season, as far as I'm concerned (PBA season is the Ginebra season) is over, and the Blue Eagles' season has started anew.
Enough about the PBA. Let's talk about the Blue Eagles and their performance in the UAAP against the NU Bulldogs. Promise. No more talks about Ginebra. Go Purefoods!
***
This year's UAAP basketball season is exceptional with De La Salle University serving its one year suspension. On their absence the recruitment market was shaken, not only for basketball but also in other sports as well. Even before the UAAP started, the University of the East Warriors were labeled as favorites for this season, followed by the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles, and the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, plus another team (which I'm betting will be the scary University of the Philippines Maroons! OMG Maroons!). The Warriors, who won their last championship back in 1985 with Allan Caidic and Jerry Codinera, are parading most of their players in their line-up last year, plus a number of "rookies" (or transferees, Pumaren style).
The Ateneo Blue Eagles meanwhile lost star point-guard LA Tenorio, Magnum Membrere, and Badjie del Rosario (must I say finally? hehe) to eligibility, plus Japeth Aguilar who's trying his luck in the US NCAA schools. Returning are Chris Tiu (with his elbow) from his Junior Term Abroad (JTA), Yuri Escueta and Johann Uichico from "Team Glory Be". Team-A returnees include veterans JC Intal, Doug Kramer, and Macky Escalona, plus Martin Quimson, Ford Arao (from an ACL injury he sustained last season), Ken Barracoso, Zion Laterre, and sophomores Jai Reyes and Rabeh Al-Hussaini. Completing the cast are rookies Eric Salamat, a former Staglet, and Eman Monfort from Ateneo de Iloilo.
From the looks of it, whether he likes it or not, this Blue Eagles team is JC Intal's team. Compared to the 2002 Champions Blue Eagles, one can see that other than JC Intal, there isn't a consistent scorer or someone who can pick up the scoring load (or a "super-star"). Back in 2002, the offense is spread to either Enrico Villanueva, Rich Alvarez, Wesley Gonzales, Larry Fonacier, or LA Tenorio. I believe that this team will go where JC Intal goes. UBelt.com even believes that JC Intal may be awarded the Most Valuable Player at the end of the season, but the season has barely started anyway. If Japeth didn't leave for the US, I wouldn't worry about the Blue Eagles' chances this season. The Blue Eagles will also be defined by how big the supporting cast step up and back-up JC Intal.
Last Saturday's game between the Blue Eagles and the Bulldogs was anything but a game of spurts and runs. It was surprising to see that the Blue Eagles fell behind to the NU Bulldogs early in the first quarter. They managed to get back by the end of the half, but lost to NU at the third. The Blue and White conducted a run highlighted by an Intal slamdunk which was enough to survive the Bulldogs' late game rally. Surprisingly, in a game which many though would turn out as a lopsided game ("NU lang yan!" as Rocky would even claim. After all, we defeated them by 33 points last year), turned out to be a close game.
It was a game of opening day jitters and it was evident with how the Blue Eagles turned the ball over a couple of times (21 turnovers as against 17 turnovers by NU), the most notable was Ford Arao's inbound play in the dying seconds of the third quarter after an NU fastbreak, which the Bulldogs stole again and converted to put them up by one point, 56-57. NU's airball treys and Flor's airball freethrows were something also worth noticing (hehe).
Macky Escalona's ala-hoy shots and his treys weren't there, but he compensated these with timely passes inside the lane to Doug Kramer inside the paint. Also, another worth noticing was Ateneo's infinite hustle, led by fisherman Escalona (who must have caught a lot of fish on the floor). In one of the plays Macky Escalona tapped the ball off an NU player, and chased the ball from going out of bounds. JC Intal chased the loose ball from going out of the base line and passed it to streaking Yuri Escueta who again passed to Hussaini en route to a three-point play.
Rabeh Al-Hussaini, bucking on Japeth's absence, was easily shoved inside the paint but his hardwork to grab the rebound was rewarded with free throws thanks to NU's penalty situation. However, his style of play is really different from Japeth's. How I wish he could dunk the ball more or swat more shots next time. Meanwhile each of Jai Reyes' treys were very timely. His three point bombs could lift the Ateneo faithful from their seats. However, he was well defended in the second half as the Bulldogs must have respected Jai's outside shooting.
It was a well-balanced attack, with Ateneo's veterans leading the scoring spree, plus Jai Reyes, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Yuri Escueta. The others, I believe should step-up more in the next games: Ford Arao, Chris Tiu, Johann Uichico, Zion Laterre, Eric Salamat (who only attempted twice), Johann Uichico, and Ken Barracoso (who only played 3 minutes).
Defense should be another point to ponder for the Eagles, especially during the home-stretch. If NU's main man Edwin Asoro made his free throws in the last 2-3 minutes, the game could have been closer, worse, the Eagles could have lost the game. Their defense should be consistent and hard enough not to give NU a chance for a scoring run.
If this will be the way Ateneo plays in the ongoing UAAP tourney, they will encounter big trouble ahead. This, considering that they "only" played against NU. Hopefully they'll learn from their mistakes, spread out the scoring better, play better defense, and assert themselves enough to give UE a scare. And oh, I do hope that Ateneo's alma-mater song would be played better and faster next time. Ugh.
One Big Fight! Go Ateneo!
Go Purefoods! I'm not shouting One Big Fight to Red Bull!
Enough about the PBA. Let's talk about the Blue Eagles and their performance in the UAAP against the NU Bulldogs. Promise. No more talks about Ginebra. Go Purefoods!
***
This year's UAAP basketball season is exceptional with De La Salle University serving its one year suspension. On their absence the recruitment market was shaken, not only for basketball but also in other sports as well. Even before the UAAP started, the University of the East Warriors were labeled as favorites for this season, followed by the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles, and the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, plus another team (which I'm betting will be the scary University of the Philippines Maroons! OMG Maroons!). The Warriors, who won their last championship back in 1985 with Allan Caidic and Jerry Codinera, are parading most of their players in their line-up last year, plus a number of "rookies" (or transferees, Pumaren style).
The Ateneo Blue Eagles meanwhile lost star point-guard LA Tenorio, Magnum Membrere, and Badjie del Rosario (must I say finally? hehe) to eligibility, plus Japeth Aguilar who's trying his luck in the US NCAA schools. Returning are Chris Tiu (with his elbow) from his Junior Term Abroad (JTA), Yuri Escueta and Johann Uichico from "Team Glory Be". Team-A returnees include veterans JC Intal, Doug Kramer, and Macky Escalona, plus Martin Quimson, Ford Arao (from an ACL injury he sustained last season), Ken Barracoso, Zion Laterre, and sophomores Jai Reyes and Rabeh Al-Hussaini. Completing the cast are rookies Eric Salamat, a former Staglet, and Eman Monfort from Ateneo de Iloilo.
From the looks of it, whether he likes it or not, this Blue Eagles team is JC Intal's team. Compared to the 2002 Champions Blue Eagles, one can see that other than JC Intal, there isn't a consistent scorer or someone who can pick up the scoring load (or a "super-star"). Back in 2002, the offense is spread to either Enrico Villanueva, Rich Alvarez, Wesley Gonzales, Larry Fonacier, or LA Tenorio. I believe that this team will go where JC Intal goes. UBelt.com even believes that JC Intal may be awarded the Most Valuable Player at the end of the season, but the season has barely started anyway. If Japeth didn't leave for the US, I wouldn't worry about the Blue Eagles' chances this season. The Blue Eagles will also be defined by how big the supporting cast step up and back-up JC Intal.
Last Saturday's game between the Blue Eagles and the Bulldogs was anything but a game of spurts and runs. It was surprising to see that the Blue Eagles fell behind to the NU Bulldogs early in the first quarter. They managed to get back by the end of the half, but lost to NU at the third. The Blue and White conducted a run highlighted by an Intal slamdunk which was enough to survive the Bulldogs' late game rally. Surprisingly, in a game which many though would turn out as a lopsided game ("NU lang yan!" as Rocky would even claim. After all, we defeated them by 33 points last year), turned out to be a close game.
It was a game of opening day jitters and it was evident with how the Blue Eagles turned the ball over a couple of times (21 turnovers as against 17 turnovers by NU), the most notable was Ford Arao's inbound play in the dying seconds of the third quarter after an NU fastbreak, which the Bulldogs stole again and converted to put them up by one point, 56-57. NU's airball treys and Flor's airball freethrows were something also worth noticing (hehe).
Macky Escalona's ala-hoy shots and his treys weren't there, but he compensated these with timely passes inside the lane to Doug Kramer inside the paint. Also, another worth noticing was Ateneo's infinite hustle, led by fisherman Escalona (who must have caught a lot of fish on the floor). In one of the plays Macky Escalona tapped the ball off an NU player, and chased the ball from going out of bounds. JC Intal chased the loose ball from going out of the base line and passed it to streaking Yuri Escueta who again passed to Hussaini en route to a three-point play.
Rabeh Al-Hussaini, bucking on Japeth's absence, was easily shoved inside the paint but his hardwork to grab the rebound was rewarded with free throws thanks to NU's penalty situation. However, his style of play is really different from Japeth's. How I wish he could dunk the ball more or swat more shots next time. Meanwhile each of Jai Reyes' treys were very timely. His three point bombs could lift the Ateneo faithful from their seats. However, he was well defended in the second half as the Bulldogs must have respected Jai's outside shooting.
It was a well-balanced attack, with Ateneo's veterans leading the scoring spree, plus Jai Reyes, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Yuri Escueta. The others, I believe should step-up more in the next games: Ford Arao, Chris Tiu, Johann Uichico, Zion Laterre, Eric Salamat (who only attempted twice), Johann Uichico, and Ken Barracoso (who only played 3 minutes).
Defense should be another point to ponder for the Eagles, especially during the home-stretch. If NU's main man Edwin Asoro made his free throws in the last 2-3 minutes, the game could have been closer, worse, the Eagles could have lost the game. Their defense should be consistent and hard enough not to give NU a chance for a scoring run.
If this will be the way Ateneo plays in the ongoing UAAP tourney, they will encounter big trouble ahead. This, considering that they "only" played against NU. Hopefully they'll learn from their mistakes, spread out the scoring better, play better defense, and assert themselves enough to give UE a scare. And oh, I do hope that Ateneo's alma-mater song would be played better and faster next time. Ugh.
One Big Fight! Go Ateneo!
Go Purefoods! I'm not shouting One Big Fight to Red Bull!
