Are you in the game?!

This must be the most frustrating and devastating defeat for the University of the East Red Warriors basketball team and for the UE community in general. After a flawless stint in the elimination round (14-0), the Red Warriors suffered back-to-back loses in the best of 3 finals against the Green Archers. The Archers snatched the UAAP season 70 crown via a 73-64 victory.

It’s a heartbreaking moment for UE’s head coach Dindo Pumaren, being beatin by his elder brother. “I won several championships in the past but it is bittersweet for me because I know now how it feels to beat your brother,” said Pumaren, also a Quezon City councilor. “If I can share half of our trophy, I can give it to UE because they also deserve it.”

I think, the 21-day break for the Warriors wasn’t healthy for the teams mentality and emotional status. While La Salle on the other hand, after squeeking past the best of 4, gained superb confidence going into the finals. The Warriors weren’t able to overcome their fate in game 1 of the finals were they bowed to the Archers,63-64. The Warriors had 21 turnovers in the 2nd game compared to their 31 in game 1. But UE gave up 28 fouls, allowing the Archers to visit the line for 27/36 shots. La Salle only gave up 18 fouls the entire game, translated into 5/14 shooting from the free throw line. This only shows that the Warriors were unable to establish their inside game.

TY Tang, Cholo Villanueva, and Javee Casio proved to everybody that more than talent and skills, experience is a vital element in winning championships.

The scores:

DLSU (73) – Casio 17, Villanueva 14, Maierhofer 11, Tang 8, Co 6, Barua 6, Malabes 5, Cua 2, Mangahas 2, Walsham 2, Atkins 0, Ferdinand 0.

UE (64) – Borboran 12, Lee 12, Gregorio 11, Cañizares 8, Martinez 8, Arellano 5, Espiritu 5, Fampulme 3, Lingganay 0, Bandaying 0, Llagas 0, Thiele 0.

Congrats to DLSU for grabbing the crown and congrats to UE for a good fight.

It’s RED vs GREEN in the UAAP Season 70 Senior’s Basketball (men) Finals. Will the Red Warriors remain unbeaten for the entire season? Or will the Green Archers finally paint a stain on UE’s flawless record?

Aside from this considerations, it is interesting to note that the finals will also be a battle between the Pumaren brothers, coach Dindo of UE and coach Franz of DLSU. I wonder how their family will deal with the match. hehehe Franz of course is a highly respected coach in UAAP and definitely no stranger to UAAP Finals. Experience wise, Franz has the edge. However, Dindo Pumaren at his 4th year of coaching UE is perhaps at the peak of his coaching career. More importantly, as he reaches his peak, the team grew-up with him and now, UE squad is at its peak. Roster wise, the UE owns the advantage. They have a more forbidable line-up especially in terms of depth in the bench. Despite that, you can never count out DLSU. La Salle is a team that strikes under pressure. Although noted as highly favored team, I think DLSU is at its best when playing as “underdogs.”

 Like the ADMU-DLSU battle, the games will boil down to execution in the last seconds of the game. Defense and execution will be the name of the game. The men will shin over the boys. Expect the veterans to lead their respective teams.

 In terms of the front-line,  UE has the advantage. Simply because UE’s big men namely, Borboran, Espiriti, Thiele, Llagas are very agile. Despite of their size, these men can run down the court for transition baskets. These big men also have the experience to play under pressure. On the other side, the front line of DLSU composed of Wallsham, Ferdinand, Co, Maierhoffer, is full of youth and inexperience. 

On the backcourt, I would give the edge to La Salle. With TY Tang, Villanueva and Casio leading the pack, DLSU will always have an explosive backcourt team-up. UE’s Martinez and Arellano must play extra defense to stop the firepower of DLSU’s trio.

There’s nothing like college ball so better watch out for UAAP Finals showdown! 

Finally the 2007 showdown of deep rivals, Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle Green Archers ended last Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum. Chris Tiu wasn’t “Tiu” good during their last match. For me, only Baclao and Salamat played well on the Eagles side. However, credit La Salles defense on Tiu, and its overall defense despite of being undersized down low. Ford Arao was unable to assert his presence in the middle. The Archers clogged the drop passes on the Ateneo’s big men. Salamat’s drive were only good in the first quarter and a few times the rest of the game. It was La Salle’s team defense and Villanueva’s heroics that dictated the game.

On the other hand, it was a total team effort for La Salle. Their main gunner, Jayvee Casio wasn’t shooting as sweet as he can. In the 4th quarter, it was the veteran Cholo Villanueva who spelled the difference for La Salle. Villanueva knocked in cruical baskets including a much needed 3-point shoot to break the wings of the soaring Eagles. 

With the victory, La Salle meets the unbeaten University of the East Warriors. Looking back at the eliminations, only DLSU had the  widest chance to beat the Warriors, if not only for Casio’s two missed freethrows.