Tiu Good To Be True

article written by jefferson reyes

The first of many?

In the much celebrated rivalry of the collegiate basketball scene, the blue trumped over the green as the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles trounced their nemesis and defending champions, De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, 79-73, amidst a jam packed Araneta Coliseum graced by various personalities including NBA superstar Gilbert “Agent Zero” Arenas of the Washington Wizards and People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao as the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 71 continues on July 6.

Witnessed by a massive crowd of approximately 22,000, which also included business and political celebrities such as PLDT and Smart Communications Chairman Manny Pangilinan, Senators Richard Gordon and Mar Roxas, Hans Sy, son of mall tycoon Henry Sy, and US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney, the Blue Eagles handed the Green Archers their first opening game defeat under the mentorship of Coach Franz Pumaren. Free throws made the difference as Ateneo registered a high 81% FT percentage against a meager 44.8% of La Salle.

As with every Ateneo-La Salle meeting, excitement has always been the main element as both teams remained nose-to-nose and refused to relinquish their school pride until the last quarter.

Coming off from a two point deficit from the third frame, DLSU stalwart Joseph Evans “Jvee” Casio resuscitated the hopes of the Archers in the last frame with two successive shots including a fast break from the three-point miss of Blue Eagle Jai Reyes to bring the game 56-60 in favor of DLSU.

Rabeth Al-Hussaini and Severino “Nonoy” Baclao, tried to prevent the rally of the Taft-based squad but faltered as the Green and White veterans Rico Maierhofer and James Mangahas, and rookie Joshua Webb combined to give La Salle its biggest lead against the Blue Eagles, 61-67.

Locked at 67, the Katipunan-based cagers crawled back into the scoreboard courtesy of back to back shots from Jobe Nkemakolam and Al-Husaini to put the Eagles within reach 65-67. It was Eric Salamat’s drive that knotted the game at 67-all fueling Ateneo’s resurgence.

Salamat and Al-Hussaini teamed up to extend Ateneo’s advantage but was equalized by the tandem of Maierhofer and Casio to register the 13th deadlock of the ballgame at 71 apiece with 4:20 ticks remaining.

Back-to-back charities from Tiu and Salamat expanded Ateneo’s lead to 74-71 but Maierhofer’s own free-throw with a minute remaining put DLSU at the edge 74-73. Ateneo sealed the deal when star player Chris Tiu buried two of his three charities after being fouled with 38.5 seconds remaining making it 76-73.

DLSU failed to respond as Blue Eagle Yuri Escueta made all of his charities securing the 79-73 victory for the Blue and White.

In the opening quarter, Tiu was awarded two charities prior to the start of the clock after a technical foul was called to DLSU due to their coaching staff’s non-ID usage.

Following this, Ateneo raged with a 4-0 run holding the Archers scoreless, 6-0. Casio responded with his signature trey with 7:35 left. Tiu did not disappoint as he blasted his own three-pointer to put the game at 9-3 in favor of Ateneo.

La Salle finally awakened as PJ Walsham and Alvin Villanueva pushed the Archers to the game’s first deadlock at 9-9. The game remained tight as the first frame closed, 17-16 with the Blue Eagles on top.

The second quarter saw the turn of tide. The Green and White regained the upper hand, 24-25, following another trey from Casio with 5:55 in the regulation. Maierhofer’s up and under move padded La Salle’s lead, 24-27. Mangahas exploded together with Hyram Bagatsing and Webb to protect the Archers’ advantage closing the second frame, 35-40.

Ryan Buenafe, one of the Blue Eagles’ esteemed rookies, fired back-to-back shots to break away from yet another deadlock in the third, 53-51. Maierhofer answered with a trey with approximately 49 seconds remaining to put back the lead for DLSU, 53-54.

Salamat’s charities put Ateneo on the driver’s seat towards the end of the third frame, 56-54.

Ateneo head coach Norman Black, credited Tiu anew noting that as the Blue Eagles’ best player he delivered as expected and lived up to his role. When asked about the performance of his rookies, Black pointed out that he did not play them that much because of the intensity of the game and the clamor for securing their first victory. Despite this, he sees more playing minutes for them in their future games.

As for the technical foul that was called to him at the start of the fourth quarter, Black explained that “The referee warned me that if I said another word, I would get a technical. I couldn’t really understand it because in the second half I didn’t really say a word. I didn’t like it.” Because of this, an appeal is believed to be underway as this was the first time Black was called for such a technical.

Tiu steered the Blue Eagles campaign pooling in a total of 26 points and 7 rebounds. Salamat and Al-Hussaini added 10 points each, while Buenafe contributed 8 marks.

Meanwhile, Casio led the Green Archers raking in 19 points and 4 rebounds followed by Maierhofer with 16 marks and 8 rebbies. Meanwhile, Mangahas added 13 points and 6 rebounds.