THE 1988 UAAP CHAMPIONSHIP - ATENEO vs. LA SALLE

October 7, 1988, unlike the previous year, this time the team from Taft occupied more than 60% of the Rizal Memorial Coliseum but the Ateneo supporters were ready to go to war since only a barbed wire separated the green supporters from the blue believers.  Both teams came prepared with DLSU shirts with designs of “Blue Eggless – Bakling!” while the Ateneans have shirts that said “If its green flush it!” !” If there was much animosity from the crowd the players are also into it. During one of the practices of the DLSU team at the Rizal Coliseum, the Blue Eagles came early and went inside the coliseum that surprised the practicing Green Archers team. The team from taft was supposed to practice from 11am to 1pm while the Blue Eagles were from 1 pm to 3pm but Coach Fritz instructed his boys to enter the venue at 12:30 pm that prompted Coach Derrick Pumaren to stop practicing their plays and instructed his boys to go about their shooting drills instead. This irked the Lasallian team and no one was speaking to each other even though most of the players on both sides have been playing with each other since high school. 

The Blue Eagles prepared well this time and all them stayed at the Pollock Center the whole week to fend away distractions that might come. The time at Pollock Center gave them time to relax and more importantly bond together. This also gave them an opportunity to study the previously played game against the Green Archers, study the tape and map out a plan on how to win the all important championship game. The last distraction that came was that Jun Reyes got sick just before game day arrived but as a true battle tested veteran, Jun shrugged off his battle with flu and kept himself fresh before the game started.

 

Player points averages

When game time arrived the starting five of both teams were called out!

ATENEO: Jun Reyes, Mel Basa, Joseph Canlas, Eric Reyes, Danny Francisco

DE LA SALLE: Dindo Pumaren, Lincoln Lim, Teddy Monasterio, Joey Sta. Maria, Dickie Bachman.  

At the center of the court Danny Francisco and Dickie Bachmann go against each other for the jumpball that went La salle’s way as Dindo Pumaren drew first blood with a drive to the middle of their goal. Both teams battled toe to toe until Mel Basa tied the score 8 – all off a Dickie Bachmann foul. Then the Green Archers went to work as their defense made the Blue Eagles miss shots they normally make and forced them to four turnovers. The Archers then punctured the hoops with John Edel Cardel & Bachman leading the way to detonate a 13 – 3 bomb that gave the green team a ten point lead 21 – 11 with nine minutes and forty eight seconds left in the half.  After Dindo Pumaren split his charities to give the Archers their biggest lead, the Blue Eagles then regrouped and staged another amazing comeback. The Hail Mary squad choked the Green Archers on defense while Jun Reyes combined with Alex Araneta to unleash a 12 – 1 run to take the lead 23 – 22 with seven minutes and twenty seconds still remaining. When the momentum shifted to the blue side of the court the Blue Eagles  offense went to overdrive and this time Reyes combined with Danny Francisco to finish the half ahead by nine 42 – 33.  The Green Archers began to miss their shots and free throws that enabled the Blue Eagles to breakaway as the men in taft shot 5 out 15 (33.33%) free throws which was a far cry from the Ateneo’s 14 of 20 (70%).  Jun Reyes and Danny Francisco scored ten points apiece while Dindo Pumaren (who missed four free throws) had eight points. The Blue Eagles have taken the half and has just one more half to play well to enable them to snare the first back-to-back Men’s basketball championship in the UAAP. 

NEXT BLOG ENTRY:  -THE 1988 UAAP CHAMPIONSHIP – 2^nd HALF

BLOG LIST