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| John Edel Cardel gets the rebound |
The second half started the same way the games started with Dindo Pumaren getting the ball, driving to the middle of the paint to score and helped get La Salle back to the game. The Blue Eagles started slowly once again and Pumaren took advantage as he scored nine points for the Grene Archers to inch closer to Blue Eagles 47 – 44. But just as the Archers come closer, 52- 53, the Eagles would counter back and manage to fight back as Jun and Eric Reyes tried to carry the fight once again by scoring in and out. Eric provided the inside presence while Jun Reyes started to find his shot as he canned a three pointer in the face of Jonas Mariano and in the return play, got the rebound and ran coast to coast to score on a fastbreak to give the Eagles breathing room 63 – 57 with six minutes and thirty six seconds remaining. It was at this point that the De La Salle Green Archers waged their last ditch effort to salvage a win by countering with 9 – 2 attack. This started with a Pumaren triple, two free throws by their one and done player George Peralta, a jumper by Cardel and another two points from Monasterio as the Green Archers seized the upperhand 66 – 65 with four minutes and thirty seconds to go.
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| It's winning time for the Blue Eagles |
It was at this point where the champion team showed up and showed how a champion team handles pressure and how a champion team overcomes the adversity. The experience that Blue Eagles had in their previous years from Juniors champions to last season came to full display as they executed their plays to perfection. After Danny Francisco split his charities to tie the count at 66 – all, the Archers moved the ball around and the ball landed in Monasterio’s hands, considering the fact the scored the go-ahead basket, Monasterio drove hard to the basket. Unfortunately for him, while he was about to drive to the hoop, Seph Canlas positioned himself well and drew the charge from Monasterio. That call was crucial because it was also the fifth foul of Monasterio and he joined George Peralta who have fouled out earlier. Canlas was awarded two free throws which he calmly sank to give back the lead to the Blue Eagles 68 – 66 with three minutes and forty nine seconds left in the game. Knowing that La Salle would need a basket to tie the count Jet Nieto gave a good challenge to Pumaren’s shot that rattled off the ring. Danny Francisco collared the rebound and rifled of a pass to a running Jun Reyes and then boom 70 – 66.
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| Jun Reyes delivered when it mattered the most |
In that play, Reyes started his run when he saw Francisco was about to collar the rebound. Francisco threw the ball like a quarterback and hit Jun Reyes on the run as he was accelerating to the frontcourt and Dindo Pumaren was all gassed up and didn’t even challenge and then boom, another field goal and the Blue Eagles were up by four. In the next play Cardel drove to the hoop, attracted the defense and dropped off to Joey Sta. Maria who went straight to the basket for the two points and in the process got fouled by Eric Reyes. The green side of the coliseum erupted again as Sta. Maria was given a chance to bring the Archers to just one point. Just like a bad nightmare that kept on haunting them, the Archers Achilles heel in this game were their free throws and the cool Joey Sta. Maria missed his bonus shot again. Eric Reyes got the rebound, gave it to Jun Reyes who saw that the Archers have not yet got down on defense and then made a forward pass to Joseph Canlas who was all alone on the right wing. Just two plays before Canlas has just made two free throws and was feeling good so he let fly a jumper that swished the net to give the Blue Eagles a four-point lead again 72 - 68. The next play was the defining moment of the game. Knowing that the Archers will go to Sta. Maria once again whose strong move to the basket got Eric Reyes’ fourth foul, Jun Reyes just stayed put.
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| Danny Francisco had 14 points and pulled down 25 rebounds |
In the next play, the archers moved the ball and as the Blue Eagles expected the ball went to Sta. Maria on the low post. After receiving the ball, Sta. Maria faced the basket, attacked the paint and then dribbled to the left to make his patented spin move – a move he made a couple of plays ago as he eluded Eric Reyes for a basket. After establishing his position, Joey spun to his left side and as he was about to complete his spin he lost the ball. Jun Reyes was waiting for him to make his move and suddenly came out of his blind side, swiped the ball away, and like a thief running from the police darted to the Ateneo frontcourt to score another fastbreak and give the Blue Eagles a six point lead 74 – 68 with two minutes and thirty three seconds left. That basket sent the Ateneo gallery to a roar and the cheers of “One Big Fight” became louder and louder. With two minutes and thirty-three seconds remaining and a six-point lead, all the Eagles have to do now is to play good defense to win the game. Coach Fritz Gaston is a master of defensive tactics. In this game, he put multiple guys to guard Dindo Pumaren. Most of the time he alternated Joseph Canlas and Jet Nieto on him, in the first half he even inserted Raymund Morales to buy some time for the other defenders. Jet Nieto is taller, bigger and tougher than him and most of the time Pumaren had to hurry his shots because he seems distracted shooting on someone taller than him. At oftentimes when Nieto would go under the pick Pumaren would get open and take advantage of it as seen in one of Pumaren’s three point shots. But during crunch time, Jet Nieto did not even try to attempt a shot, he reserved all his energy to stopping Dindo Pumaren because as he said, you stop Dindo you stop a big chunk of their offense. Nieto was right, after calling a timeout, the Archers went to Pumaren and Nieto challenged his shot that resulted in an air-ball that visibly irked Pumaren.
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| Jet Nieto's defense on Pumaren was a big factor |
The next Ateneo offensive misfired and then La salle went on a
fastbreak play as the ball found its
way to Pumaren again. As Dindo got to the paint two defenders met him and Nieto
who was following him in transition tapped the ball. After that ball tap
Pumaren regained control of the ball, got off balance that made him dribble the
ball with both hands and was called for a double dribble violation. The Green
Archers were beginning to be desperate at this time, unfortunately for them
they failed to capitalize on the miscues of the Blue Eagles in the last minute
and thirty-two seconds. Danny Francisco was on the line after getting a foul
from Dickie Bachman. Danny missed his two free throws and when the Archers got
the ball back Jonas Mariano suddenly a let go of a hurried three point shot
that missed its mark. As the Blue Eagles prepare for another offensive foray
Dindo Pumaren fouled Seph Canlas who then missed the front end of a one and one.
Richard del Rosario got the rebound and located Dindo Pumaren right away who
raced to their frontcourt and fired a desperation three that looked so desperate it missed the mark.
Luckily, Dindo followed the path of the ball that bounced to him and was fouled
on the rebound play. Pumaren, who missed four free throws in the first half,
scored on the two gift shots to cut the Ateneo lead to four 70 – 74 with 48
seconds left in the game.
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| Banners came out saying "Look who's #1" |
The Archers mathematically still had a chance in this game but poor decision-making really doused their chances of winning. After Dindo’s second free throw the Archers made a full court press to get the ball back. The Eagles chopped some time off the clock before getting fouled and waived the foul shots to be able to milk the clock again with 39.6 seconds left in the game. As the Eagles ran the clock down Jonas Mariano got hold of a tapped ball and sent a forward pass to Lincoln Lim who went up for a lay-up but was blocked by Eric Reyes. Joseph Canlas got the ball, passed it to Jun Reyes and he found Danny Francisco darting to the basket, hit Danny with a pass and Danny dunked the ball. The referees called a travelling infraction on Francisco which we think was a bad call but Danny just laughed that off.
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| Team Captain Joseph Canlas had an impressive game |
The Archers then got the ball out and as Pumaren passed the midcourt line Nieto was already positioned to meet him way before the three point area. Pumaren heaved another three pointer from way out that Nieto again contested and the result was another miss by Pumaren. Danny Francisco grabbed the rebound number 25 for the day and was fouled with 2.5 seconds left. Nieto’s no nonsense defense on Pumaren was so exceptional that Dindo missed his last six field goals in the last six minutes of the game. That's zero out of six in the last six! Francisco then canned the two free throws and everyone raised their fists to the Ateneo gallery who were holding banners of “Look who’s #1!” as the Blue Eagles beat the La Salle Green Archers 76 – 70 to win their second consecutive UAAP Men’s Basketball title. Again the Ateneo Blue Eagles have proven that when the stakes are harder, the Blue Eagles fly higher!
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| THE 1988 UAAP MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS - THE ATENEO BLUE EAGLES |
THE LEGACY
This
season was filled with so many controversies, struggles and difficulty. First was
the loss to DLSU in the first round. But like what the players said then, that
loss helped them become united and overcome the problems that came their way.
Next was their top scorer leaving the team that was sad to note but the team
focused more on what they can control and not what they cannot. This debacle
helped the Blue Eagles work harder in their practices, re-focus and cover up
one’s absence. Third was the game against UP that was filled with controversy
but eventually after a few weeks was settled. Lastly Jun Reyes getting sick
before the game against DLSU. When Jun went back to the bench he was
given aid through an oxygen tank. He was asked to inhale the oxygen to keep him
fresh through the game. Just like what a lot of motivators share to their teams to motivate them – “There is no problem, just opportunities!” This team, the 1988 Ateneo Blue Eagles
rose above all those problems which became opportunities for each and every one
to shine and reason behind it is simple – next man up!
