Sudden Sam: La Salle finally beats Ateneo after 2 years

July 24, 2010 | 8:30 pm | By |

Just when we all thought that the Green Archers would haplessly lose to Ateneo again, an unlikely hero stepped up to the challenge. Sam Marata’ two clutch 3-pointers down the stretch helped La Salle overcome a 9-point deficit in the last 3 minutes to escape with a 66-63 win. The Archers have finally broken its 6-game, 2-year UAAP losing streak against their rivals.

We have been longing to see this kind of a game from Sam who has been struggling for consistency with his outside shot since he started playing for La Salle. The sophomore was perfect from the rainbow territory at 4/4 shooting. He and Joshua led Archers with 12 apiece while Simon followed with 9.

The Blue Eagles sure looked like lame ducks during the final minutes. For a team with so much experience in closing out games, this has got to hurt.

It was basically a low-scoring game where neither team was able to pull away or gain any sort of momentum. La Salle struggled with their field goals but kept the game close with their pressure defense on the Blue Eagles. The team did a phenomenal job on Salva, forcing him out of his comfort zone and making him insignificant in this game. They were also able to limit Salamat’s production by making him shoot more from the outside rather than allowing him to penetrate the basket.

Without a legit low-post threat, the Archers defense was evenly spread giving the Eagles minimal looks at the perimeter. This was the team’s problem in the past two years when they had to deal with Al-Husseini who can command double-teams and open up their outside gunners. Yutien, Papot and Jovet were able to mix it up against the taller Ateneo frontline especially on the boards giving the team opportunities to run.

This has got to be a statement win for the Archers. They showed a lot of heart today by refusing to quit even when it seemed like Ateneo was going to run away with another win against us. The Green Archers  can definitely contend this year.

Boxscores

DLSU 66 – Webb 12, Marata 12, Atkins 9, Tampus 6, Andrada 6, Dela Paz 5, Tolentino 5, Mendoza 5, Vosotros 3, Villanueva 2, Ferdinand 1, Paredes 0

ADMU 63 – Chua 16, Monfort 11, Long 9, Buenafe 7, Salamat 6, Salva 5, Golla 3, Escueta 2, Dela Cruz 2, Austria 2, Tiongson 0, Gonzaga 0

Quarter Scores: 14-15, 26-30, 46-42. 66-63

Tags: Ateneo Blue Eagles, De La Salle Green Archers, Joseph Marata, UAAP Season 73


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  • Makarrow225

    As long as we keep the faith we can win
    ANIMO LASALLE!

  • mario matias

    Ateneo in the last two-years and 6-games win over us was mainly due to Al-Hussaini as we did not have anybody with that size and heft to matchup with him but i think a good basketball team would always circle around a tall good running player…its a game for tall and fast players…but we have a good running team, we only need someone really tall and big….even just one…..

  • Manuel Abello

    Go Coach Dindo & the Green Archers!

    Hats off.

    This DLSU team is a contender for the final 4!

  • Anton

    Sam Marata is our next JVee Casio! Great heart shown by our team today. Against Ateneo, no less! ANIMO LA SALLE!

  • http://www.spelljealous.tumblr.com Sophia

    Great Game DLSU. La Salle really showed great Defense. This made them win in today’s Game against Ateneo. I hope their AGRESSIVENESS will continue until to the Finals. Coach Dindo did a great Job. Yeheeey!! HAHAHA. Fight.
    ANIMO LA SALLE!
    GREEN AND WHITE FOR THE WIN THIS SEASON :)

  • Bruticus

    Marata has nerves of Steel and the press was really hounding Ateneo. Now it’s on to the FEU game.

  • Jason

    Sam Marata= the next Ritualo
    Great great game! Finally! I’m just too happy!
    Animo La Salle!

  • Proud Archer

    My call that Sam Marata will be the x-factor in the pre game analysis was not based on hope. It was based on my view of the match-ups. I saw Ateneo couldn’t match up against our guards for 40 minutes. We can change our guard line look without sacrificing ANYTHING in quality. Marata was super fresh when he made those two three point baskets while Monfort of Ateneo was super overworked at point, causing him to suffer from cramps at the end of the game (deja vu with another player when the other team loses? :-D ).

    This early in the tournament, I will stick to my pre-tournament prediction that La Salle will make the Final Four this year. Anything more than that is overachieving and is a bonus. I also said na pag bahala na si Batman, more often that not, kakampi natin si Batman. So let’s see and hope to high Heavens.

    From here on in, other UAAP teams will treat us with respect, and all the more the team should continue to be relentless on defense, and mentally tough, as in this game where NOBODY gave up when all seemed lost.

    Make no mistake about it Archers. May PUSO NA ang team natin!!!!! LA SALLE BASKETBALL IS BACK!!!!!!! ANIMO LA SALLE!!!!

  • dugong berde

    go Sam!!! haha reminds us of the late ric ric marata. never underestimate the heart of a champion. animo la salle!!!

  • 10229582

    Marata is a great shooter in his own right. The whole team worked for this! Animo La salle!

  • Proud Archer

    Reviewing my pre-game checklist, I think we did OK didn’ t we? ANIMO LA SALLE!!!!!!

    1. The fake shots and fake passes. Ateneo this year, loves to fake. The key to the defense. Don’t bite!!! Play defense with the feet and body, not the hands. And play the passing lanes. (check)

    2. Pressure D for 48 minutes. Very La Salle like. Our guard rotation can be tirelessly shifted from one look to another without sacrificing any player quality on the court.(check)

    3. Yutien’s the man. (check)If he could get going, and is ably supported by the Papot of the UE game ( he did all right in this game) , Ateneo is in a lot of trouble. I hope Jovet is also in shape and fine. He is an essential body inside.(check)

    4. The barometer player, it seems this year, is Simon Atkins. Having been converted to 2, his shooting is key on offense. If they do not fall, we can still lean on his court generalship.(check)

    5. The x-factor is Sam Marata. When he’s on, WATCH OUT Ateneo!!!!(check)(check)(check)

    6. The primary backstopper is Joel Tolentino, and he has a lot of help this year, giving him confidence to go all out whenever he is on the court.(check)

    7. Webb hasn’t “shown-up” yet. I think he will this Saturday. The adrenalin brought about by a La Salle-Ateneo game will see to that.(check. Although he had some bonehead plays, he kept trying!!!!)

  • Rj Cordero

    Give credit to JArelan “oda” TAmpus…. when he came 3minutes left, he sparked the comeback scoring 4 pts in a row.. and marata had the finishing touches…

  • Gerald Christian

    OH MY GOD! LA SALLE BASKETBALL IS BACK!!!! Excited to go once again at the Big Dome! This is DLSU Green Archers,, Lahat ng Team nag contribute…. This is green archers! Grabeh sobrang saya ng DLSU community! Go Captain Simon Atkins! I love the rookies, talented! Grabehhhhh you guys rock! That’s why DLSU is always feared in the UAAP! Pero AStig ung Blue Eagles Fight pa rin sila! Great game at least naging peaceful ung game. di ung puro angasan lang. Iba talaga pag DLSU and ADMU ang laban….. Nakabitin mga puso natin. hhhehehehehehee…. GO DLSU! ANIMO LA SALLE!!!!

  • P.

    Time to eat some strawberry shortcake and blueberry pie! :)

  • John

    The game showed the Green Archers’ spirit they were lacking last season..did not allow the opposing team to intimidate us. Very resilient! The Rookies and Sophomores got game!!! they gave us 40 mins of action packed basketball. Congrats Captain Atkins!! Go go go! buena mano ni coach dindo :)

  • zobel_2001

    What i like about our team this year is we do not rely on a single go-to-guy. But instead, its a collaborative effort for the players… And to the people saying that we were just lucky on this game?! Come on, Long’s three point? and all the other shots on the 24th second?! an1mo La Salle!!!

  • mimi

    i give the credit to the entire team. great game! astig kayo! =)

  • potpot

    teamwork. yeah I agree with @RJ Cordero, oda helped and stopped the momentum and Sam Marata made it!!! :)

    Great game archers!!! :) Good Job everyone!!!!!

    ANIMO LA SALLE!

  • EB

    Guys, the atmosphere at the game was really electric !!! We were telling each other just keep the faith, bilog ang bola, the burden is with AdMU not with us, and lo and behold, all our young and gritty Heroes delivered !!! Though outrebounded, they made up with their solid and sticky defense, outrunning their bigger opponents, showing determination even when behind by 9pts in the last 3 mins , making the shots that mattered most, and most importantly, showing that basketball is a TEAM EFFORT. The team shocked the AdMu community !!! Congratulations to Coach Dindo and the staff, to the Green Heroes, and to the La Sallian Community !!!
    GO GREEN…. GO LA SALLE !!!

  • Gerald Christian

    The Entire Team is GREAT! Centers should also be fired up.. Big man step up! Mendoza rocks. Well basically all of them rock! This is unforgettable for me.. I’ve been fired up when I saw this game! Wooohoooooo!!!!! I also wanted to see the rookies play.. i think they can score a lot, especially that Tampus and Vosotros… Hidden weapons..

  • armchair archer

    So far, if the Archers open their scoring with a 3-point shot from Atkins, we’re 3-0. Maybe that could be a trend.=)

    My only concern are the big men. Andrada & Paredes played well but I still wish the team would get an effective big man’s coach. Just like with Rabeh & Arao before him, look at Justin Chua now. His development is light years ahead from say, Ferdinand or Walsham who spent all their playing years with us. I know the Archers play small ball, but having a reliable big man can make a huge difference. Having a solid post player can open up our guards to do more damage on the court. Maybe Jun Limpot or Noli Locsin could teach our big men a post move or two.

    That’s my only concern. Other than that, this team will be just fine as long as they continue playing with a lot of heart & aggressiveness, just like they did earlier.

    Thanks for the great game boys, hat’s off to the team! ANIMO LA SALLE!

  • James

    Lasallians enjoy your FREE ice cream on Monday. Wow! what a way to celebrate this victory. Ending that 6 losing streak in 2 years, I guess Sam Marata deserves to get 8 scoops of ice cream on Monday… haha

    Thank you Coach Dindo for making it happen. Animo La Salle!

  • boom23

    We have a very good team! Kudos also to Coach Dindo and crew. Let’s continue believing and samahan natin ng dasal..we could go all the way (not just the final four)! Animo La Salle!

  • cosmo

    All I can say is that La Salle’s lucky no is in deed 7:

    the team shot down the losing streak at 6!
    1st and last (FT basket) shot was from the Captain (#7)
    and that come-from-behind shots from marata (#16: 1+6=7)

    Sweet! Now we have the La Salle Basketball Back on track!

    Animo La Salle!

  • ICJ

    Sometimes it’s not about the plays you do on the court nor the experience you had before.
    IT’S ABOUT THE HEART.

    Great job guys!!! An1mo La Salle!!!!

  • mike

    great job by Maui and Yutien defending Salva.

  • green hornet

    The other reason why we won- honest and objective officiating. Kudos to the refs and the technical team for keeping the officiating clean. As for the game, our rookies played with all their heart and skills. They were the hungrier bunch. They played in overdrive mode all game long. Te defense was so sticky, the blue eagles only had a few decent plays. In fact, most of their scores were on broken plays. Ateneo still has the advantage in the frontline but they took notice of our new big man as well – Papot Paredes. He will be a better center from hereon. He loves to defend.

    congratulations to coach Dindo and the entire coaching staff, you executed a fantastic game plan. Bilib ako sa ginawa nyo sa team. YOu transformed them. The team is aggressive, relentless, and has a better fighting heart that the team last year.

    I hope you can also give the other players some playing time. If you want a taller and quicker frontline, try Papot at 5, Yutien at 4, and Martin Reyes at 3. Coach, Martin was a scorer in high school. He’s 6’4″ so he will create miss matches at the 3 spot. Then have 2 quick guards who love to slash and drop pass. That should add more arsenal in your deep bag of tricks for this year. And if you want a big stopper, try Gab Banal who can rotate with Maui V.

    I’m sorry to say, but it must be said, Ferdinand even with his experience, tends to lose composure during crucial games. Perhaps he needs one on one coaching to improve his game. His height and strength can be utilized better. His footwork needs tweaking.

    Congratulations again to the entire team. Job well done! Animo La Salle!

  • Frec_Cebu

    Coach Norman of the Blue Eagles was quoted by the Inquirer that the DLSU game was “scrappy.” Well, Mr. Black, call it what you want but the bottom line is that the team with the higher score at the end of the game wins!

    The term scrappy is not a bad thing. Black acknowledges that La Salle’s plays intense defense all throughout the match thus he labeled them as scrappy

  • Bader Malabes Awards

    “Bader Malabes” Awards (weakest link ng team na mas mabuting di na palaruian kasi patalo)

    Ateneo:
    1. (all time) Joy Badjie Del Rosario- sayang wala na sa ADMU ito
    2. Martin Quimson- tiga hard foul lang with no significant contributions for ADMU
    3. Bacon Austria- big shots missed yesterday (to the delight of La Salle fans)
    4. Justin Chua- aside from open baskets made yesterday, he had some ill-advised 3′s in the dying seconds

    La Salle:
    1. Bader Malabes- thank goodness he’s back in Bahrain! =)
    2. Ferdinand- “malabes” in the making (tiga dunk lang/ intensity).. Coach Dindo, if you’re reading this, i believe it would be wise to let Paredes, Mendoza and Adrada have the minutes. :)
    3. Yutien- take sure shots!

  • Miguel

    Woohoo! We won! Ateneo put up a great fight but the Archers who entered the match as underdogs never gave up until the last few seconds of the game. Our prof made a deal with us that no matter who wins, he’ll give us a plus point based on the margin of the final scores. And even if it’s just a 3-point plus, a win is still a win. And it’s against Ateneo where Pride is at stake! No more losing streak for us! I just felt upset when Ferdinand turned the ball over twice giving Ateneo that 9-point deficit in the 4th quarter. We all thought that it’ll be an Ateneo victory again but Ren-Ren Ritualo in the making, Sam Marata nailed two three pointers back-to-back. And the other one was from a fastbreak. And I was laughing yesterday when a fried, who stayed at home to watch the game, because during that fastbreak, the commentator was saying what was Coach Dindo was screaming to Sam. “No No No! YES!!!!!!!!” Hahahahaha. It was the sweetest victory! An1mo La Salle!

  • verdant rooter

    Didn’t anybody notice the three major dailies (PhilStar, Inquirer, Bulletin) have exactly the same headlines in their sports pages today – “ARCHERS SHOOT DOWN EAGLES”! I happen to buy three newspapers every Sunday, and oh boy, did these news articles make us very happy and proud of the spectacular win of our team against Ateneo yesterday. Indeed it’s a long time coming. Two years na nila tayo tinatalo, it’s our turn naman ngayon makaganti. Ain’t it sweet? The law of averages finally came to the once-high flying bluebirds. Now that they’re down on the ground, the Bulldogs may just completely devour them in their next Sunday play date.

    Hats off to the entire team for the well deserved victory yesterday. Sam Marata delivered the crucial blows that knocked them down, but we must also be thankful for the efforts of the others, such as this young rookie, Jarelan Tampus. He sparked the rally for that 12-1 run. May future ang batang ito. I believe he, together with the other rookie guards, will blossom to be the next Yeo’s and Casio’s. And don’t forget the contribution of Joshua Webb. He co-shared top scoring honors with Marata in this all-important game (both putting in 12 pts.). I hope he will be more productive and consistent from now on.

    Next assignment is quite tough – vs. the FEU Tamaraws on Thursday. Hopefully the momentum of the two consecutive wins would carry the team over to another convincing victory. As is oft repeated in the comments here, let’s keep the faith guys and support our team, win or lose. AN1MO DLSU!

    By the way, I would like to ask the administrator about the “AN1MO” magazine? I haven’t seen it in the bookstores for quite some time. Has it been out of publication already?

    From what i heard, the magazine is set for a relaunch this year

  • painkillaz

    BRING ON F. E. YOW!!!!

  • mil

    now i understand why our coaching staff put premium on many talented guards…48 minutes or relentless pressure defense…48 minutes of quality offense…48 minutes of outside threath…48 minutes of good quarter backing…48 minutes of defensive hassles…48 minutes of SPEED AND ENERGY. All we have to have are consistent centers…and we’re glad papot, mendoza and yultien deliver.

    D….LS..U…ANIMO LA SALLE!!

    Correction – only 40 minutes. In the amateur leagues like the UAAP, we have 10 minutes per quarter.

  • greenie4ever

    Hats off to Coach Dindo! He has been able to instill confidence in the team, especially the rookies. Most of the team members are responding with inspired performances. I have to remind myself that this is a team consisting mostly of sophomores and rookies yet they played the Eagles fearlessly and with a lot of intensity and hunger that their performance suggests otherwise! Every La Salle-Ateneo encounter is always significant if only for the fierce rivalry, but Saturday’s game also proved we can and will vie for the Final Four. I hope that the team will continue to improve while maintaining the same intensity and desire that they have displayed in this game. ANIMO LA SALLE

  • ASC

    Great game Archers! Seeing the composition of this team: with 7 rookies and 4 sophomores, we can expect to be in the Final 4 for the next 4 years! Ateneo knows this and I am sure that they are all worried stiff.

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