The Green Archers started off the second round the way they did the first – with a loss. This time to the heretofore low-flying Adamson Falcons, 55-61. It was a painful game to watch, the Archers failing to show the heart, grit, and determination they had shown in their last game against Ateneo. Adamson made them pay for it, outhustling and outplaying them in practically all areas.

What went right?

Not much, at least for our team. For Adamson, a lot. Our shooting went south, as it had in the first couple of games in the first round. The team couldn’t buy a basket, while Adamson made it look easy with their penetrations, many of they coming with a bonus free throw off an Archer foul. One positive note, Peejay seemed to have regained his shooting touch, capping his night with a tough, contested trey from above the key. Oh, yeah, Adamson’s pesky pg Lester Alvarez failed to duplicate his career game against us, but it really didn’t matter. The press did force several turnovers, but not enough to make a huge dent in the ball handling confidence of the Falcons.

What wasn’t quite right?

A lot. The Archers were perpetually a half step slow on defense, allowing the penetration and belatedly fouling the shooter who would make the shot for an and-1 opportunity. As in the Ateneo game, the boxing out wasn’t effective because the Falcon bigs were able to sneak in and grab those offensive rebounds. The perimeter defense wasn’t as sticky either, because the Falcons were able to connect on several mid-and-long range attempts. On the occasions where the Archers successfully held the Adamson offense at bay for 20 seconds, they would suddenly allow Adamson an attempt in the remaining few seconds, which would result in a made shot or a follow up.

On offense, that missing half-step translated into not-so-effective screens, hesitation in taking the shots or driving in, allowing the Adamson defenders to close the gaps. The uncertainty on offense caused a few 24-second shot clock violations or hurried shots on the part of the Archers. Some individualistic plays were seen after the players went out of the system.

If there were weights and points assigned to the degree of difficulty as in gymnastics and platform diving, the Archers would have accumulated a lot of bonus points. Adamson was no pushover, but the game was made more difficult by the erratic execution. Passing was lackadaisical, and the Falcons were able to tip or intercept several lazy passes and convert these into turnover points.

This team has too much talent to cave in just like what they did yesterday. The confidence, the mental aspect of the game will also have to be addressed moving forward, if they hope to make it to the final 4.

And finally, Adamson just wanted it more yesterday. That was probably the biggest factor – the desire.

The rookie watch

Like most of his teammates, Arvie was not as effective as in the previous game, tallying only 2 points but still contributing mightily on the boards with 6 in 15 minutes of playing time. Sam continued his streak of 3pointers without making a 2point field goal as he sank his 3point attempt while missing a closer shot. Again, as in previous games, Sam started but played only 7 minutes. Yutien was inserted in the game in an attempt to muzzle the opposing bigs, played 8 minutes, pulled down just 2 rebounds, and committed 3 fouls. Joel played 9 minutes and contributed 7 points. With his spunk and quickness, he is a welcome replacement for LA, although he still has to log major minutes this season. Jed and Gab failed to see action.

Moving forward

Next up, Ateneo on Sunday. The Archers have to regain that focus and concentration that they showed last Sunday, otherwise the well-trained Blue Eagles will make it look as easy as their disposal of UE yesterday. The Archers ca actually upend Ateneo, but will have to execute the gameplan well and play hard and smart until the final buzzer.

With a 4-4 card, our boys need to win 4 more games to have a good shot at the playoffs. That means that they must pick up the wins against UP and NU, and take at least 2 games from contenders Ateneo, UE, FEU, and UST.

It’s all a mental game from here on. The talent is there. The coaches have prepared and conditioned the team, taught them the plays and patterns. It’s now down to execution. And desire, determination, will to win. The team can do it. They just have to want to win more than the other team does, every game, one game at a time.

If you think about it, our 4-game winning streak started after we had 2 losses. Ok, we’ve coming off 2 losses. So is this another 4-game streak we’re looking at? If you can get tickets, watch the Green Archers try to duplicate that feat on Sunday.

KEEP THE FAITH!

I was able to catch the second half of the game. From the 1st quarter stats, the Archers dug themselves into a deep hole with a 20-9 deficit, something they could not climb out of. They had the attempts on basket. They just couldn’t make the shots. This is not to take away anything from Adamson. Part of the reason for the low percentage shooting was their interior defense. It was they who had the team defensive mindset.

I was with a couple of La Sallites whom I didn’t know, who commented about my article that we could blow them away in this game. Did I want to crawl under a rock for my prediction? Well of course not. Why? Part of the article read “They are beginning to know who will shoot, where and when, and how. It’s just a matter of execution of our offensive patterns. Usually, you will know the offensive flow of the game on game time itself. This is the reason why I commented that we can blow Adamson out of the court this time.” Obviously we did not execute well. Look at the score. The defense was there as they scored only 61 points. It was the offensive execution that was wanting. However also, the team started to wake up defensively a little too late.

I did not say that Adamson was a patsy this second round. Remember. This is a team which is much better than their record shows. If I remember correctly, four out of those 6 lost games were lost by four points or less, including a double overtime loss to us, and an overtime loss to UE. Adamson is not a pushover team.

If La Salle wants to win games, it must treat EVERY game with utmost dedication and respect. No team in the UAAP will EVER give away a game. You have to EARN it. Not to take anything away from Adamson, who played a great defensive game and won it fair and square, we actually lost this one because of our own doing. 22% from 2 point range. Sadly, this is a harsh lesson and a bitter pill we have to swallow. I have also stated previously that there are no weak or strong teams in the UAAP and that everone can beat everybody else on any given day. There you go.

Yes we are running out of games to recover from. Yes, it’s close to critical time. But I still believe that we can win this thing. Oh here I go again. Oh there he goes again!!!! The community might want me to shut up at this time. Why? Because of a loss??? I NEVER say quit and neither should the alumni, the studentry, and specially the team.

Again, this is an investment team, and this team has to experience this pain to gain CHARACTER for the upcoming grind, not only this year, but in the year’s to come.

I was correct with James Mangahas. He really is a match-up problem for Adamson. Unfortunately, nobody else followed his lead. One positive came out of this though. Joel Tolentino showed up. Even if he had that loose ball error when he fell down, that is what he has to do. I liked the way he drove to the basket during the dying second of the game. Joel has to show up and support Simon every single game, for us to have a chance at this.

For now, let the team bow their heads. Let them feel the pain and anguish of losing. They deserve this. They took Adamson for granted and this is the price of that. Hold on though. Tomorrow is another day. Let them recover from this with sheer determination of making up for this loss. This is the essence of the struggle. You pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again (as the song goes).

I feel bad, just like you. I am a La Sallite with the chosen monicker Proud Archer. I will remain so because in my life, picking myself up, dusting myself of, and starting all over again, has been my story. As Tita Cory lived her life, the heirarchy of her existence and priorities was always, God, Country, and family. To me, being a Proud Archer is a close fourth.

ANIMO!!!!!!!

• The sluggish Archers fell to the Adamson Falcons, 55-61 in today’s first game. Not exactly the result our supporters expected after the team’s valiant and spirited effort against Ateneo last Sunday.
• The Archers seemed a half step slower at times, and Adamson seemed to have prepared for the Archers’ traditional offensive sets, crowding the Archers in their favorite spots and contesting all shots, particularly those in the paint.
• It was a puzzling game to many observers, perhaps because of the 1-6 record of Adamson at the end of the first round. It’s worthwhile remembering that Adamson lost several games by 3 points or less in the first round, including that 1point overtime loss to our team, and that they beat the Archers in a pre-season tournament. Adamson is better than their record suggests. Give credit to Adamson, they wanted it more and it showed as they were more active on the boards and in going after loose balls.
• The Archers started off hot from the 3point area, hitting all 9 points in the first quarter from treys. After that initial streak, the Archers’ arrows started missing the mark. In the first half, the Archers made 5 out of their 9 3point attempts, while making only 3/23 on 2point attempts. Far out thought – maybe they should have fired away from the long court more instead of bringing the ball closer to the hoop? Nah, bad idea. They just have to believe that they can sink those shots.
• Some previous faults of the first few games resurfaced – lazy passes that were picked off, playing great defense for at least 20 seconds, then allowing the opponents to score in the last couple of seconds, failing to box out on the rebounds, forcing contested shots, hesitating on open shots. Probably indications of a lack of concentration on the game. Maybe they were already thinking ahead to Sunday’s game.
• It was the veterans who engineered the closing kick that brought the lead down to what it was at the end of the game. Bader hit a couple of fts, James scored on a drive, and Peejay hit a contested triple. Interestingly, Peejay seems to connect late in the games. Now, if only he can carry over that last second mindset earlier in the games.
• With a 4-4 record, the Archers cannot afford to lose many more games. They have to win at least 4 out of the remaining 6 games to have a good shot at the final 4. This was a game the Archers were expected to win, so they’ll need to pick up at least 2 wins from the “stronger” teams like Ateneo, FEU, UE, and UST, while making sure that they successfully hurdle UP and NU. A 7-7 record is a risky proposition.
• The team has two days to shed the negative feelings from the loss. Someone said that it seemed like they all got off the wrong side of the bed. Whatever, this game is a wakeup call, that the team can’t sleepwalk through any of the games. Hope this loss fires up the players. It’s a good thing that the score on Sunday’s game will be 0-0 during the opening tipoff.

Round 1 saw the emergence of Lester Alvarez as Adamson’s premiere point guard. In round 1, it was really an Alvarez vs. La Salle encounter.

This will not be a close game and we might probably blow Adamson away this time. This statement does not come from arrogance after the Ateneo performance. Just a product of my analysis and observations of the previous Adamson game and the emergence of more of our players in the Ateneo game as well. I will substantiate:

Adamson

Lester Alvarez – If there is one defensive weakness we can see right now with the La Salle defensive game, it’s guarding the pass of a penetrating guard, (either a drop pass under the basket, or a kick out pass to the corners). Two crucial baskets of the previous game vs Ateneo did us in last Sunday. The corner three point shot of Salamat, and the baseline jumpshot (same side of the court) by Nonoy Baclao. When a Jai Reyes drives, the kick-out pass is usually to the opposite weakside corner jumper. A driving Salamat usually goes for a wrap around pass underneath the basket to a Baclao, a Buenafe or an Al Hussaini. If you remember our two blow-out losses with UE (it was Paul Lee penetrating and dishing off underneath the basket), and FEU (Barroca and Cawaling did the slashing, and Aldrech Ramos, my favorite player on that team, was a monster on defense).

A driving Lester Alvarez presents us with that same problem, but with a difference: Lester shoots more than he passes. Stop his drive, we stop Adamson. We have to stop his outside shot first though, because this gives him the space to drive, once he hits his outside shots. Lester favors his left side when driving, so the anticipation of closing the door should come from this side. The reason why I am more confident right now is Yutien’s floating defense underneath the basket. His performance vs. Ateneo where he blocked two pet post-up shots of Al Hussaini, and one driving lay-up of Salamat, will be the same formula in stopping Alvarez. The key is reducing Alavarez to challenged jumpshooter and playing the passing lanes the way JV Casio used to. Simon Atkins should be up for this job. As a final defensive strategy to Lester if he gets hot, Joshua Webb was and still is the correct choice to stop Alvarez on the drive. First order of the day though. Don’t let him touch the ball.

Jan Colina – Colina is the steadiest and most fundamentally sound of the Falcon players. He plays post up, fights for the rebounds, take the occassional short jumpshot, and anything scrappy expected of a big man. He pump fakes well, and is a good passer. He will not be a good defensive matchup for Yutien, but for Ferdinand, then Mendoza, and finally Arvie, in that order. The order is to save on the fouls of the more crucial big men. If Yutien is around when Jan is inside, he should stay as the float defense, not the main defender of Jan. He might get into foul trouble and we may need his shot blocking abilities on drives to the basket, especially if the game becomes close.

Leo Canuday – Leo Canuday is a great defensive guard with a nose for the ball. He is their ball stripper on the help defense, and is strong going to the basket. He is the equivalent of our Bader Malabes. On offense, however, he likes to make things much harder on himself, opting for the spectacular shots rather than the simple but effective ones. He likes to hang in the air, posterize himself, and is very athletic. Bader should do well defensively with him, but be careful as he does have a strong upper body and can outmuscle a smaller guard in the paint, if he sets his mind to playing post-up. To our advantage, however, he seldom does this.

Mike Galinato – Galinato is an offensive threat with a soft touch in and around the paint. He, however is a defensive liability as he is slow and a bit lazy on defense. Yutien’s help defense won’t be effective with Galinato, as he shoots a fade away. But he can cover Galinato one on one. We can exploit Galinato’s defensive deficiency with the up and under moves of Kish Co. If I am not mistaken, Kish did well vs. Adamson in the first game. This was partly the reason. Galinato is not a good defender.

Jeric Cañada – Unfortunately for this spitfirish guard, he lost his spot to Alvarez and his confidence is low this season. The reason why I am mentioning him is that we seem to be shallow on the point guard spot while Adamson has Alvarez, Cañada, and Canuday at point. He may spring a surprise on us. Hopefully not.

Santos and No. 10 – I apoligize not knowing the new players of Adamson, but these two players shoot without fear, but fortunately for La Salle, without rhyme or reason. They just suddenly gunsling themselves into a shooting frenzy, even from three point distance, and this has cost them a lot of their lost games.

What about La Salle?

You may wonder. “Hey wait a minute Mr. La Sallite? What are you doing describing the key players of the other team? What about our team huh?” Here is my answer. Our priority strategies and focus is and always be DEFENSIVE strategies. In order to defend, you have to know your enemy, correct? There you go. These are the people who gave us a double overtime game the last time. Except for my observation on our defensive weakness, our players more or less now know who will watch whose back on defense, and the type of defensive pressure to apply.

Offensively, I am now more confident. They are beginning to know who will shoot, where and when, and how. It’s just a matter of execution of our offensive patterns. Usually, you will know the offensive flow of the game on game time itself. This is the reason why I commented that we can blow Adamson out of the court this time. If our offensive patterns work, and our defensive assignments are followed to the letter, Adamson has a tendency of going one on one basketball when they panic. You want my views of some of our players in this second game? OK, I will oblige.

James Mangahas – He should do well this time against Adamson. Of all the players in La Salle, James is a match-up problem for them. He is quick enough to blow by his man and tall enough against the Adamson forwards and off guards to shoot over them. If I remember right, he did well against Adamson in the first game.

Joshua Webb – After the Ateneo game, what can you say huh? Spider has seen that he can dominate a game offensively. His problem is focus. He gets so emotionally charged up he sometimes does things that can be detrimental to La Salle (like a deliberate foul, trash talking, and forgetting to play defense). Remember the short jumpshot of Nico Salva in the paint in the Ateneo game? He was Joshua’s man. Even if he scored 26 points in that game, that was one of the crucial makes of Ateneo. Franz bawled him out after that play. However, Joshua’s emotional game is also his strength. He drives harder, jumps higher, and electrifies the La Salle crowd. So what do we do about him? Somebody should just push him away when he goes savage and out of control. Let him pump himself up. He is harder to stop that way. Mabe we should hire a team psychiatrist for him? Just kidding Spider.

Arvie Bringas – Here is our main man. He is one of the main reasons why I predicted that we will win big. He doesn’t panic. He has the right amount of Animo, but does not allow himself to get carried away. He has both offense and defense. He now believes in his shots. AND, he was not a factor in the first game. He will be now!!!

Yutien “Tayshawn Prince” Andrada – He is my favorite player at La Salle. You may notice that I favor the shot blocking defensive demons of the game (Baclao, Aldrech Ramos), and now THIS guy. He, together with Arvie Bringas (the Baste connection), is our offense-defense coin. Our yin-yang players. La Salle will always thrive with a defensive big man who blocks shots like a solar eclipse. Wait till he bulks up a little. A little Anlene in his diet ought to do it. Please don’t let him take Arthro though. He might start to run backwards (although that is not a bad idea when playing defense).

Jovet Mendoza – He is turning out to be our utility player, in the mold of a Jerwin Gaco type. Defense, occasional offense, looseball recoveries, overall presence in the shaded lane, and above all, a fighting heart. If he brought his A game against the Eagles, a smaller bird like the Falcons will be of no problem to him now.

Sam Marata – This is my bold prediction for this game. He will step up big time in this game. If the offensive sets are run for him (the triple staggered screen), swoosh!!!!!

Don’t worry about the Bader and Peejay. One game or another, they will have their shooting moments. Simon will always be our stabilizer. Tolentino should take his lead as Simon’s back-up. Hyram Bagatsing is a better off guard than a point guard. We need Hyram’s shooting more that his ball distribution. Tolentino has to step up. As I said, we are shallow in the point guard position.

If we work as a team and the player’s execute their roles, a 5-2 record at least awaits us in the second round. Notice this La Sallites, I said AT LEAST. That loss against Ateneo wasn’t a loss my friends. We now have a deeper player rotation than what we had in the first Adamson game where we came from our first two devastating losses.

Now get ready for a devastating win!!!!

ANIMO!!!!!!!

• Currently with a winning record of 4-3, the Green Archers will do some Bird Hunting over the next two playdates to start the second round. First up are the Adamson Soaring Falcons this Thursday.
• Soaring is kind of misleading if you describe the kind of season Adamson is having now. They ought to be called the Sorry Falcons or Low-flying Falcons with all their hapless setbacks as of late. Their loss against UE a couple of weeks back was indeed a killer blow to their confidence. But of course there is still one whole round for them to recover.
• In their previous match-up in the first round, the Archers escaped by the skin of their teeth in overtime. Thanks to an unnecessary foul committed by Adamson’s Camson with only a few seconds left, Maui Villanueva was able to break the tie via the free throw stripe. The Archers won 64-63.
• Some call it an ugly win due to the team’s horrendous shooting. Though the Archers’ offensive output is improving significantly as of late, the key to win this game still has to be on defense.
• The team may have lost against Ateneo to close the first round but I believe this does not in any way dampen their spirit. Confidence-wise the Archers are on a roll and we hope they continue to improve as we head to the homestretch of this season.
• Let’s hope that the injury and health-related problems of the Archers are now behind them, so they can give it 100%. This is the homestretch, and how they perform will determine how they will figure in the playoffs.
• At present, there is a 5-way battle for the playoffs. FEU and Ateneo are two games ahead of La Salle, UE, and FEU, but that 2-game advantage can easily disappear. So starting now, every game will count towards the placings. 4 wins should be enough to get the team to the  final 4, but of course it’s best not to take any team for granted.