I wouldn’t say it was a “nice” game. Since Ateneo wasn’t really psyched enough. I’d like both teams to be in their best condition so there wouldn’t be any room for hindsight, excuses, backtalk etc. when one of them loses.
Besides, it’s more fun seeing both teams play their best.
Yet I’m still happy since La Salle won. I feel it would be unfair to consider the game a fluke just because one of them didn’t do their best and the other gave it 200% (impeccable offense, defense, and mental focus by La Salle). Anybody would agree that they deserved the win.
It’s a shame J.C. Intal lost his cool. A technical foul(out) is the worst way a player can go.
I was watching the Telly and it was so clear that the La Salle player fell first, and simply lied down to avoid any second movement. Then J.C. tripped on him backwards… At the mental state all the Eagles were in, you couldn’t blame J.C. to think that it was an intentional tripping.
Intal is one of the guys I like watching in the Ateneo (and of course Tenorio). Everybody’s talking about Bugia et all. But J.C. for me has admirably tried to fill in the gap in performance – which Fonacier’s accident had created. And he has done remarkably well all things considered. He’s a good kid, so it’s such a shame he had to go that way.
The mental state of the Eagles continued to deteriorate (as the commentators pointed out) when each individual Eagle was trying to bring the team back by themselves.
But enough of feeling sorry for the Blue Eagles. Because basketball is as much of a mental sport as it is physical. La Salle did great in both aspects. Maybe destroying the Eagles’ morale was part of the plan. If that’s the case, then everything went according to plan, and you’ll have to give La Salle credit for that… whoever you are.
In any case, I’m looking forward to a great semi-final series. All of the UAAP teams seemed to have finally adjusted to Ateneo’s style (which was admirably incredible to say the least). But now that everyone has adjusted… It’s the Ateneo coach’s job to readjust.
As my sister would say:
This is probably where we’ll get to see the difference between coach Arespacochaga and Lipa. As the latter was able to transform Ateneo to a nearly invincible team after adjusting their playing style against the other UAAP teams.
Let’s see if he can transform Ateneo yet again to deal with La Salle and the rest. As for Pumaren, there’s nothing to say really since the Archers are in good form. I guess they shouldn’t relax and never underestimate their opponents.
Now that the “playoffs” are over, every team now has the chance to rest and study their own weaknesses and strengths. And there will probably be a lot more adjusting.
Having said that, the semis are anyone’s ballgame
I just realized that the UAAP would be boring, since La Salle and Ateneo could NEVER go head to head in the championship round. I honestly wanted one of the middle placers to be either 1st or 4th seeded. Even if it meant La Salle being seeded last – just so there’s a chance they could go head to head with the eagles when it really counts. For me, it just ain’t fun to watch if it ain’t La Salle vs. Ateneo
I guess I’ll just take the semis as the championship series.