The View from the Armchair (Game 1 vs UE)
The reality of Game 1
The Archers were overwhelmed in their first game by the UE Red Warriors, in a game which saw the Archers post their lowest score (46 points) in a long time. The result surprised many supporters who expected the veterans and promising rookies to combine seamlessly to give the green-and-white a flying start in Season 72.
Not much of the usual Archer ball was apparent in yesterday’s performance: the defense was inconsistent on the perimeter as well as inside (UE was 43.8% on 2point shots) , outside shooting was practically non-existent (3/21 or 14% on 3pointers), and errors / turnovers were plentiful (22). Foul throw shooting woes continued from last year (9/18), but rebounding was a bright spot (50 total, 21 offensive) led by Maui and Ferdinand who combined for 16. Their inability to sink baskets early told on the team’s confidence, and they struggled with their shots all game long, averaging only slightly more than 11 points a quarter.
Many critics seem to forget that UE is a strong team, with an intact core even without James Martinez. Remember that they were trained and mentored by Dindo Pumaren for 4 years, these are mostly his handpicked players, and much of his work is now becoming apparent. In the last two seasons, UE has had an even win-loss record against the Archers, and in the eliminations, the Warriors have a 3-1 advantage during this period. They usually enter the season already in peak form, typically using the pre-season tournaments to hone their game. Individually, their talents are at least a match for our players, and Paul Lee is one of the best young players in the league so far. Their front line is strong, athletic, and versatile. It’s no surprise that they dominated yesterday’s game.
Early Brickbats
As is usual after a bad Green Archer loss, a lot of basketball experts have sprouted overnight, all with their own ready made analysis of what went wrong and what the coaches and players need to do. Some even questioned the judgment of the coaches in their player selection and game tactics yesterday. None of the players who saw action yesterday were spared from criticism, and the veterans in particular came under fire for their performance.
Most critics bemoaned the loss of JV and Rico, and the “what if” argument was most frequently used as the imaginary cure-all, as in “if JV and Rico were around, that would never have happened”. Next on tap was the general yearning for a “King Archer”, a savior of the team a la Renren, Macmac, and Joseph. The veterans’ collective lack of leadership came under close scrutiny as well.
Conventional wisdom and the team’s leadership situation
A common complaint of the critics was the lack of leadership on the team. Most observed that there is no “take charge” guy, and nobody was willing to step up and rally the team to victory. So let’s take a look at leadership on this team, and popular beliefs that have prevailed over the years.
Someone has to step up – focuses on the individual rather than the team. Basketball is a team sport. The entire team should step up and take accountability and responsibility for the team’s performance, not just any single player.
Veterans as the leaders – assumes that experience = leadership. Not true. For all we know, the team’s leader could emerge from the rookies or sophomores. Age has never been a determinant of leadership, either. Yesterday, UE watched James and Peejay very closely whenever they were on the floor. They are criticized for lack of leadership, but people forget that they are the marked players on our team, and the opponents usually have a hand in preventing them from playing well.
The leader as a doer – assumes that individual ability=leadership. Not true, and in fact leadership necessarily focuses on the attainment of the team’s desired results rather than on individual performance. There is a very real danger that a player will decide to carry the team on his back and try to do it all by himself. In past years, the LA Lakers were known as Kobe plus 4 other players. This year, he achieved his fourth championship by allowing his teammates to take accountability and take the shots that mattered. The true leader is able to assign responsibility to others depending on the situation at hand. The Archer system is premised on all players fulfilling their roles competently. The leader does not need the ball in his hands to lead the team. Leaders should lead by example, by following the game plan and their own individual roles on the team to the hilt.
We need a King Archer – not true. What we need are King Archers, not just one, to share the load and the burden of being on a championship caliber team. All the players must have the ability and confidence to become the King Archer on occasion, and the willingness to accept responsibility and accountability, to do what has to be done, whenever the situation calls for it. Last year, JV and Rico struggled because all teams focused their defensive schemes on containing both players who people insisted on designating as “King Archers”. They managed to get the team to the finals, but could not ensure a repeat championship by themselves because two players vs five just isn’t enough. They needed other players to do their share. On this team, every player needs to do his share, because there is no King Archer to do it for him. And they need all their teammates to do their part at the same time as well.
The Archers are historically slow starters
The Archers, on the other hand, are usually not yet in optimum shape when the UAAP starts in July. They usually get by on sheer talent and their unforgiving defense in the first round, but there are usually lots of loose ends. The second round is where they start showing their real game, but by that time there are usually no more surprises and the other teams have learned what the team is all about. At this point, it tends to boil down to execution, and that’s where the Archers have proven to be a notch above their competitors. They will typically get into the final 4, sometimes even just barely scraping into the playoffs.
Tempered expectations
Our friend swingman has stated that he has tempered his expectations this year. The Season 72 Green Archer edition is younger than in previous years, and no one has yet stepped up to fill the void left by JV and Rico. The newbies are still feeling their way in the team, and yesterday’s game proved to be a rude awakening for those who saw action. Many of our players like Simon and Arvie are still recovering from illness and injuries, and are not yet in tiptop physical condition.
Tony Atayde predicts that the team will make it into the playoffs on the strength of a 7-7 record. That’s a very realistic assessment. Against the top 3 contenders (Ateneo, FEU, UE), the Archers will probably go 2-4. Against the rest (Adamson, UP, NU, UST), they will probably fare a little better, 5-3.
For now, reaching the final 4 should be the target of this young team. If they play well enough, we might even dream of reaching the finals. But in the meantime, reality beckons, and after game 1, it says that let’s not get our hopes up.
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I have to disagree with you about the issue of leadership. Basketball is a team sport and it is precisely because of this that a leader is needed. When you have 16 players of different backgrounds, personalities and egos, you need a leader who will bring them together for one goal. This La Salle team needs a player who will command the respect of the team to get up in their face when they screw up or give them a pat on the back when they do good. La Salle teams have always had that one player who solidified the team. From what I have seen, that could be Maui Villanueva or Simon Atkins.
Mangahas, Barua and Malabes just don’t have the personality to do it.
I agree with you on the need for someone to act as a leader. However, it’s not a foregone conclusion that the leader will come from the ranks of the veterans. As you said, it could very well be Maui or Simon. Mangahas, Barua, and Malabes have yet to show that they can be that leader, although we can’t discount that possibility either. If this team is to make it deep into the playoffs, someone will have to emerge from the ranks.
These young gun Archer fans make me feel old.
As predicted, they are up in arms in exasperation with the loss, dead-quiet as UE pulled away in the fourth.
It’s like they expect the team to dominate every moment. But the truth is, we can’t always win it all. I’ve come to accept that fact. Maybe I’m not old for not ranting about it, but I’ve surely mellowed.
I mentioned 2003 because we are in the exact same boat. 2 years removed from a title, coming off a championship loss to Ateneo, no big name holdovers, a team chock-full of rookies- rookies who may be good and will get even better, but still rookies, not used to playing in front of big noisy crowds with huge expectations. In fact, not a single Archer on this team is used to the limelight with all eyes on them.
This is 2003 all over again. Casio was a rookie, Rico wasn’t even on the team yet. And how’d that season turn out? If I recall, 7-7, with one Final 4 victory coinciding with the emergence of Joseph Yeo.
That 03 team broke a lot of winning traditions instituted by Coach Franz. This 2009 team? Like I said before, I’m prepared for anything. Blowout losses, consecutive losses, losing to good teams, losing to bad teams. I have accepted the notion that this year’s team could very well set a lot of records for us, in a bad way.
The point is, it’s the cycle of life. Sometimes you’re up, sometime’s you’re down. With La Salle, we’re lucky: most of the tome we’re up there contending with the best of them, but of course there will be times- few and far between, I might add- when we find ourselves having to rebuild. when we’re not as strong as we are used to being.
Does this mean I expect nothing from this team? Hell NO! In fact, I expect a lot from them. I expect them to grow up a lot this season. I expect them to fight tooth and nail each time out. I expect them to play with heads unbowed. I don’t care if we win the championship or go 2-12, I expect these kids to learn as much as they can from this experience, so that they may be a year older and a year wiser next year.
This season will not be a loss, no matter what, if we play with a strength of character that La Salle breeds in us. Sure I’ll egg on the team; I’ll cheer my hardest in the games. I’ll hope against hope our team pushes for the title.
But, and this is the message of this whole thing: Let’s be realistic. The team will try their hardest, and we should support them all-out, just as well, even in defeat. Sometimes, you need blowout losses so you can enjoy hair-raising wins.
Because when it comes down to it, what really happens with each loss? Nothing. The world does not stop turning, life goes on. At the very least, we’ll cherish the journey. we would have learned something. We’ll find out how deep our faith goes, and how far it can take us.
Pride. One day, these young gun Archer fans will realize what a mellow guy like me has learned: our collective Archer pride has nothing to do with the scoreboard, has nothing to do with our team standing. It has everything to do, however, with how we respond to adversity, how we celebrate every little insignificant moment of brilliance.
Winning is not always a victory. But if we play with dignity, then losing is never a defeat.
Losing to bad teams were mentioned above. It is to be expected this season indeed. I even remember that blowout loss we had against NU back in 2003. The lead even ballooned to as big as 21, back then.
As for the leadership issues… Well we do need one who can really lead by example. Who can push the others to give it their all, without really saying it. He doesn’t really have to be one of the most senior members of the team. He just has to posses that quality of being a great leader. Unfortunately, only a handful have this in them.
But the most important thing that each player NEEDS to posses is the desire to win. That hunger for the crown. Boom Gonzales even mentioned this one during his commentary. That he has not seen that desire, that drive to win, in the players’ faces. Not just yet at least. Maybe the fact that our team is rebuilding has gotten into their heads too much?
They need to have that passion, that desire that we all saw in the likes of JV, Cholo, and TY.
well i think, they just need some motivation coming from the coach and their team mates. i believe there’s nothing impossible if they’ll play as a team and not as individuals. they may have different personalities, egos and background but they still stand by the same goal. they want to be the champion of the 72nd seeason. they will if and only if they set aside their differences while playing the game. basketball isn’t about shooting the ball to score. it is about unity and leadership..
People doesnt expect much from this years la salle team. What makes us fans somehow disappointed is the lack of teamness, preparation and presence of mind of the players. Knowing La Salle, they are always prepared for this. Admittedly, we are no way on the level of the top 4 teams in the UAAP this season but the long historical attitude of being a wild card was none existing during the first game. There had been woes last saturday that you dont expect from any player that is playing basketball for more than half of his life. La Salle has the history of peskiness and unrelating defense, which I hope would be seen on the next games. And I hope someone will take charge to be the leader of the team. not necessarily the go to guy, but the speaker for the team, the one to call for a huddle in the middle of the court and the general who will push the whole team to run the system la salle is know for.
I’m really looking forward to NEXT season
If they play like that all season, this could very well be the very first time we won’t make the Final 4.
What’s up with the atrocious shooting percentage? Don’t they run shooting drills in practice anymore.
I can’t bear to watch the ateneo-La Salle matchup. We’re gonna get creamed!
Maybe the Pumaren system has finally served its purpose, after 10 years. That once dreaded nightmare press is now obsolete. Maybe it’s time for a coaching change.
One loss and you’re throwing in the towel? With 13 games to go in the eliminations?
It’s way too early to say that Franz is no longer effective. In the last 2 years, we’ve been champions and first runner up. No other team or coach has that track record.
Remember the 14-0 record that UE compiled two seasons, in the process steamrollering the Green Archers en route to that sweep? We were the underdogs all throughout the season, yet the team pulled it off in the finals.
If there’s one thing that we’ve learned since Franz took the helm, it’s that he is unmatched in strategic and tactical planning. His track record speaks for itself, and the team has continued to be competitive despite having weak lineups. It’s a fact of collegiate basketball life that players will graduate and move out of the lineup. There are no ready made replacements for JV and Rico. Their departure weakens the team, and it’s no one’s fault.
This year’s lineup is young and promising, but cannot compare yet to the veteran teams of Ateneo, FEU, and UE.
The press no longer has the element of surprise it once had, but it still serves its purpose to make the opponents use up their shot clock. It still does generate some easy points on occasion. However, it has been extensively studied by other coaches, who have devised their own countermeasures. Some even copy it, and the press is now a staple of most successful collegiate teams. How’s that for success? To say it’s obsolete is to show a lack of understanding of the purpose of the press.
Perhaps we’ve been spoiled by the success of the team under Franz. Some resent the fact that the team will lose some games. It’s unrealistic to expect that the Archers will be triumphant every season. We will lose games, and sometimes badly. Like last weekend.
Theoretically, if Franz were to be replaced, it would be by someone who has a better record as a collegiate coach. Let’s see, who has that kind of a resume? Anybody currently coaching in the UAAP? In the NCAA? Guess not. Aim higher – in the PBA? Oh yeah, there are at least 3 UAAP coaches with some coaching experience in the PBA – Ateneo’s Black, UST’s Jarencio, Adamson’s Austria. How many collegiate championships do they have put together? Does it equal the number that Franz has? I thought so.
Before anyone calls for heads to roll, take stock of where we are and where the team is going. Unless one is a seer, there is no way to tell at this point in time how the team will finish this year. And even if the team ultimately is not successful, it’s not the end of the world. This team is loaded for years to come. That’s the long term plan. Anyone with a better plan?
The team should change it’s style from a guard oriented type of offense to post-up. This would give more opportunities for Bringas and also Andrada to get the ball and do their thing. They were not able to get any touches last sat. With no consistent shooters, this I feel is the way to go.
Two things.
1. Coach’s system- and it’s many incarnations and subtleties- WORKS. Since the Final 4 was instituted, we have never missed it. And the reason we’ve lost to Ateneo and FEU in the Finals the past decase is because we’re always in it. Since Coach has come onboard and with the exception of the suspension year, has has coached us through 10 UAAP M Basketball tournaments. We have been in all 10 Final 4s, and we have played in the Finals 9 times, winning the chip 6 times.
The system works, the style works. I wouldn’t dare change it. I actually take pride in our style of play. I don’t like the pro style of Coach norman where it’s all 1-4 sets and ball screens and post isolations; I mean it’s okay, but it’s very dependent on individual talent. That is why Ateneo is not quite the year-in year-out contender we are year; they need formidable talent to win their way. But with us, as long as the pieces can execute, it doesn’t matter who they are.
Which brings us to
2. It’s the players that lost that game. For all your misgivings about the appropriateness of the game plan, I’m sure Coach Franz did not instruct his team to turn the ball over 20 times, shoot 20-odd percent from the field, or miss their freethrows. Kung pwede nga lang si Coach na sana nag-attempt nung mga shots and passes and dribble-runs na yun at baka mas nagawa pa nya ng tama.
We lost because of lapses. Lapses on offense, lapses on defense. And then we panicked. But that’s what kids do: they make a mistake, they try to get it back as hurriedly as possible, digging deeper holes for themselves. None of that is Coach’s fault. The team just needs to grow and gel together, and of course each player must improve individually.
At the end of the day, any coach can devise a brilliant gameplan to dominate a game or design a brilliant play to win a close one, but it is up to the guys on the floor to execute it and see it through.
Relax guys, its only the start. I doesn’t matter how you start it, what matters is how you finish it. The team still needs to adjust to each other. Other teams are already counting us out from the Final 4. But they’ll never know, do they? Just keep on supporting the Green Archers!
Animo La Salle from all of us alumni here in United Kingdom!
@swingman, you raised a very important point – Franz’s success rate in making the final 4 is 100% (10/10). His track record of making the finals is 90% (9/10), and his winning percentage once the Archers get to the finals is 66% (6/9). His overall track record is 60% (6 championships in 10 years). No other coach comes close. Certainly not in the UAAP, NCAA, or even in the PBA. He has more UAAP championships that 10-year period than all the other coaches in the league combined.
His system works, and it’s there to generate results. What results? Championships, no less. The objective is the ultimate prize, it’s not to just win games. As long as we win enough games to get to the final 4, we’re in a position to contend. A top 2 placing is a nice-to-have, but missing it won’t prevent us from getting to the final, just makes it a bit more difficult.
I go back to that immaculate 14-0 record of UE the other year which they were unable to translate into the championship. I remember that year that during the first few games the Archers showed the rust of that enforced layoff and got blown out a few times, just like last weekend. Yet they ultimately prevailed.
Stephen Covey’s second habit is all about vision – “begin with the end in mind”. The vision is to hoist the championship trophy at the end of the tournament. Hopefully this year, and also in the next few years. This year’s lineup was built for that purpose. Getting there is just like a journey. There will be frustrations and losses along the way. It will be ugly at times, and the team will look like they don’t belong on the same court as the favored teams. But as long as the team learns and applies that learning, there is a good chance that the vision can be attained.
Franz’s track record shows that chances are good that the Archers will make the final 4, and if they get there, an even chance of making the finals. It’s not gonna be easy. But it’ll be worth the ride.
Another thing noticeable since last year, our players don’t seem as physically strong as they were before, especially in finishing baskets with authority.
Just wondering, is Dan Rose still the strength and conditioning trainer? If not, we need him back badly…
@ Mr. Atayde
You are right Sir, This year, with veterans malabes, barua and especially mangahas are disasters. It not about saying their performance after one game. Its just that they really lack the emotion and the fighting spirit. Their games from previous years shows that they rely heavily with Casio an Maierhofer. It will be hard for them to take the team to the final4.
We just lack bigmen. Reality Check, How do you think bringas will perform with the other teams Feu- cervantos, ramos. Ue llagas, espiritu. Ateneo- baclao, al-hussaini. Kish Co- cannot even handle the ball. Ferdinand- pure defense. Andrada- needs to bulk up. It will be very hard for the archers to enter the final4 this year. Cmon guys. Lets just pray
The passing of the torch of leadership was not as smooth this year as compared to previous years. Before when the best player leaves, there is someone always ready to fill in.
2000 – Allado/Aldeguer ->Jose/Castro/Ritualo
2001 – Jose/Castro -> Ritualo/Cortez
2002- Ritualo -> Cortez/Wilson
2003 – Cortez/Wilson -> Cardona/Yeo
2004 – still had Cardona/Yeo
2005- Cardona -> Yeo/Tang
2007- Yeo -> Tang/Villanueva
2008 – Tang/Villanueva -> Casio/Maierhofer
2009 – Casio/Maierhofer -> ?????
if would have been nice if Casio -> Maierhofer for this year.
I agree Barua and Mangahas are relatively raw to assume a higher degree of responsibility for the team. Both hardly saw action in 2005, marginal minutes in 2007. It was only last year that they got a taste of real pressure basketball in the hardcourt.
The rest of the guys I mentioned already got to play significant minutes in early part of their career.
bee green,
this would not have been a problem if we had a solid backcourt. in the past were able to win with the likes of Ramos, Sharma, Gavino etc against even more formidable bigmen such as Villanueva, Alvarez , Santos, Isip, Espiritu, Ortiguerra etc.
Fredo,
You are definitely right Mr. Fredo. I think Franz consecutive record of F4 appearance will be over this year. I just hope they put up a good fight every game. They must show the Lasallian fighting spirit. Admu, Feu and Ue are locked in the F4. The rest will slug it out. what you think?
It sounds like you guys have given up on the team after just one game. You’d think that the season was all but over for the Green Archers. It’s surprising how fast these conclusions on the team’s dismal fate this year were drawn up with still 13 games to go in the eliminations.
However this season will shape up, whether they make it to the playoffs or not, we should still support the team.
@ nel
Its not about after one game, Its about the players… Do you think the veterans malabes, mangahas and barua can lead the team to the final four.?
Hate to admit it but we will not again win against Admu this year.
malabes- hit or miss, but has defense thats why franz like this guy
barua- no fighting spirit, just relys on his outside shooting
mangahas- lacks emotion in filipino terms “may alagang daga”
For the Archers…
Play every game as if there’s no more tomorrow.
It’s too early to draw any conclusions on how the team will perform. And it also takes time for players to develop that confidence in themselves. How much confidence do you think the players will have when all they hear is criticism, with very little encouragement from the people they play their guts out for? It’s as if their season has already been defined by the first game.
What the players need right now is to feel that we have their back, and not that we want to stab them in the back. How can we expect them to give it their all when all they get is brickbats, all they hear is how they have no guts, no heart, no consistency. Be careful, all that criticism could easily end up becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy if the players give up on us in the same way some supporters seem to have already given up on them.
If we really want them to succeed, then we’ll give them all the morale support they need. Not all these put downs they’re getting after only one game.
Our team is composed of rookies, inexperienced, there’s no go to guy, no veteran leadership….
but for every game they play, they must play their hearts out.
NO EXCUSES.
what I saw in the UE game was shocking. they must pull themselves together. strive to win. play with ANIMO.
the entire Lasallian community is behind them.
ANIMO LA SALLE!!!!
We will see. Good luck to their next game. Against FEU
@Fredo, yes it was a luxury for us in the past several years that we had ’smooth’ transitions from year to year in terms of leadership. To add to the list, even our role players were good (leaders). Sta Maria, Manalo, and Gaco to name a few.
My comments on the leadership void, well time will tell if some of the players mature into leadership roles, and I’m positive that think some of them will. In fact, I’m not worried one bit about as it’s natural for young teams to go on a little soul searching when they’re starting and it will be bumpy ride. The thing is it’ll take time, it may take a handful of games, or maybe a whole season season. Though I must admit that at first look at the personalities of the players, it is frustrating that there’s no one with glaring leadership-potential. Let’s see how it plays out.
Regardless, this season will be very intriguing, and it will be fun to watch how the team develops.
)
-Will the rookies hit the wall with very minimal vets beside them?
-How will a team devoid of a go-to-guy fare in a season?
-How will a JUMP-SHOOTING team with final 4 aspirations fare in a season? (My impression is DLSU is set-up as a jump-shooting team… ala NU teams in the past =|)
-As the season goes by, who will fill the roles (rim defender, designated shooter, press lineup, closers, etc)?
-And…. (my favorite) who will become our first-5-minutes-guy?!?! (Franz, always has a starter who plays the first several minutes and would never come back, usually a big man
Personally,i ddnt expect a win last sat. But i also ddnt expect an unprepared team. At some point i thought why be shocked? We lost to the almost-the-same UE team in S70. Which is,supposedly more devastating bcoz we had a more experienced team..despite knowing that UE was THE TEAM. Then i realized that the game last sat is WORSE. Bcoz they came UNPREPARED. Having 6 rookies shouldn’t be an excuse, coz the TEAM went to the states to train,right? So why wasn’t it shown? We weren’t expecting PROs. We’re expecting better basketball..and camaraderie. Btw, where were the seniors? Last time i checked they were invisible. The vets need to step up to be the LEADER/S. You don’t need to be a capt to be a leader. Correct me if I’m wrong, but hyram’s the capt,right? So kid live up to your role. The coach didn’t appoint you if he didn’t see any potential. The team and the entire LS community will back you up. Sirs, the comments written aren’t to put the team down. They should look at it in an optimistic approach. In that way it would help them to improve on their roles individually and as a team. No one’s expectn a crown,lest F4. People would want to see spark,willingness and drive in each and every game. That would give dignity and pride despite the loss. We just need to learn from our mistakes. Coz there’s no way but UP! Til the next game! Animo!
Bring back the dark green color in the archer’s jersey!
Animo La Salle!
johni is absolutely right! dark green color is much better!
Wake up.FEU is next.Go La Salle.
Be patient too .Its a long tournament.
This team is raw. This team is leaderless.
This team will still make the final four, prove critics wrong.
This team will prove everyone wrong.
All I want is for the Archers to play 40 minutes of all heart basketball. Never mind the result. Yes, we could get creamed but if I saw the Archers chasing and diving after every loose ball, fighting relentlessly for all rebounds, play unrelenting and suffocating defense all throughout, that’s enough. Offense might take a break on any given day but defense and hustle will always be there all the time.
Yes, Yutien Andrada might give up several pounds to the opposing frontlines but did you guys see how he was fighting Pari Llagas last Saturday? I even saw Llagas gave Yutien a hit to the midsection. That’s a freshman not backing down to a veteran.
Maybe the coaching staff should trust Peejay Barua more. Yes, he might be passive but he is our best scorer/shooter. If the offense bogs down, I would want my best scorer still attempting the shot never mind if he missed. Last Saturday, Peejay played only 13 minutes and scored 7 points on 3/7 attempts. Not bad actually. With the offense a gonner specially in the 4th quarter, I would’ve let Peejay loose in the 4th quarter. Bahala na if he goes 2-10 or what. A team insider even told me that assistant coach Dindo Pumaren even mentioned that Peejay, in fact didn’t play a bad game last Saturday. Just food for thought.
La Salle will win on Saturday
@paikillaz,
thanks, i think the dark green jersey looks more ‘fearsome’ to the opponent than the ’sour’ adidas green that we have.
… a final four appearance is still not bad… yup, Adidas should change those pale-looking green jerseys… why cant they get those Celtic-green jerseys? that would be awesome…
Last Sunday was a big loss… But I believe that the bigger the loss, the bigger the lesson learned… I didn’t really expected a lot out of this team to be frank… But they should not listen to critics and believe in themselves… They are Archers for a reason… I hope they find that reason soon… I don’t expect much wins from this team… I just expect a lot of heart, an unwavering will, and a whole lot of ANIMO…
Our group has always been a very loyal core of nuts supporting the team through the years. We’re still nuts. We also claim to know our basketball because we appreciate good plays made by the other teams against us. We watch the game both technically and passionately.
All the team needs is an identified leader, one who will fight tooth and nail, no matter what. I think Simon Atkins is that guy. He was the one who showed grit, determination, and the Animo spirit during that UE loss.
As far as the team system goes, the know-it-alls claim that the press defense is outdated, the system is now outmoded. Let me tell you one thing. Without that system now, we would lose games by an averge of 25-30 pts. this season.
It still delays team offenses for the full 8 seconds in the back court. It still results into turnovers now and then. It still gives us HOPE when we see that the press can’t be broken. I am telling you, teams still can’t react to that defense, specially during crucial stretches of a game.
Have you forgotten that our four peat championship teams with ren ren ritualo at the firing end, was NEVER the favored team? Have you forgotten that the much ballyhooed Rico Villanueva led era won ONLY ONE championship, while we made that 4-peat championship run? Rico Villanueva developed into a basketball monster, that’s true, but that was on his fifth and last year, when his basketball muscles were at its collegiate prime.
Have you forgotten the 14-0 UE team of recent memory? We lost by a blow-out (20pts++) on the first playing day, at the Cuneta Astrodome. Remember that? Who came out as champions?
All I’m saying is we have to support our team, no matter what. Remember that this REALLY IS a rebuilding team. We came from a suspension in 2006. We still became champions in 2007 because our core of players stayed on, BUT we had the weakest recruitment plan during this time, as we were not allowed to recruit.
How easily you Archers forget. Animo La Salle.!!!!
Yes Archers, we are always at the games