How Important is Game One?
(Writer’s Note: All record references are from 1994, the year the UAAP began to adopt the Final Four format)
In a few hours, we will all be witness to the historic 3rd UAAP finals confrontation between bitter rivals, the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the De La Salle Green Archers, since the Final Four format was implemented. The rivals are even in their record in the Finals against each other. The Green Archers won over the Blue Eagles in 2001, while the latter exacted revenge over the former in 2002. It will take only two victories to earn the championship, which makes the first win an-all important one. And by Sunday night, we will all know who has drawn first blood. But how important is it to take the first game? At this point, let me adopt the famous (or infamous) style of the controversial Philippine Star columnist Quinito Henson.
Since the Final Four format was implemented in the UAAP in 1994, the team who won Game 1 went on to win the championship, in 10 out of the 14 seasons (1994-2007). Interestingly, half of those ten times were courtesy of De La Salle (’98, ’00, ’01, ’04 and ’07).
Seven teams who won the first game of the Finals went on to sweep the series. 3 of which are the Green Archer squads (’98, ’00 and ’07). The others were the Dale-Singson-led UST squad in ’96, and the FEU Tamaraws in ’97 when they were bannered by Ronald Magtulis and in ’03 and ’05, during their Arwind Santos era.
The Green Archers Striking first
In their 12 previous finals appearances, the Green Archers got the first taste of the pie 7 times and in 5 of those 7 times, the famed Green Archers had the pie all for itself. It should be pointed out that the couple of times that DLSU lost the championship after winning Game 1 was against their erstwhile tormentor, the UST Growling Tigers—in ‘94 and ‘95, the first two years of the infamous “Bridesmaid Era” of the Green Archers. However in 1999, the tables were turned as the Green Archers copped the championship crown despite UST winning game 1 of the finals series.(This was the only time that La Salle won the UAAP basketball crown, despite losing Game 1)
Thus, it would appear that post “Bridesmaid Era”, that is after 1997, La Salle always wins the UAAP top plum, when it wins game 1. Will this record continue or will this be broken? We’ll know by next week.
How about the Ateneo?
Prior to this season, the Ateneo Blue Eagles have been in the finals of the UAAP, 3 times and in those 3 times, they won Game 1 twice (in ‘02 and ‘06). It was in ’02 that they won the championship at the expense of the Green Archers, and as stated, they won the first game of the series in that season. However, the story was different in ’06, the year DLSU was suspended. After winning Game 1, the Blue Eagles suffered a heartbreaking championship loss against the younger UST squad.
But when their opponent wins game 1, the Blue Eagles seemed to get intimidated and gives up the crown. This happened in 2001—and yes, it was against the Green Archers.
Game One and the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry.
In the two times ADMU and DLSU met in a UAAP Championship, both series went to the full extent. But more telling is that, whichever team wins game 1, wins the series. The Ren-Ren Ritualo-led La Salle squad won game 1 in 2001 with a 74-68 thumping of the Blue Eagles, while the Enrico Villanueva-led Blue Eagle squad, won game 1 in 2002 with a close 72-20 win.
So going back to the question, how important is it to win game One? All I can say is that it is a must-win for DLSU.
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If walsham can contain Al Hussaini, we’ll have a better crack at winning game 1. Somehow, I think the blue eagles are so determined this season that maybe, just maybe, this could very well turn out as another fairy tale ending for them. With just too many weapons, I refuse to give Norman Black any excuse if he happens to lose the series. Nonetheless, while we are indeed the underdogs, which by the way is not because of the 13-1 record but rather due to the depth of their bench, coach franz has proven time and time again that he can pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat especially when it’s show time.
Is 2008 the year when the blue eagle will soar once again as king of the UAAP? And shall we all bear witness once to the overwhelming TV exposure this team always manages to receive from the media due to their rarity in capturing the championship plum?(owing to the obvious bias of the Lopez’ who are mostly alumni of AdMU, although I know two of their billionaire twins graduated from DLSU) All these questions will be answered in less than 24 hours. So sit tight archers, cross those fingers and keep those piercing eyes straight to the target because whether you like it or not the Big Bad Blue Bird is descending swiftly looking for one big fight.
Game 1 wud be a very big factor 2 win d championship coz winning game 1 wud make 8 a 1 step closer to the championship but 8 doesnt asure of a big advantage…
the next game wud be different watever happens n game 1, i knw d archers will be better than wat they showed n d eliminations.thats wat i hav known frm d archers squad, wenever they r n d finals, they will be d most dangerous opponent to handle…
they proved 8 n their evry finals appearance. d big example s last years finals between d archers and red warriors. d 14-0 was never a factor. this wud be an exciting ballgame coz this 2 teams wud giv d last push to the championship….
GUD LUCK La Salle!!!!!!
hey, which is much better??
we lost game1, and win games 2 & 3?
or sweep the finals??
kung anu man yan, masarap parin
lalo na’t ateneo kalaban..hahahahaha
“Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy’s will to be imposed on him” – Sun Tzu (The Art of War)
woah, talo tayo. 1 min remaining.
sa game 2 kaya, hati pa ba ang araneta ng green and blue? or almost blue na?
I will not lie, the pain stings. Our players did their best but they’re just too good. We remain steadfast in defeat.
true blue
it’s not over yet. but if we really wont, we wont give it to you without a fight. congrats to you.
win or lose, LA SALLE all the way. it’s not about winning, it’s about school spirit.
Go archers! bawi tayo sa Game2 aryt?
ANIMO LA SALLE!!
medyo nayabangan lang ako kay Al-Hussaini kanina!!
argh!
hi,,kulang sa ybang ang dlsu,,kylangan nila un pampalakas ng loob,,,sobra kz sa angas ang eagles knina kya nanalo sila..buo ang loob nila,,tsaka dont always depend on jvee,,everybody can do something,,barua dmi miss mhihrap na tira,,sayang last 1 min 6 na lang lamang,,but keep the faith animo spirit
in a way, ok naman start ng archers during the 1st half eh.
in short, kaya naman talaga makipagsabayan!!!
ano ba yung mga referee kanina….higpit ng tawag…konting dikit lng fould agad….agree ako ky archer_fanatic…hoy true blue…wag ka masyadong mayabang…porket nakapasok kayo sa finals…hahaha….sa wakas makakatikim na si coach black ng pinakamimithi nyang championship….waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…..lols kayo…..maswerte kayo, walang center na makakapag-bantay ky al-hussaini…mayabang kayo…hahaha….
sobrang naangasan talaga ako kay rabeh kanina, sobrang gusto ko siya suntukin. tapos si baclao pa, bisaya naman! kala mo kung sino maka sigaw kay rico. dibale boys we always say keep the faith,, and i guess its about time for us to apply those words okay. KEEP THE FAITH!! AN1MO!!!
we will win games two and three. La Salle will be back to back champion!
remember UST-ADMU? haha.
sana manalo la salle. sana.
kaya pa yan,,its just a game!!,,on game 2 ibang game na ulit un,,kylangan lang ung intensity nla,,kylangan nlang unahan sa lakas ng loob ang ateneo,,c rico idol ko dyan,,kya mo yan rico!!!!!!,,jvee dapat d nya force to much attemps,,
jason,,wag ka ganyan,,,kya pa yan ng team ntin
GREEN ARCHERS we are with you all the way ….we support you and we re behind you always ….it s not about winning ….we love you and your HUMILITY is GREATER THAN THE BLUE eagles’ bad character ..do not imitate the ROUGHNESS AND SUPER “kayabangan” of the blue eagles …..GO LASALLE…GOODLUCK green archers on THURSDAY s GAME…. ANIMO LASALLE……..GOOOOOOO JV ……..
one step backward two steps forward gud job team forget that game adjust and play hard if u guys have time as a team go to the chapel b4 u enter you will notice blood stains from those lasallians who died during that massacre during ww11 they fought for our school May this inspire U to continue the FIGHT
Kaya pa natin yan! Sobrang yabang ng mga Ateneans.. Pasalamat sila may pinag-aralan tayo.. Malas lang tayo sa game 1. Godbless on Thurday’s game! I’m still and will always be proud to be a Lasallian!
KEEP THE FAITH! An1mo La Salle!
We ll all pray for you GREEN ARCHERS….Don t worry …KAYA PA YAN….just keep your defense going and if ever Ateneo turns the ball over ….JUST MAKE SURE YOU MAKE THOSE IMPORTANT TURNOVER POINTS….sayang kasi dami niyong steals ….sana ma convert lahat ng steals nyo to POINTS…ANIMO LASALLE ….GO LASALLE >>>>>>>
Well, we all know what happened in game 1. ON TO GAME 2! ANIMO LA SALLE!
go la salle,,pasalamat cna baclao,,wala na dyan cna joseph at mac,,kundi tignan ko lang ybang nila!!!,,buti na lang humble c rico kht mukang maangas,,heheheh,,goodluck archers,,go green gang
Game 2:
>–Ateneo–>
Keep the faith!
hoy Joel, may problema ka ba sa mga bisaya? pare wala namang ganyanan pare-pareho tayong lasalista pero masama yung hinirit mo. parang ang baba ng tingin mo sa mga bisaya e.
Hoy, Joel and Bai..hinay hinay lang mo…daghan mga bisaya sa Ateneo og DLSU..it’s just a game.
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