200811:17 pm
The View From the Armchair: Games 5(ADU) & 6(UP)
Posted by Nel
The Green Archers hurdled their opponents last week with relative ease, beating the Adamson Falcons, 76-61 last Thursday, and UP Maroons, 82-60 last Saturday at the Philsports Arena. With the twin victories, the Archers logged their fifth and sixth victories after an opening day loss.
Game 5: vs Adamson
The Archers got off a slow start in the first quarter to allow the Falcons to taste the lead at 4-8 before closing the quarter ahead, 18-11. The DLSU defense limited Adamson to 11 points in each of the first two quarters to steadily pull away at the half, 35-22. After the halftime break, the Archers again started off on the wrong foot to allow the Falcons to pull within 5 at 34-39 midway through the third quarter. Coach Franz turned to a combination of veterans and rookies, with JV, Peejay, Rico and Maui collaborating to finish the quarter strongly at 52-41. In the final quarter, the team merely coasted en route to a comfortable 15 point win.
Shooting
The team's three point shooting was average, as they hit 6 out of 18 attempts. JV was hot, with 3/5. Bader had a so-so night from long range, going for 2/6. In 2point field goals, the Archers were much more accurate, nailing 28 out of 48 tries for 58.3%. JV was very efficient, hitting at a 5/6 clip, while Rico collected 6 out of 9 fg attempts on a variety of drives. Perhaps he should concentrate on using his superior mobility to take the ball to the hoop as opposed to attempting the long shot. The team was only awarded 4 free throws, hitting 2. Five Archers scored in double figures, led by JV with 19. The point distribution reflected the ability of any of the Archers to take up the scoring load on any given game. This could pose problems for opponents in the second round.
Defense
The Archers clamped down on defense in the first half, limiting Adamson to 22 points. However, they noticeably relaxed in the second half, allowing Adamson to score 19 and 20 points in the 3rd and 4th quarters. They also allowed Adamson to score heavily inside, and this was reflected in the high 52.2% shooting percentage of the Falcons from 2point range. Again, the Archers' inside defense proved suspect as the Falcons scored several times on point blank tries. Our perimeter defense forced the Adamson shooters to have a miserable day, as they connected on only 1 out of 12 tries.
Others
Rebounding was more or less even, as La Salle collared 35 rebounds to Adamson's 31. The Archers shared the ball more, generating 18 assists to 13 of the Falcons. Adamson had more steals, 7 compared to the Archers' 5. Again, the Archers almost matched their opponents' turnovers, 18-19.
After grabbing the lead for good, the Archers seemed to relax at times, preferring to try different sets and looks.
The rookie watch
Maui Villanueva showcased another facet of his game, scoring 12 points on an efficient 6/7 field goal shooting clip in 24 minutes. Joshua, LA, and Hyram were the only other rookies to see action, going for 8, 6, and 1 minute respectively. Only Joshua scored, tallying a single field goal on 1/2 shooting. LA only saw action in the first half, as he sustained a neck injury.
What needs work
The interior defense will need to be addressed in the remaining games, as the Archers continued to allow the Falcons to penetrate on the dribble and dish off to a waiting big man under the goal. While the Archers are understandably still learning how to play with each other, they also cannot afford to give up as many turnovers as the opponents. They must learn to concentrate on their game plan and stick to the system. Our veterans will also have to remember to stay away from those early fouls. James collected 2 fouls early in the first quarter, went to the bench early, and never quite got his game on track, scoring only 4 points.
What worked
The Archers now are starting to display that steely resolve under pressure, and they are showing excellent crunch time decision making. They responded quickly and decisively to that Adamson rally in the 3rd quarter, breaking the Falcons' momentum with key baskets from several players and ending the quarter pulling away. Marko continues to get more playing time, and his game fitness and readiness will be crucial in the second half against the taller teams. The perimeter defense is throttling the opponents' outside shooters and allowing our big men to patrol the lane. And the press/trap is starting to take shape, as the scouting of the other teams starts to pay off.
Game 6: vs UP
Against last year's cellar dweller, the Archers took it easy in the first two quarters, and ended the half with only an 8 point lead. The Archers also allowed Woody Co to score 19 points in the first half. Coming off the break, the Archers went back to their core strength, and limited UP to 16 and 15 points in the last two quarters while scoring 45 to coast to the easy win. In the process, they also held the red-hot Woody Co to a mere 3 second half points.
Shooting
The Archers were not as accurate from 3point range as in previous games, hitting only 5/17 for 29.4%. Hyram unveiled his 3point ability, netting both his attempts. From closer range, they were better at 50%, sinking 23/46 tries. Rico's inside game was particularly effective as he connected on 6 out of 8 tries. The team continued to miss their free throws, going for 21/32 for 65.6%.
Defense
For once, the Archers gave up more 3point conversions, allowing UP to make 8/25. This was probably due to the aggressive close-in Archer defense which limited UP to just 34.1% on 15/44 attempts. The defense also forced UP to turn over the ball 22 times.
Others
Against a smaller UP team, the Archers pulled down 43 boards to UP's 42. UP also collected more offensive rebounds, 12 to the Archers' 8. UP also out-assisted La Salle, 15-14. La Salle's active defense resulted in a 5-3 edge in steals.
The rookie watch
Hyram Bagatsing shone in this game, tallying 10 points on a perfect shooting from the field on 2/2 from 3point range and 1/1 on 2 pointers. His only miss came from the free throw line, where he made 2/3. Maui Villanueva played only 13 minutes against his high school alma mater, netting 2 points. Manoj and Jovet saw some minutes, with both scoring their points on free throws (2 and 1 points respectively). LA did not suit up, and was seen in civvies wearing a neck brace. He is expected to be fit for the crucial game against UE on Saturday.
What needed work
Again, rebounding. The Archers are giving up too many rebounds, particularly of the offensive kind. UP actually grabbed more offensive rebounds than the Archers. Our big men will need to concentrate on boxing out and getting the caroms. Against the tall teams like Ateneo, keeping the opponents away from the boards could mean the difference between a W and an L. Also the turnovers - the Archers cannot turn over the ball at the same rate as the opponents and hope to have an edge in turnover points. This has been a traditional source of quick and easy points for us, but if we give up the ball at the same rate as the opponents, this edge could easily be negated. Simon will need to regain his confidence and connect on his long shots to prevent opposing guards from double teaming JV and our other SGs on the perimeter.
What worked
The bench depth. Some analysts feel that our bench is not as deep as the other schools, but in the recent games, several players from the bench have stepped up to make significant contributions. If they continue to do this, opponents will have problems devising defensive schemes against us. The press/trap is also coming along well, and I expect more variations to emerge as the coaches come up with sets targeted at specific teams.
20088:42 am
UAAP Season 71: Green Archers clobber Maroons for 5th straight win.
Posted by Lesmes SolanoyDisplaying the team play that earned for them the championship plum last season, the DLSU Green Archers demolished the UP Fighting Maroons, 82-60, to claim their fifth straight win in six games in UAAP Season 71 Men's Basketball at the Philsports Arena.
The defending champions limited their opponents to less than 20 points per quarter and scored 28 big points in the third canto in a game that saw all players donning the Green and White jersey entering the scoring column.
Both teams started slow in the first quarter hitting misses and committing several errors. But the Green Archers proved to be steadier and ended the quarter on top, 17-10, anchored on rookie sensation David Webb's early 6-point explosion.
A barrage of three-pointers opened De La Salle's offense in the 2nd quarter courtesy of a back-to-back triple from rookie Hyram Bagatsing and one from Bader Malabes that gave De La Salle a 14-point lead, 8:06 in the 2nd. With their opponents threatening to pull away, UP star player Woody Co ignited his offensive arsenal and scored 13 points, including 2 treys and breathed life to the Fighting Maroons. But De La Salle is just too much to bear for UP, as another Archer, this time veteran James Mangahas, exploded in the later part of the quarter to retain the lead for the defending champions, 37-29 at the end of the 1st half.
It was the veteran Archers' turn to log in the points after the halftime break. While Mangahas continued to wax hot, Rico "the Kite" Maierhofer drilled in 10 points, and point guard JV Casio sank his first three point and the team's fifth which brought back the Archer lead to 14. Following a Peejay Barua jumper, Bagatsing completed an "and 1" play in the final seconds of the quarter to give the Archers a comfortable 20-point margin
Coach Franz Pumaren capitalized on the 20 point-buffer to field in dependable role players in the final quarter. Green Archers Ferdinand, Marko Batricevic, Jovet Mendoza, Manoj Chandumal and Rejan Lee saw action in the fourth and managed to keep the Fighting Maroons at bay. Lee, dubbed "the Little Ninja" capped the offensive onslaught of La Salle with a spectacular drive towards the basket, reminiscent of former Archer and fellow Xavier high school standout Joseph Yeo, to the delight of the Green and White gallery.
"With this game, I was able to experiment on new rotation, and gave some players the exposure, which later on down the road will surely benefit us," remarked Coach Pumaren.
Mangahas topscored for La Salle with 16 markers, spiced up by 3 rebounds, a block and a steel. Maierhofer and Bagatsing contributed 14 and 10 points respectively. For the UP cause, Co took up most of the offensive chores scoring a game high of 22 points. All the other Maroons scored in single digit.
Meanwhile, rookie LA Revilla was spotted in civilian clothes and sporting a neckbrace on the sidelines following a neck injury he suffered during the Green Archers previous game against the Adamson Falcons. The former Red Cub said he should be able to play in a week's time, though it would be unsure if he could suit up for the Archers' big game against UE.
THE SCORES:
DLSU 82 - Mangahas 16, Maierhofer 14, Bagatsing 10, Barua 8, Casio 7, Webb 6, Malabes 6, Lee 4, Walsham 2, Villanueva 2, Chandumal 2, Atkins 2, Mendoza 1, Ferdinand 1, Batricevic 1
UP 60 - Co 22, De Asis 9, Agbayani 8, Braganza 6, Gamboa 5, Reyes 4, Astorga2, Maniego 2, Sorongon 2, Fortu 0, Sison 0, Marfori 0, de la Victoria 0, Hipolito 0
Quarter scores: 17-10; 37-29; 65-45; 82-60
200811:40 pm
FEU player critically wounded in gun attack
Posted by GREENARCHERS.PH20086:29 pm
UAAP Season 71: Archers Shoot Down Falcons
Posted by Nel
The Green Archers extended two winning streaks as they methodically wore down the Adamson Falcons, 76-61 at the Philsports Arena this afternoon. The win was the fourth straight in this season, and extended their streak over Adamson to four years. In UAAP competition, Adamson had last defeated La Salle in 2004.The Archers unwrapped the Adamson version of their pressure defense as they hounded and harassed the Falcons throughout the game with a press and trap that netted 19 points off turnovers. So effective was the press off an Archer score that Adamson committed at least two 5 second inbound violations.
The Archers starting five of Simon, JV, Marko, James, and Joshua got off to a slow start, allowing the Falcons to take the lead in the early minutes of the game, 6-2 and 8-4, on inside incursions. James committed two early fouls, forcing Franz to field in Rico earlier than planned. Rico responded with three straight undergoal stabs and a free throw to singlehandedly grab the lead. Former Green Archer Galinato canned 1 out of 2 foul shots to tie the game for the last time at the 3:52 mark, before the Archers limited them to a single field goal to steadily pull away and end the quarter at 18-11. Shot clock problems delayed the start of the second quarter, but this did not cool down the hot Green Archers, who extended the lead on two triples by Peejay and Bader, a trademark Peejay running shot, and a JV fastbreak, 28-13. The layup of Adamson pg Canada with 3:35 to go pegged the Falcon score at 22, as the Archers went on to blank the Falcons for the rest of the half to finish at 35-22. Leading scorers at the half were JV (9), Rico (7), and Bader (6).
The Archers started the second half a bit sluggishly, allowing Adamson to whittle the lead down to four at 39-34 with 4:59 to go in the third quarter. Errors and missed shots, plus hurried 3point attempts by Rico and JWalsh all contributed to the rally of Adamson. With the Falcons threatening, the Archers steadied themselves. JV fished Agustin's fourth foul, then scored on a triple, followed by a Peejay drive, 44-37. Rico intercepted a pass and received the outlet pass from JV. The lead ballooned to 9, 48-39, with a Maui short stab, a side jumper by JV, and another Rico drive from the top of the key. The Archers ended the third quarter comfortably ahead, 52-41. After that lapse of concentration, the Archers bore down on defense and forced Adamson to take hurried shots from outside.
Bader showed his nose for the ball by intercepting an Adamson pass to open the fourth quarter scoring, and the Falcons never threatened after that. Two baskets each by Maui and Peejay, and drives by Bader and Rico allowed the Archers to post the largest lead of the game at 63-47, as the Archers contented themselves with matching the Adamson output to finish the game with a 15 point lead. The Archers gave the Falcons a different defensive look in the fourth quarter, going to a zone that effectively disrupted the ball movement of Adamson.
Once again, JV was the steadying influence on the Archers, playing the most minutes with 33, scoring 19 points , 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. He could have scored more, but followed Franz's instructions to distribute the ball and get others involved. Offensively, JV was very efficient, hitting 3 out of 5 three point attempts while making 5 out of 6 two pointers. JV also split the pg role with Simon, as LA was fielded sparingly due to his being under the weather. Curiously, JV was more accurate from the field, as he missed his only free throw.
Rico provided able support with 13 points on 6 out of 9 shooting as he scored mostly on drives. Rico missed his two attempts from 3point range. Maui Villanueva also showed why he was very highly regarded by the coaching staff, scoring 12 points on 6 of 7 shooting medium range jumpers in 24 minutes. Bader and Peejay both tallied 10 points as five Archers finished in double figures.
The Archers hit 6 out of 18 attempts from the long court, and 24 of 48 from two point land, while holding Adamson to 1/12 shooting on 3pointers. With their outside game stymied by the active defense of the Archers, Adamson was forced to go inside where they had some success, particularly in the third quarter when they made that run to cut the lead to 4. The Archers outrebounded their counterparts, 35-31, and had more assists, 18-13. However, the Archers once again almost matched their opponents in turnovers, 18-19. That clearly is an area that needs improvement.
Once again, Franz reverted to his 12-man rotation, and fielded four rookes: Maui, LA, Joshua, and Hyram. However, Joshua, LA, and Hyram saw limited action with 8, 6, and 1 minute(s) respectively.
It was a good, solid win, and the Archers showed that they can adjust their game to specific opponents once the coaching staff has done enough scouting. The Archers used the press/trap and zone defense, but extended the perimeter defense to prevent open shots. The Archers are slowly rounding off into form, but there are still some areas that need improvement, if they are to make it all the way to the finals. At this point in time, they're about where they should be at this stage of the tournament.
SCORES
DLSU 76 – Casio 19, Maierhofer 13, Villanueva 12, Malabes 10, Barua 10, Atkins 4, Mangahas 4, Webb 2, Walsham 2, Revilla 0, Bagatsing 0, Lee 0 , Batricevic 0
Adamson 61 – Agustin 12, Colina 12, Galinato 9, Gonzalgo 9, Canada 6, Alvarez 6, Santos 3, Nuyles 2, Yambot 2, Lozada 0, Olalia 0, Margallo 0, Gorospe 0
Quarter Scores: 18-11; 35-22; 52-41; 76-61
200812:19 am
Coach Franz reacts to Montinola statement
Posted by Lesmes Solanoy
"It was uncalled for coming from a senior board rep and I don't think that is the right statement."
This is Coach Franz Pumaren's reaction on the recent statements made by Far Eastern University Board Representative Anton Montinola that came out in the Philippine Daily Inquirer regarding the decision of the National Basketball Referees Organization (NABRO) to suspend referee Bryan Tabanag, who officiated in the DLSU-FEU game last week, which the Archers won, 73-62.
"It is unfair for us, it is unfair for the La Salle community, it is unfair on the part of the officials also," Coach Pumaren pointed out before the press after the Green Archers' lopsided win over the NU Bulldogs last Saturday
The Inquirer reported in its July 18 story that there will be no replay of the FEU-La Salle match despite the sanctions imposed by NABRO on one of its referees. Montinola was quoted in the same article, as saying that "The FEU community has been victimized by this brazen act to manipulate the outcome of the game."
“Pardon the expression, but definitely we were screwed. I’m glad the commissioner had the [courage] to act accordingly. There is no room in the UAAP for behavior of this sort. We should leave it to the conscience of La Salle. I think their win has an asterisk attached to it," added Montinola in the said article.
"When you talk about conscience, that is kind of deep, when you look back at '91," Coach Pumaren stressed. Pumaren was referring to the controversial UAAP finals between the Archers and the Tamaraws in 1991, which was decided by the then UAAP Board in favor of the Tamaraws, despite an earlier ruling by the Basketball Association of the Philippines and the FIBA awarding the championship to the Green Archers.
"I couldn't understand what's the big fuss about the decision... It was clearly stated in one of our meetings. It's automatic once you hold the jersey, it's technical foul. Is he complaining about the technical foul on Glen Capacio? It was shown on TV, remorseful si Glen (Capacio) because he knows he really made a mistake shouting at the referee. Is he complaining about non-call on (Benedict) Fernandez when he took the shot? How can you call a foul when you're the one landing close to a player?" explained the multi-titled tactician.
Coach Pumaren noted that DLSU also had its fair share of bad officiating. "If everybody is gonnna complain about bad calls or non-calls, count me in. I think everybody suffered the same fate already. But at least, give us credit (for the win)."
20081:12 pm
The View From the Armchair: Games 3(UST) & 4(NU)
Posted by Nel
The Archers finished a productive week with a modest 3-game winning streak as they edged the tough UST Growling Tigers 65-64, and tamed the NU Bulldogs 93-69. As of July 21, the Archers are in second place with a 3-1 record, second only to the unbeaten Ateneo Blue Eagles.
Game 3: vs UST
Shooting
The UST Growling Tigers proved to be the Archers' toughest opponent to date, engaging the Archers in a tight-fought contest that was decided only in the waning seconds. JV Casio delivered another MVP-quality performance, leading the Archers' scoring with 19 points. James Mangahas finally showcased his tremendous talent as he made mincemeat of his defenders, tallying 18 points on a variety of difficult, hang-time jumpers up close, making 9/13 on those drives. Bader Malabes also found his touch, connecting for 4 out of 7 3-pt attempts. The Archers' accuracy from the long court (5/11, 45%) forced UST to extend its defense, preventing the Tigers from double teaming our key players lest they leave a shooter open. The Archers also showed a marked improvement from the foul line, making 17/23.
Defense
The Tigers were a difficult match up for the Archers, with their tall, quick wingmen ( Ababou, Canlas, Allera) and their inside presence with Jervy Cruz. The Archers were unable to consistently clamp down on the Tigers' scorers, allowing four Tigers to score in double figures, led by Ababou. The Archers' perimeter defense limited UST to 2/9 from 3-point land, but the extended defense resulted in the Tigers getting 17 offensive rebounds. Overall, UST outrebounded our team, 44-32, a wide disparity that has to be addressed by the coaches. This was shown in the points in the paint, where UST had the edge, 56-46. The rebounding advantage of UST also led to more fastbreak points, 12-10, and in 2nd chance points, 10-6. The Archer defense forced 15 UST turnovers, low for a La Salle opponent, but this was practically negated by the 13 La Salle turnovers. Points off turnovers was in our favor, 18-10, as were perimeter points, 22-16.
Others
Once again, an Archer opponent tallied more assists, 17-12. This is not necessarily a cause for worry, and was probably due to the plays called for James, where he was allowed to take on his defenders. Since he would dribble to get into a good shooting position, the passes to him were not counted as assists. The active defense of the Archers also resulted in six steals to none for UST. JWalsh proved his worth inside, blocking 2 Tiger attempts inside, and leading the Archers to a 5-4 advantage in blocks. Franz utilized his bench extensively, fielding in 14 players while Coach Pido used a shorter rotation with 12 players.
What won it for the Archers
Unlike in the Ateneo game, the Archers kept their composure at the end game, sticking to the system and plays called by Franz. The players did not panic when the game was tight, instead they exuded a quiet confidence as they forced UST to react to their moves. That corner trey by Bader was a perfect set up and UST was caught unaware and was unable to adjust in time to bother Bader. JV again played the fireman's role, sinking a pair of pressure-packed charities. Franz showed his confidence in Maui, making tactical substitutions in the last minute by fielding him in for defense. Maui validated that confidence by making the insurance ft, rendering Ababou's final 3 at the buzzer meaningless. Marko finally made his appearance, logging 9 minutes, and even though he didn't score, made things difficult for Jervy Cruz whenever he was on the floor.
In this game, Franz went to an extended rotation, fielding in 14 players, including Jovet Mendoza and Marko. Curiously, Ferdinand played only a minute. Franz probably figured that he would have match up problems with UST's big men.
The rookie watch
Against an experienced UST team, Franz fielded 5 rookies for a total of 37 minutes. LA and Joshua had the most playing time, with 13 minutes apiece. Maui tallied 7 minutes, but was utilized at the end. Hyram played sparingly for 3 minutes, while Jovet spent only a minute on the court. LA edged former Junior Archer Jeric Fortuna in their individual matchup, outscoring him 6-5, tallying more assists 3-2, but logging more errors, 4-3. The Archer rookies contributed a total of 11 points.
What needed work
Defense - UST was able to find space for Jervy Cruz, who bulled his way to 20 points inside, either connecting on short stabs or follow ups, or getting fouled. Against the taller teams, the Archers struggle to control the boards, and must limit the offensive rebounding of the opponents. The Archers cannot continue to give up 17 offensive rebounds a game and hope to win. Perimeter defense needs a bit of work. We dodged the bullet when Jeric missed those treys at the end. If he had connected on any one of them, the end-game complexion could have been different. They need to defend against the different screens being utilized by teams such as Ateneo to free up their shooters. The Archers also have to work on keeping the opponents' score down, unless they plan on outshooting the competition. If the Archers limit the opponent's score to the 60's, they have a good chance of winning.
What worked
The system is now in evidence, and the team adjusted pretty well to their roles. We also got glimpses of the pressure on the press. The Archers's play also has a tinge of the international game, with lots of ball movement, intricate sets to free up shooters, catch-and-shoot sets, and big men occasionally patrolling the perimeter and taking 3pointers. As long as Rico and JWalsh don't fall in love with the trey and attempt more than 2 or 3 a game, we should be ok.
Game 4: vs NU
The Archers overcame a slow start and an early deficit to overwhelm the NU Bulldogs last Saturday. The 'dogs came out growling and barking, and roared to a 21-12 lead before the Archers found their bearings to cut the lead to 2 points at the end of the first quarter, 24-22. Peejay Barua caught fire with 3 consecutive triples to almost singlehandedly haul the Archers back into the game. He also scored the first 5 points in the 2nd quarter to push the Archers into the lead for good.
Barua led all scorers with a career-high 26 points in only 20 minutes of play. He scorched the nets with a 6/8 clip from the 3point line, and 3/4 with 2pointers. Rico was the only other player in double digits with 16, connecting on two treys together with his 13 rebounds. Franz fielded in his entire 16-man lineup. Only LA, Bader, and Simon did not score for the team. After a good shooting game against UST, Bader misfired on all his 3 point attempts, while LA and Simon only tried one shot each in the game.
Jovet put in a good account for himself, playing 6 minutes and netting 8 points on nice moves around the paint, the same total as Maui. Marko showed that he is almost ready for prime time, scoring on a nice spin move and tallying 5 points in 7 minutes of play. Manoj also scored his first points in the seniors division, showing fine form in making 1/1 of his 2point attempts and 1/2 of his fts.
What worked
The Archers showed what they can do once they bring their complete game to bear on the opponents, blitzing the Bulldogs en route to turning a 9point deficit late in the first quarter to a 10point margin at the half. They clamped down on defense in the middle two quarters, limiting NU to 12 points in each quarter while doubling their opponents score in the same periods. Interestingly, there were no deadlocks and only one lead change, reflecting the rapid change in the complexion of the game once the Archers found their bearings.
The coaches also concentrated on some of the weak points of the Archer game, resulting in a 49-36 advantage in rebounds and a 25-14 edge in assists. JV played the role of distributor with 7 assists, and compiled a quiet 4 points in 23 minutes on the floor.
The rookie watch
Once the team was comfortably in control, Franz gave the rookies some much needed floor time, giving them 75 minutes in the game. Maui, Hyram, LA, and Joshua played for 18, 18, 17, and 10 minutes respectively, and the rookies collectively scored a total of 26 points with Maui and Jovet pumping in 8 apiece.
What needs work
The Archers were blitzed by an early NU offensive and trailed for the entire first quarter. They may have taken the Bulldogs for granted, and paid the price as NU stepped on the gas. The timely hits of Peejay as he made his entry was the impetus the Archers need to gain the momentum. However, the Adamson win over UE shows that the Archers cannot take any team for granted, so they have to enter each game with the same mindset as they had when they finished UST off.
The high number of errors (24) may be attributed to the substitutes' time on the court, but the team still has to take care of the ball and play within the system, They cannot afford to relax against any team, since there are conceivably six teams vying for the final 4 slots: Ateneo, UE, UST, FEU, Adamson, and La Salle.
The Next Game
Despite their mediocre record so far, Adamson will be a tough nut to crack. They have shooters (Gonzalgo and Agustin) and mobile big men (Galinato, Colina) and a good point guard in Canada. Their coach knows his stuff, and will use the confidence the Falcons gained with their victory over UE to full advantage. Expect the Falcons to give us a tough game. The Archers will have to maintain their excellent perimeter defense and guard the passing lanes. If the press can generate quick points and the Archers can force turnovers, the Archers can win handily. If it's a slow, bump and grind game, Adamson will have a chance.
The Outlook
After four games, the Archers have played three of the toughest teams who were fancied to contend for the final 4: Ateneo, FEU, and UST. They have yet to play Adamson (July 24, 2pm), UP (July 26, 2pm), and UE (August 2, 4pm). UE will be smarting after their upset loss to Adamson, and will try to extract revenge after the Archers swept them in the championship playoffs last season. Adamson gave us some problems in the pre-season, winning one and dragging us into overtime before giving way. The Falcons were expected to finally live up to their potential under comebacking coach Leo Austria, and will be a difficult opponent with their renewed confidence.
Every game will be important, particularly in case of ties, and the Archers must keep the pedal to the floor to ensure that they have a favorable quotient. Every game will count as the tournament approaches the mid-point.
The upside - the team seems to have jelled nicely, and several players have shown that they can deliver during crunch time if called on. They are slowly but surely rounding off into form, and hopefully will peak early in the second round. At the end of the first round, 6-1 record is possible assuming sweep the remaining assignments, but a 5-2 record is probably realistic, if they hurdle Adamson and UP and fall to UE. That should be good for 2nd or 3rd place in the standings.
GAME PHOTOS FOR BOTH GAMES CAN BE FOUND AT http://greenarchersph.multiply.com/photos
20081:08 am
UAAP Season 71: Barua blazes as Archers tame Bulldogs
Posted by Lesmes Solanoy
Fresh from their escape win over the UST Tigers last Thursday, the Green Archers displayed its deadliest form and tamed the NU Bulldogs, 93-69, en route to their third straight victory in UAAP Season 71. The 24-point spread is the biggest winning margin so far this season.
And this time, it was Peejay Barua who re-introduce himself to UAAP followers.
Following the spectacular standout performances of fellow Green Archers Casio, Mangahas and Malabes in DLSU's first two wins, Barua scored a career-high 26 points highlighted by a 06 of 8 shooting from the three-point territory. The three-year veteran also had 3 rebounds and 1 assist.
The Green Archers were off to a shaky start as the Bulldogs raced to an early 7-0 lead in the opening quarter, forcing Coach Franz Pumaren to push the time out button earlier than usual. Even as the Green Archers finally found its bearing after the timeout, they were still being outplayed and outran by the Bulldogs, who scored 6 points on fastbreak in the first ten minutes of play. But a blitzkrieg of three successive triples from Barua in the final two minutes of the quarter pushed De La Salle to within only 2 points of NU, 22-24, at the end of the first.
The second quarter saw the highly vaunted De La Salle pressure defense at work. The NU bulldogs were held scoreless in the first four minutes, and were limited to only 12 points for the entire quarter. While their opponent's offense took a nose dive, the defending champions had its offensive game going. Barua was virtually unstoppable as he buried two more triples in the quarter. Buoyed up by Barua's nearly flawless three-point shooting, De La Salle main man Rico Maierhofer added in two unexpected treys to the delight of the Green and White gallery. The first half ended with the Green Archers leading by 10, 46-36.
And the defending champions never looked back.
De La Salle's unrelenting defense continued in the 3rd canto as the Bulldogs were again held to a measly 12-point quarter production compared to the 24 points of DLSU, capped by Barua's quarter-ending three point shot, his sixth in the ballgame.
With the help of former NU Bullpup MJ Mendoza, who sank 3 consecutive baskets midway in the final quarter, the Green Archers zoomed to their highest lead of the game at 30 points, 82-52, 5:51 left in the game clock.
The Green Archers' victory was almost marred by a slight scuffle involving NU stalwart Edwin Asoro and De La Salle rookie David Webb late in the final quarter.
With the win, the De La Salle Green Archers take solo second spot at 3-1, half a game behind current league-leader Ateneo Blue Eagles. NU absorbed its fourth loss in as many games. The Green Archers' next assignment is on Thursday against the Adamson Soaring Falcons.
GAME NOTES: As the Green Archers erected a 30-point lead, Coach Pumaren fielded in an all-rookie lineup with more than five minutes remaining in the game. The game saw the debut of the only rookie yet to see action for De La Salle, Fil-Indian Basketball League MVP and former De La Salle Zobel standout, Manoj Chandumal. Coach Pumaren also fielded in sophomore Rejan Lee for his debut performance this season.
After the NU Bulldogs finished singing their school hymn, the Green and White gallery chanted "Happy Birthday" to Simon David Atkins, who turned 20 that day.
THE SCORES:
DLSU 93 - Barua 26, Maierhofer 16, Villanueva 8, Mendoza 8, Mangahas 8, Batricevic 5, Webb 4, Casio 4, Walsham 3, Chandumal 3, Bagatsing 3, Lee 3, Ferdinand 2, Revilla 0, Malabes 0, Atkins 0
NU 69 - Asoro 14, Jahnke 13, Berry 8, Baloran 8, Aguilar 6. Catamora 6, Batac 5, Garcia 4, Galapon 3, Ponferrada 2, Tungkul 0, Magat 0, Fabula 0, De La Cruz 0, Luy 0
Quarter Scores: 22-24; 46-36, 70-48, 93-69
Game photos at http://greenarchersph.multiply.com/photos/album/2/July_19_vs_NU
PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS
20088:17 am
UAAP Season 71: Mangahas, Malabes carry Archers past Tigers
Posted by Lesmes SolanoyWhen Casio almost single-handedly carried La Salle to victory against FEU, not a few expressed concern about the other Archers stepping up.
And then James Mangahas and Bader Malabes responded.
The two Green Archer forwards sank important baskets in the crucial stretch of the game and helped the Green Archers escape with a victory over the Tigers, 85-84, in the Men’s Basketball Tournament of UAAP Season 71 at the ULTRA.
With the game tied and momentum shifting to the Tigers, sophomore Malabes unloaded his fourth triple of the night to bring La Salle to the driver’s seat, 80-77, silencing the UST gallery in the process. Former De La Salle Zobel standout Jeric Fortuna and main gunner Dylan Ababou immediately scored back-to-back baskets to regain the lead for the Tigers, 81-80, with under a minute before end of regulation period. Unmindful of the mounting pressure on the Green Archers, the three-year veteran Mangahas maneuvered his way out of the UST defense to convert a go-ahead basket, 82-81, 0:47 left in the game clock.
The Tigers frustratingly executed its endplay as the defending champions’ choking defense denied them a clear look on the basket and any second chance points. Casting off the free throw woes in their previous games, the Green Archers’ converted 3 of the 4 all-important charity shots to provide enough breathing space for De La Salle, 84-80. Not even the buzzer beating trey of Ababou was enough to avert UST’s second loss.
De La Salle ties UE and FEU at 2nd place with a 2-1 win-loss card. The Tigers drops to 1-2, with UP and Adamson.
“We passed that particular test. I think that will help us down the stretch. I give credit to my boys. They didn’t succumb to the pressure, even though during the last three minutes, UST made a run. I don’t know if I am just really lucky, I didn’t call a time out right away, probably I am lucky or I have so much confidence in my boys that we can bounce back and execute well,” said a visibly relieved Coach Franz Pumaren.
That confidence was also seen in Mangahas as he worked his way around UST’s interior defense. The former PCU Baby Dolphin scored 14 of his 18 points in the 2nd half even as Casio again topscored for La Salle with 19 points. Malabes added in 16 markers.
“I think we’re lucky to have survived that game. Rico didn’t get his groove tonight, got into early foul trouble. Just that my role players really step up in this particular game,” added Coach Franz.
It was a see-saw affair in the 1st half which featured seven lead changes. At the end of the first half, Casio led the cause for the Taft-based squad with 12 markers while Mark Canlas exploded with 10 points for the Espana-based cagers.
In the 3rd quarter, Mangahas scored 8 straight points followed by a back-to-back rainbow connection from Malabes to pad the lead of La Salle, 56-48. But Ababou and last season’s MVP Jervy Cruz kept the Tigers at bay at the quarter’s end, 63-58.
The Tigers scored 8 quick points at the opening of the last quarter, anchored on the three-point shot of Ababou and 3-point play by Fortuna, to equalize the game at 66-all. But the Archers maintained their composure and traded baskets with the Tigers until the final deadlock at 77 all going into the last two minutes of the game.
The match also featured the season debut of Green Archer sophomore Marko Batricevic and rookie MJ Mendoza.
The Archers next meet the winless NU Bulldogs on Saturday, July 19.
THE SCORES:
DLSU 85 - Casio 19, Mangahas 18, Malabes 16, Maierhofer 8; Barua 7; Revilla 6; Walsham 4; Villanueva 3; Webb 2; Atkins 2; Mendoza 0, Bagatsing 0, Ferdinand 0; Batricevic 0
UST 84 - Ababou 23, Cruz 20, Canlas 18, Allera 12, Fortuna 5, Cuan 4, Taylor 2, Fenequito 0, Camus 0, Bautista 0, Mirza 0, Gile 0
Quarter Scores: 18-14; 38-34; 63-58; 85-84
MORE GAME PHOTOS HERE: http://greenarchersph.multiply.com/photos/album/1/July_17_vs_UST
20087:03 am
The View From the Armchair: Game 2 vs FEU
Posted by Nel
Photo courtesy of archerpride.com
The Game in a Nutshell
The Green Archers outsteadied FEU, 73-62 last Saturday at the PhilSports Arena. The Tamaraws engaged the Archers in a close match which was decided only in the last 3 minutes.
The green-and-white squad outscored their hard fighting opponents, 13-3 in the last 3:39 after FEU closed to 60-59 on a free throw by Ramos. Rico sank a soft jumper for 62-59 and drew an offensive foul from Baracael on the next play to spark that finishing kick. FEU's pg Barroca was then assessed an unsportsmanlike foul for holding on to the jersey of JV, who canned both gift shots at the 2:56 mark to pad the lead to 5, 64-59. James drained a long 2 from the top of the key with his foot on the line, 66-59, and Rico again proved his defensive abilities by blocking an FEU layup which led to an Archer recovering the ball. Rico fished a foul on a drive and split his fts, 67-59. Cawaling was fouled by Bader on the perimeter, and last year's rookie of the year drained both gift shots to inch closer, 67-61 at the 2 minute mark. A James miss resulted in a Rico foul on the rebound, but Barroca split his free throws, 67-62. James streaked for the basket and received the lead pass from Simon and was fouled, take 2. James split his charities 68-62. A Tamaraw miss was recovered by Rico, who was fouled in the scramble. The FEU bench was called for a T, but JV missed the front end for his only miss of the night, before making the 2nd, 69-62. An Atkins travelling error was matched by a bad FEU pass. JV then split the FEU defense for an uncontested lay up, 71-62 before he completed his heroics by tapping the ball away from a Tam and receiving the outlet pass for the final points, 73-62.
What the Stat Sheet Tells Us
Shooting - the 3point shot continues to be a major weapon in the Archers' arsenal, as they collected 24 points on 8/18 (44%) shooting from the long court. JV was perfect, making all 3 of his attempts. Rico and Peejay both hit at a 50% clip, with Rico going 1/2 and Peejay 2/4. Bader missed his first 4 tries before making a clutch trey with the clock running out. Ironically, the Archers were more accurate from 3 point range, as they made only 15 out of 39 2 point attempts for 38%. Although the Archers continued to struggle from the foul line, their 19/29 performance (65.5%) was a significant improvement over their first game. JV was outstanding from the line, going 12/13. Rico struggled, making only 4 out of 10, while Peejay and James made only 50% with 1/2 and 2/4 respectively. A little more practice, please. The Tams struggled from the field as the Archers' aggressive defense forced them to take hurried shots. The Tams went 3/11 from 3 point land and 18/51 in 2 point attempts for a low 35% performance.
Rebounding - More or less even, 40-39 in our favor. Rico was a monster off the boards, with 17. JV showcased his all around game as he collared 8 rebounds despite being one of the smallest players on the court. Our other big men were relatively quiet, with JWalsh and Ferdinand combining for a total of 3 rebounds, which matched the total collected by the smallest player on both teams, LA. FEU had more offensive rebounds, 13-10.
Turnovers, Assists, Blocks, and Steals - This was one of the rare games where the Archers were outperformed by their opponents in both assists and turnovers. The Archers had more errors 15-13, and less assists, 8-11. The active defense of our team resulted in more blocks, 5-2, and steals, 4-2. Interestingly, the Archers won despite not performing as well as their opponents in assists and turnovers.
What Worked
Defense - The Archers contested virtually all shots and played very active defense with their feet. They had less fouls than in the first game with 26 compared to 34 against Ateneo, and this resulted in less fts awarded to FEU. We had more ft attempts, 29-24, but again our opponent had a better percentage 70.83%, making 17/24. The aggressive full court traps were still not in evidence, and the FEU ball handlers were not unduly harrassed into giving up the ball. This early in the season, the coaches are stil scouting the competition and this early will probably not implement any specific defensive schemes for any team.
Comments on the Game
Our bigs - Aside from Rico, the rebounding of our bigs still leaves something to be desired. The 3 rebounds garnered by JWalsh and Ferdinand is a bit low for players of their size, although both were on the court for a total of only 21 minutes. Their combined 4 points tends to highlight the lack of an inside scoring and rebounding threat. For the second game in a row, JWalsh got blocked on the break. I wish he'd take it really strong to the hoop, maybe even try to dunk the ball instead of trying to fake off the defender. A jump shot is liable to get blocked around the ring by almost all players in the paint. Note to our centers: look at yourself using a full length mirror every day - so you'll realize just how big you guys really are (bigger and stronger than most players on all teams). Then maybe you'll play your size instead of inexplicably disappearing from the stat sheets like last Saturday. The skills, the abiity are there, at least we see it during the pre-game warm ups, so we know you can do it. So just believe in yourselves.
Our Rookies - Against a tough, athletic team like FEU, the rookies weren't given as much playing time, ony 45 minutes for the four who got to play: Joshua, Maui, Hyram, and LA. Maui played almost a half at 19 minutes, followed by Hyram with 12, Joshua with 9, and LA with 5. Still, they gave quality minutes, with Maui and Hyram being fielded in primarily for their defensive skills. Wonder when we'll get to see Manoj and Jovet play?
The Season So Far
This has got to be among the toughest starts to a season for the Archers, having to play 3 contenders (Ateneo, FEU, UST) in the first 3 games. At this point, with a 1-1 record, the Archers still not firing on all cylinders. The coaches are still tinkering with the lineup combinations, and haven't yet unfurled the trademark Archer full court "killer press". Still, the Archers have been doing well considering the relative youth and inexperience of the team. The rookies seem to have embraced the system and understand the roles they have been assigned, and are very defense-oriented. Maui, Joshua, and Hyram earn their minutes playing defense. LA will provide a spark off the bench, but has match up problems against the bigger pgs.
The vets need to continue to show their leadership. JV has led by example, but Rico needs to step up and exhibit better judgement during critical situations. James also has to remember that he's one of the most skilled one-on-one operators in the league, and can take on anyone. All he has to do is believe in himself. Bader needs to regain his touch from 3 point land, and remember that he has the license to shoot. Peejay has to assert himself on the offense. JWalsh and Ferdinand, please play to your size and potential, and give us that inside presence we need to complement the perimeter game. An inside-outside threat will be very difficult to contain.
The Next Game
Against UST, the Archers face another tall, athletic team who can light it up from the outside, but have an inside presence in Jervy Cruz. They also have former Junior Archer Jeric Fortuna, who is out to prove himself. If the Archers can play the way they did in the closing minutes of the last quarter of the FEU game, we should have a chance. They'll need to continue to connect from the long court and avoid giving away too many fouls. Also need to concentrate on making at least 70% of the fts.
20083:53 am
UAAP Season 71: “The JV Casio Show”
Posted by Lesmes Solanoy
JV Casio wanted everyone to know that La Salle is still the same team that won the championship last season, capable of defending the crown. And JV Casio made sure his message was received--loud and clear.
The five-year Green Archer veteran shot the lights out Saturday night, scoring a career-high 29 points, including a perfect 3 of 3 from the rainbow region to power the De La Salle Green Archers to a 73-62 conquest of the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in UAAP Season 71 Men's Basketball Tournament at the Philsports Arena. The win pushed the defending champions into a four way tie for 2nd place with UST Growling Tigers, the UP Maroons, and the FEU Tamaraws themselves, each toting a 1-1 win-loss card.
"Today's game was a JV Casio show. One classic move there is the last layup he made. I think FEU just froze, just stood and thought he would just dribble that ball and suddenly a burst of speed from him," remarked DLSU Coach Franz Pumaren, recalling one of the several spectacular moves displayed by Casio in the game.
Casio waxed hot early in the ballgame, scoring 10 of De La Salle's 18 points in the first quarter. But Far Eastern was far from being fazed, as Marnel Baracael, Mark Barroca and JR Cawaling spearheaded the team's offense to keep the game close at the end of the first quarter, 18-17, with De La Salle leading by a hairline.
Knowing how Casio is integral to the Green Archers' offense, the Tamaraws concentrated the defense on the sweet shooting guard and held him scoreless in the second quarter. True enough, the Green Archers likewise struggled from the field and was limited to a lone field goal in the first six minutes of the second canto. While the green and white squad groped for form, the green and gold squad played well in both ends of the court en route to a halftime lead, 32-29.
Fired up by their superb performance in the 1st half, the Tamaraws stormed to an early 8-point margin, 55-47, at the 8:15 mark of the 3rd quarter, courtesy of the back to back plays of Cawaling and Baracael. But the ever reliable Casio scored on a layup off a steal and drilled in two free throw shots to douse cold water to the blazing 3rd quarter opening of the Tamaraws.
Despite the Casio counter shots, the Tamaraws remained in the driver’s seat capitalizing on the Green Archers’ early entry in the penalty stage.
But as the 3rd quarter wound down to its final four minutes, the Green Archers shocked and awed the Tamaraws when it unleashed its deadly outside shooting. DLSU point guard Simon Atkins started the Green Archers' 3-point barrage, which was immediately followed by Casio’s 2nd triple of the game. Much to the delight of the green and white gallery, the 6’5 Rico Maierhoffer converted a rare three-pointer to equalize the game at 47 all. Peejay Barua ended the quarter for the Green Archers with his own version of a trifecta, and grabbed the lead for DLSU, 50-47.
In the final quarter, the Tamaraws clawed their way back into the game via the triumvirate of Barroca, Fernandez, and Cawaling, and tied the ballgame for the last time, 54-all. The Green Archers retaliated in an explosive fashion with back-to-back triples from Casio and Sophomore Bader Malabes, upping the lead of La Salle to 6, 60-54, and sending the green and white gallery to a wild roar, 5:36 remaining in the fourth. The unrelenting Tamaraws mounted a 5-0 run of their own to bridge the gap anew, 60-59.
A crucial point in the game came when the Tamaraws were slapped with a technical foul, giving two free throws plus ball possession for the Green Archers. This paved the way for a 7-0 run by the Green Archers going into the final two minutes of the game. The Tamaraws tried to stage a final stand. But another technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct and a passing error finally crushed FEU’s chances of snatching the victory from their counterparts.
Casio led the three-point assault of the Green Archers, making 3 of the 8 treys the team made. Casio also carried the Green Archers' performance from the free throw line. The team shot a much improved 19 of 29, on account of Casio's nearly flawless 12 of 13 clip from the charity line.
The Green Archers next assignment is on July 17 against the UST Growling Tigers.
GAME NOTES: A number of Green Archer supporters continue to show disgust over the questionable technical foul meted out on Coach Franz Pumaren by Commissioner Chito Narvasa before the start of the DLSU-ADMU game last Sunday, for failure of the former to wear his UAAP ID. The green and white gallery wore a large ID with the words "Got No ID?" and a big letter T printed beside it. The bottom portion of the ID reads "Applicable only for the Defending Champions," alluding to the selective enforcement of the new rule. But in his post game interview, Coach Pumaren shrugged off the issue, and stressed that the "the team is not at all affected." Coach Pumaren merely views the uncanny call as a bad vibe that tainted the start of the Green Archer's quest for a back-to-back crown. But for the team, the bad vibe was already casted by their rousing victory over the Tamaraws.
THE SCORES:
DLSU 73 - Casio 29, Maierhofer 11, Barua 9, Malabes 7, Atkins 5, Walsham 4, Mangahas 4, Webb 2, Villanueva 2, Revilla 0, Bagatsing 0, Ferdinand 0
FEU 62 - Baracael 14, Cawaling 9. Barroca 9, Cervantes 7, Ramos 7, Fernandez 7, Adolfo 3, Kave 2, Alisbo 2, Knuttel 2, Sanga 0
Quarter scores: 18-17; 29-32; 50-47; 73-62
UAAP Courtside Box
Latest Posts
- The View From the Armchair – Game 12 vs UST
- The Green Mind – Archers Make Tigers Meow!
- Pregame: Green Archers vs Growling Tigers Round 2
- Animo Shots – Aug 31
- The View From the Armchair – Game 11 vs FEU
- La Salle-Dasmarinas vie for UCAA semis berth
- The Green Mind – David Slays Goliath
- No Kidding, Green Archers win big against league-leading Tams
- DLSZ drops a close one to NU
- Pregame: Green Archers vs Tamaraws Round 2
Follow us by Email
Archives
Partners
- Archer Pride
- De La Salle Alumni Association
- De La Salle University
- Full Court Fresh
- HooPH
- PHSpike
- UAAP Sports
- UBelt
