2004

After fruitless campaigns in the preceding two seasons, the Archers were determined to bounce back strong in the 2004 campaign. Featuring an intact line-up led by Mac Mac Cardona and Joseph Yeo, plus the addition of the lanky Rico Maeirhofer, big man Mike Galinato (now playing for Adamson) and the returning Cholo Villanueva, the team was raring to make a serious bid to regain its stature in the upper echelon of the league.

Unfortunately, the Archers started the tournament on the wrong foot, losing their initial assignment against the Blue Eagles thus ending the team’s long streak of opening day victories. This unusual setback seemed to fire up the Archers, as they easily thrashed their next two opponents , including defending champion FEU. The team split their last four  games in the first round, narrowly winning their matches against lighter opponents to end the first round with 4-3 slate.

The Archers lost their first game in the 2nd round, thus endangering their chances of gaining a twice-to-beat edge in the final 4 especially since Ateneo were at that point still undefeated and FEU were not too far behind. …