Lighting Strikes Anew...

The Ateneo Blue Eaglets lost their first game of the season today as they dropped game one of the finals to the title-hungry UST Tiger Cubs, 77-71. UST actually had history on their side. The Eaglets have swept the eliminations before, in 1999 when they were led by Larry Fonacier and in 2006 that had the likes of Mike Gamboa, Tonino Gonzaga and Bacon Austria to name a few. In both occasions, they went straight to the finals and lost game one at the same time. So far, lighting has stuck the Eaglets anew, not once, not twice, but a third time.

The championship atmosphere in the Filoil Arena was definitely felt. It reminded me of the last Ateneo-UST finals I saw way back in 2006 at the seniors level. Blue and Yellow balloons, bands beating their drums like there's no tomorrow and teams raring to play right from the get go.

Right from the tip-off Ateneo picked up where they left off in the eliminations with a 10-0 run which forced UST to sue for time just two minutes into the game. UST was then able to score off the time out and got their first field goal. Kevin Ferrer and the Tiger Cubs started to heat up as they slowly but surely caught up to Ateneo. Coach Jamike used different players rotating on defending against Ferrer. Gerard Austria, Jay Sacluti and even smaller players like Mio Puno took turns guarding the UST swing man, reminiscent to past defensive sets where Ice Reyes would guard much taller players. Sometimes it worked, sometimes Ferrer would simply shoot over the smaller defenders. As UST was starting to gain momentum, their rotation took a big blow as Jaypee Sarcia was thrown out of the game for an alleged punch to Marky Mercado. The quarter ended with Ateneo still on top at 19-13.

Gerard Austria keeping an eye on Kevin Ferrer. Gerard started the game for the Eaglets to defend the much taller Ferrer.
(Blue Eaglets vs UST, Finals Game 1 - Filoil Arena, September 14, 2010)

The ejection of Sarcia seemed to benefit UST more than it did Ateneo as the Tiger Cubs kicked off the 2nd quarter with a 9-2 run finally getting the lead at 22-21. UST though wasn't finished as they continued their scoring onslaught all throughout the quarter anchored on Ferrer's wax hot 3 point shooting. Ateneo could only muster 13 points that quarter versus UST's massive 24. UST held on to the lead at half time, 32-37.

Josh Gadia and Lambert Tenorio trap Kevin Ferrer in the backcourt. The Eaglets rotated in defending UST's best player.
(Blue Eaglets vs UST, Finals Game 1 - Filoil Arena, September 14, 2010)

The 3rd quarter saw Ateneo continue to fight against UST's offensive sets. However, UST was quick to adjust and any scoring run that Ateneo made was immediately countered by the Tiger Cubs as they increased their lead to 6 midway through the period, ADMU 40 - UST 46. Then Kiefer Ravena was reinserted in the line-up. Coach Jamike used him sparingly most likely due to a technical foul called on Kiefer earlier in the game. Kiefer provided instant offense as he went on a solo 10-3 run that finally brought the lead back to Ateneo at the end of the period, 50-49.

Kiefer Ravena taking the ball straight to the basket. Kiefer scored 10 points in the final minutes of the third to continue the fight for the Blue Eaglets.
(Blue Eaglets vs UST, Finals Game 1 - Filoil Arena, September 14, 2010)

UST however was quick to recover the lead they lost as they scored the first basket of the 4th quarter and they never let the lead slip way again. Ateneo kept fighting and kept it close to within 2-3 points. Then Kevin Ferrer hit two consecutive 3 pointers that increased their lead to 6 with about 3 minutes left in the game. Kiefer Ravena and the Eaglets tried in vain to regain the lead, but their baskets weren't falling and the calls weren't going their way. With only seconds left in the game, and UST up 71-77, Coach Jamike waived the white flag and brought in the other players to dribble the time away.

It was a sad loss for the Eaglets who have a propensity to lose game one after a sweep of the eliminations. The finals has now become a best of three series. However, not all is lost for the Eaglets. As with their past sweeps, they may have lost the first game, but have also ended up winning the championship. Coach Jamike and his wards are not known to allow two consecutive losses without a fight. To them losing game 1 is merely a wake up call to a sleeping and rusty juggernaut. So yes, lightning may strike more than once on the Eaglets, and if history does repeat itself, losing game 1 is a good sign of what's to come.

We Believe! One Big Fight!

Side notes:

1. The Lady Eagles lost their final game against the NU Lady Bulldog. They finish the season with a 4-10 record.
2. The Lady Falcons of Adamson failed in their quest to sweep the eliminations as they were beaten by the Lady Tamaraws by a last second shot by former Lady Eagle, Karen Columna.
3. The Eaglets-Tiger Cubs game was so hotly contested that 2 technical fouls, 1 unsportsmanlike foul and 1 disqualifying foul was called by the refs. That doesn't even include the hidden chops, punches, elbows and knees thrown by some of the players. You really see a lot when you sit right there on the floor.
4. There is an alleged incident that happened between the AHS Babble and UST Coach and a UST player. I don't have the complete details, but I'll see what I can find out.