The University of the Visayas Green Lancers faltered in the most important game of their stint in the CCL yesterday, losing to the Ateneo Blue Eagles 52-71 at the San Juan Arena.
UV’s big men failed to contain the hulking Al-Hussaini of Ateneo who asserted his will inside the paint with a double-double, scoring 23 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.
Al-Hussaini was so intimidating that he got the goat of Rino Berame with 5:28 left in the fourth quarter, forcing the latter to hit the showers.
Without Berami, the Blue Eagles feasted on UV’s token resistance in the paint and put the game beyond reach, 65-47, with over four minutes remaining in the contest.
The Green Lancers tried to use the three-point shots to get back in the game but the shooters conked out. Making those outside bombs was one of the winning keys for UV, but this time, the Green Lancers were hitting bricks.
UV also failed to execute their plays as Coach Norman Black employed a pressing defense that made life miserable for UV’s ballhandlers. Like in the game with STI, the Green Lancers committed a spate of passing errors throughout the game.
Ateneo jumped the gun on UV by taking the first period 21-12. After a 2-2 deadlock, Ateneo scored 15 straight points, for 17-2 advantage, holding UV scoreless for more than eight minutes.
UV, somehow, trimmed the lead to 9-19 with 30 seconds remaining, and was almost doomed to its fewest quarter total when Diputado’s heave from almost the length of the court, with two seconds left, made it 12-21.
UV had its best moment in the second quarter, when it was able to come within 18-21, midway in the period. But passing errors wrecked havoc on UV’s rally and trailed 26-32, at halftime.
From thereon, the Blue Eagles to continued to run their plays to perfection and took the third period 51-40. Ateneo then ripped the game wide open in the fourth period for its first CCL crown.
“My boys, despite playing in many championship games, were visibly scared. Despite all my prodding, they could not deliver. They were intimidated by the pro-Ateneo crowd,” explained Coach Boy Cabahug.
Coach Cabahug admitted that he gambled by starting Slaughter and Tangcongco. He said that the two cagers gave him quality minutes in the series with the University of San Carlos, but this time, the cagers were unable to deliver.
Fans were also wondering why Coach Cabahug stuck to a man-to-man defense and never even tried a zone defense. From the way Ateneo dismantled UV’s defense, it was obvious that Coach Norman Black and his assistant coaches have scouted UV.
It was also apparent that UV lacked ballhandlers that could direct the play. As shown by STI, a good pressing defense can disrupt UV’s offense. While STI failed to capitalize on UV’s errors, Ateneo did, and it made all the difference.
At the end of the half, Ateneo dominated UV in two important departments of the game. The Blue Eagles outrebounded UV 26-19 and had an astounding 19-5 upperhand in the assist department. (With reports from Caecent No-ot Magsumbol)