May I Offer You Some Cake?

LA SALLE WINS ITS 7TH TITLE ON THE 7TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2007 IN THE 7TH DECADE OF THE UAAP WHICH HAD ITS FIRST GAME ON JULY 7, 2007.

This is a UAAP season that would drive a mathematician crazy. The equations are not right. The team that should didn’t and the team that shouldn’t did. Beating Ateneo twice in 5 games, the Green Archers get to the finals. Today, 2 straight was far better than 14 straight. La Salle had an overall record of 13 – 6 while UE had 14-2, but La Salle wins the most coveted prize in Philippine college basketball, the UAAP Men’s Senior Basketball Crown.

Even before the game began, the La Salle gallery showed class by cheering each player who was given an individual award. From “Go USTE, Go USTE” for Jervy Cruz and Japs Cuan then “NU, NU, NU” for Edwin Asoro and “Go Ateneo” for Chris Tiu (represented by his brother Charles), the La Salle gallery just showed what sportsmanship is all about.

The game started out slow with both teams missing its first few shots. After splitting a pair of free throws, La Salle scores the first point. All of sudden UE scores 8 straight points. Coach Franz immediately calls a timeout and when the Green Archers come back on the floor, they slowly chip at the lead. They force the Warriors to turnover after turnover and most importantly they do not UE to control the boards. Casio ends the quarter with drive. The quarter ends 15 -11. That was UE’s lowest 1st quarter output all season. La Salle would never relinquish the lead

The 2nd quarter was a different La Salle team that came on the court. They looked determined while UE looked tentative. Even the coaching staff of UE looked uncertain.

La Salle played defense that made it impossible UE to get into a groove. On the other hand La Salle’s offense was picture perfect. They took their time on the offense and their patience paid off. It was a classic case of a mature team outthinking and outplaying a team that has never been to the finals.

La Salle starts to build a lead. They have the momentum and force UE to take bad shots After UE’s Marcy Arellano scores a 3, La Salles’s PJ Barua takes it back with a 3 of his own.

Then UE starts to crumble. La Salle is not intimidated by UE’s size. They bring the ball inside and just break down UE’s defense. La Salle runs the ball and UE just can’t find a way to stop it. Maeirhofer is unstoppable in rebounds and scoring, making 7 straight points,

Midway through the 2nd quarter, La Salle takes an 8 point lead, the largest margin of the series. But they weren’t done yet. UE just self destructs. They were held scoreless for 5 minutes.

When Pocholo Villanueva hits a dipsy doo shot, the Green Archers took the first double digit deficit lead that UE has experienced all season. Not one in the UE players could find his rhythm, even from the foul line. The most telling sign was that unlike Game 1, La Salle controlled the rebounds. More surprising was that the rebound leader at this point was Kish Co,

With La Salle up by 14, UE finally hits a 3, but PJ Barua again takes it back with his own 3. Rico Maierhofer makes the final point of the quarter and La Salle takes an 11 point lead, 34 – 23 at the half. The 23 points of UE was the 2nd lowest output of any team this UAAP season and the lowest of this regular season unbeaten team. UE made only 9 out of 23 shots and La Salle outrebounds UE 34 -22.

The 3rd quarter starts off with UE scoring 10 straight points and brings the lead down to 1. But it is obvious that La Salle does not panic. La Salle does not score for 5 minutes but when Pocholo Villanueva finally scores, UE just can’t keep up. Casio hits an under goal stab, is fouled and makes his shot. La Salle pulls away again by 6.

Coach Dindo Pumaren keeps shuffling his players. Coach Franz does not fall for it. He stays with his veterans. Every time UE makes a move, La Salle stops them on their tracks. It was all about composure. La Salle did not allow UE to dictate the tempo.

I was really surprised by the hustle of Kish Co. He was a man possessed. He averages 2 rebounds a game yet today he had 10 in the first half alone. But the most unbelievable statistic in the 3rd quarter was that La Salle committed zero, wala, nada, turnovers. I don’t think I have ever seen that in any game I have ever watched.

The 3rd quarter ends with La sale on top 52 – 45. Again the 45 points of UE was the lowest they have scored in the 3rd quarter this season.

The last quarter starts with UE’s James Martinez and Mark Borboran hitting 3s. But JV Casio retaliates with a 3 of his own followed by Villanueva’s 2.

La Salle just stays focused while UE is starting to panic. They don’t look like the team that they were in the regular season.

Pocholo Villanueva, playing in his last season, takes over. He steers the team to play smart basketball. He shoots, he hustles, and plays great defense.

With 4 minutes to go, La Salle is up by 6. Only UE’s Paul Lee shows some spark. UE brings the lead down to 2.

Again, the turnovers just kills UE. La Salle’s transition defense just does not allow UE to set-up. They just can’t find a way to tie the score. After Casio splits his free throws, UE commits its 21st turnover.

With 2 minutes to go and La Salle up by 3, UE can’t buy a basket even from under the goal. Tang takes the rebound and gets the 5th foul from Paul Lee. Tang makes both foul shots, giving La Salle a 5 point lead with 1:48 to go.

In UE’s next possession, Mark Borboran misses both his foul shots and Maeirhofer gets his 10th rebound. In La Salle’s next possession, JV Casio hits a shot with no time left on the shot clock.

La Salle is up by 7 with 51 seconds to go. UE’s Marcy Arellano runs the ball down and makes a quick 2. With La Salle up by 5 and 45 seconds to go, Coach Dindo calls for an intentional foul. This was a big mistake by Coach Dindo. There was too much time left and hitting both foul shots would give La Salle a 3 possession game. Casio hits both and the game is all but over.

Arellano drives and misses an open under goal stab. UE takes a 3 and misses but they are fouled and splits the foul shots. With 28 seconds to go La Salle gets the rebound and OJ Cua is fouled. He makes both and La Salle leads by 8. UE gets the ball back but can’t even make a lay-up.

Casio is fouled and splits his free throws. The final foul shots are made by Rico Maeirhofer and La Salle wins the game and the championship 73 – 64.

The Finals MVP was awarded to both Pocholo Villanueva and JV Casio.

It is the sweetest championship for the Green Archers. From suspension to champion. From being doubted to being validated as the best team in the league.

It was a total team effort. The veterans were expected to perform but they were ably supported by the heads up play by the virtual unknowns in Barua, Kish Co, Mangahas, Ferdinand, Atkins and Malabes. If this were a play, it was a perfect script.

But the man of the hour is Coach Franz Pumaren. He has undoubtedly proven to be the best collegiate coach. He has become our version of John Wooden of UCLA who won countless championships in the US version of the NCAA. The best thing about Coach Franz is that he enjoys college basketball and from the looks of it has no plans to go pro.

On TV, even Kobe Bryant, whose father and former NBA star Joe is a La Salle alumnus, congratulated the La Salle team with an ANIMO LA SALLE!

Anyone care for a slice of cake with delicious green icing?

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