UAAP: Experience, maturity, keys in Blue and Green rematch

Tenorio, Ritualo speak up

Ateneo experience, La Salle maturity keys in Blue and Green rematch

By Josiah Israel Albelda

19 August 2010

Note: This story will appear in tomorrow's issue of Inquirer Libre. Grab one ha. :)

When De La Salle pulled a victory from under the rug of Ateneo de Manila less than a month ago, not a few were surprised with how the Green Archers showed endgame nerves totally absent last season.

Sophomore Samuel Marata drained two triples in the waning minutes and rookie Jarelan Tampus showed hustle enough to get Coach Dindo Pumaren say "He was the difference" to power the Taft-based crew to a mighty come-from-behind win.

So when the archrivals meet again this Sunday, the maturity of Pumaren's boys would be some sort of a gauge on who will take Game 2 of the Season 73 series.

On the other hand, the emergence of skipper Erik Salamat as a complete weapon and the Blue Eagles' veteran experience would surely be a cause of concern for the hosts, who will try to strengthen their stranglehold on a Final Four spot.

These views come from two distinctive alumni from both the Blue and Green. Two cagers who know what it takes to give pride to one's Alma Mater.

According to ex-Ateneo playmaker and PBA superstar LA Tenorio, the Katipunan-based quintet had a harder time in the first game because of La Salle's maturity.

"Nag mature talaga sila," said the newly-minted PBA co-Finals MVP and Mythical Team member. "Hindi sila bumigay kahit nung malaki ang lamang in the last two minutes."

"They're hungry because of what happened last season," former La Salle gunner Ren Ren Ritualo told Bilog ang Bola. "They are surprising everyone - maybe even themselves - with how they are performing."

And while the Blue Eagles' meltdown was so surprising, someone from the Blue side thinks that anything like that won't happen anytime soon.

"These guys have championship experience," shared Coach Norman Black. "I don't think they will just roll over and die after this (loss to La Salle.)"

Ritualo couldn't agree more: "Ateneo has veterans and championship experience. Alam nila kung anong gagawin sa tamang lugar, sa tamang oras. That will be their advantage."

Like no other

Nothing in the history of Philippine college basketball could compare to what the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry has become.

Games between both squads have not only been hoops spectacles but high-society gatherings of sorts, with politicians, government officials, tycoons and celebrities filling the seats at the Araneta Coliseum to cheer for their schools.

"I just can't explain kung bakit ganito kalaki yung rivalry," Tenorio said. "Iba talaga e. Iba yung approach ng parehong team pag Ateneo-La Salle talaga. Maybe it's all about pride."

"Maganda yung rivalry," added Ritualo. "Teams come to play hard and try to outdo each other with their best shots."

Tenorio and Ritualo know this so much. Ritualo, for one, was the most vital cog of La Salle's four-peat championship teams from 1998 to 2001 and has his jersey #4 the only retired one in Green Archer history.

Who will win it?

"I think Ateneo," Tenorio said without hesitation. "Nakukuha na ni Erik Salamat yung game niya and Nico Salva is doing a good job. We just have to break the press and play consistently the whole 40 minutes para makabawi."

"Syempre La Salle," answered Ritualo. "Yung hustle, teamwork and system - tatak na ng La Salle talaga. Nagbago man yung coach, Pumaren pa rin yan. Pareho lang."

Two days from now, the Blue Eagles and the Green Archers lock horns not only for school pride but more importantly, for position in the UAAP team standings.

The archenemies are currently third and fourth in the rankings and a win will give them a bigger chance of snatching the top two spots at the end of the elimination round.

So it's time to throw all of the statistics, history and scouting work away because when Ateneo and La Salle meet again, all hell will break loose. ###