The Final Score: Fun times for Ateneo, but La Salle should be fine

 

What if Gary David was secretly coaching the game for Ateneo when the Blue Eagles beat the Green Archers last July 20? Not that Ateneo coach Bo Perasol needed any additional tactical help. Coach Bo, however, direly needed a polo shirt in an additional size. Anyway, my imagination kept nagging me with the same idea during the game: 

 

Was Gary David pseudo-coaching Ateneo via SMS or Facebook or telekinesis?

 

While La Salle tried to score all their points inside like all big teams should, Ateneo tried to score all their points outside. Ateneo played as if inside points were suddenly deemed illegal by the league. 

 

Hence, Ateneo shooters like Kiefer Ravena and Von Pessumal fired away at will, fired away with glee. It was systematic chaos that plays out better on television than on the coach’s whiteboard. Like the players had Gary David’s voice in their heads the whole time. Tira lang. Shoot lang. Hintayin niyo lang. Your hands will go on fire. Kaya niyo yan!  

 

I wondered, “Could it be? Was Ateneo introducing the world to the radical ploy of Three-Point-Playmaking?” How does Three-Point-Playmaking work? You shoot the three. Just shoot it the way you shoot rapid-fire style in Time Zone. Then, you see what life has to offer afterwards. 

 

Ravena made five threes. Pessumal made two. Von Panes! Arvin Tolentino also made two. Wait, what?! 

 

Here’s an interesting stat: La Salle actually took more three-point attempts, 28-27. La Salle’s Almond Vosotros, who launched a game-high 11 three-point shots, was probably thinking, “Hey! I’d fit right in with this Ateneo team.” The mantra: Gu-mary David ka lang and let fate take over. 

 

La Salle should be fine. Jason Perkins (25 points, 10 rebounds) is going to punish opponents the whole season. Arnold Van Opstal (10 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks) shouldn’t fret. His perfectly coiffed hair is still in place. Jeron Teng (15 points) is still, pound for pound, the strongest player in the league. He truly is the RoboSon. Again, La Salle should be fine. They lost to two potential Final Four teams. 

 

I tend to worry more for fast-rising first round teams anyway. It’s not the 5-2 or 4-3 teams that attract concern at the end of the first round. It’s the 7-0 teams that seem to live precariously down the stretch. 

 

As for Ateneo, the Butones-Watch begins. I wonder if Ateneo team manager Epok Quimpo noticed. It’s important that Ateneo realizes na swerte kung tanggal isang butones sa polo shirt ni Coach Bo. Every little detail counts when you’re trying to reclaim the throne. 

 

Can a team still continue a serious title-retention bid by starting at 0-2? It’s too early in the season for La Salle to worry too much. They’ll bounce back. They’re too good not to. 

 

Can a team be a serious contender by shooting in-your-face threes? I might say, “I’m not sure,” but Gary David might say, “Oo naman!”  

 

Just to be clear: No, Gary David wasn’t coaching Ateneo through Jedi mind tricks. It was just a fun thought. And for Ateneo, these might be fun times. If after two games, Ateneo’s most pressing concern is to find a better-fitting polo shirt for Coach Bo, they’re actually in great shape. — JST, GMA News