The one second that changed everything
One second. What can you do in one second? Think about it. I mean really think about it.
Well, this evening at a jam-packed Araneta Coliseum, the Ateneo Blue Eagles showed everyone what can be done in one second. Just when the Blue-and-White gallery thought it was all over after that Allan Evangelista fade-away, co-captain Macky Escalona threw a long inbounds pass to co-captain Doug Kramer (who was surprisingly left wide open under the basket) who took a Hail Mary of a shot that, well, went in. That was when it was really all over.
Beautiful. Just beautiful. It was the perfect play. With Chris Tiu, Jai Reyes and King Eagle JC Intal waiting on the outside, UST was expecting a three, or at least a long two from our shooters. And then Macky passes the ball to Doug in the inside. C'est parfait. Norman Black is a genius. He has redeemed himself from that whole Yuri-Escueta-fouling-Japs-Cuan-with-10.8-seconds-left-in-the-fourth-quarter-and-Ateneo-leading-by-three play when Ateneo faced UST in the second round. Haha.
Doug got the rebounds and made the shots when they mattered most. JC is the true Season 69 MVP. (Sorry, Jervy Cruz. Maybe next year.) Macky is, in my opinion, the glue that holds this team together, especially in the most crucial moments. Chris + Jai + Eric Salamat + Macky = deadly backcourt. To Zion Laterre, Martin Quimson, Ford Arao and Rabeh Al-Hussaini: thanks for the rebounds, the free throws, the blocks and the quality minutes.
With that one-second play, the Blue Eagles gave us new meanings for "poise under pressure" and "We believe!" And it happened right it front of where my dad and I were sitting. =) Once in a lifetime lang yan, dude. That shot is going to go down in Ateneo basketball history, just like that Gec Chia shot against UE in 2002.
I think Nikki said it best: "He made up for five years of shit with that shot!" Haha. Just kidding. We love you, Doug! (Pati na rin si Cheska Garcia kasi pinapasaya n'ya si Doug. Hahaha...)
If you're an Ateneo, no, if you're a UAAP basketball fan and you could have only watched one game this season, that would've been the one. That should've been the one. Trust me. It was a clean (okay, almost clean) and well-fought game between two fantastic teams. Game one palang, ang ganda-ganda na. Paano pa kaya sa game two (at game three?)? Peste nga lang yung mga refs. But in the end, no matter what the calls, the better team will win. Can't say enough great things about the Tigers though. Really worthy opponents.
Didn't I say that this finals series, the first between Ateneo and UST in the UAAP, will be one for the books? Can't wait till Thursday. Malay natin... baka dalawang championship ang makuha natin. =)
Good luck to the Blue Eaglets, too! Great comeback in game two. Now let's bring the juniors trophy back to Katipunan! =)
GO ATENEO! ONE BIG FIGHT!
Just as I was leaving the house, Kri texts me to wear a shirt I've worn to any game the Blue Eagles won this season. Sabi daw ng team, ayaw nila ng malas. Well, to "test the fates," I wore a new blue shirt. Wala lang. I've never worn the same blue (I haven't worn white this season yet) shirt to any two games that Ateneo won this season eh. So far this year, I haven't watched a game live that Ateneo lost. I guess that's my own superstition, "an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear." Haha. Great. New blue shirt na naman sa Thursday. At sana may boses na ulit ako by then.
Now I can work on thesis, my Theo group report and my article.
Well, this evening at a jam-packed Araneta Coliseum, the Ateneo Blue Eagles showed everyone what can be done in one second. Just when the Blue-and-White gallery thought it was all over after that Allan Evangelista fade-away, co-captain Macky Escalona threw a long inbounds pass to co-captain Doug Kramer (who was surprisingly left wide open under the basket) who took a Hail Mary of a shot that, well, went in. That was when it was really all over.
Beautiful. Just beautiful. It was the perfect play. With Chris Tiu, Jai Reyes and King Eagle JC Intal waiting on the outside, UST was expecting a three, or at least a long two from our shooters. And then Macky passes the ball to Doug in the inside. C'est parfait. Norman Black is a genius. He has redeemed himself from that whole Yuri-Escueta-fouling-Japs-Cuan-with-10.8-seconds-left-in-the-fourth-quarter-and-Ateneo-leading-by-three play when Ateneo faced UST in the second round. Haha.
Doug got the rebounds and made the shots when they mattered most. JC is the true Season 69 MVP. (Sorry, Jervy Cruz. Maybe next year.) Macky is, in my opinion, the glue that holds this team together, especially in the most crucial moments. Chris + Jai + Eric Salamat + Macky = deadly backcourt. To Zion Laterre, Martin Quimson, Ford Arao and Rabeh Al-Hussaini: thanks for the rebounds, the free throws, the blocks and the quality minutes.
With that one-second play, the Blue Eagles gave us new meanings for "poise under pressure" and "We believe!" And it happened right it front of where my dad and I were sitting. =) Once in a lifetime lang yan, dude. That shot is going to go down in Ateneo basketball history, just like that Gec Chia shot against UE in 2002.
I think Nikki said it best: "He made up for five years of shit with that shot!" Haha. Just kidding. We love you, Doug! (Pati na rin si Cheska Garcia kasi pinapasaya n'ya si Doug. Hahaha...)
If you're an Ateneo, no, if you're a UAAP basketball fan and you could have only watched one game this season, that would've been the one. That should've been the one. Trust me. It was a clean (okay, almost clean) and well-fought game between two fantastic teams. Game one palang, ang ganda-ganda na. Paano pa kaya sa game two (at game three?)? Peste nga lang yung mga refs. But in the end, no matter what the calls, the better team will win. Can't say enough great things about the Tigers though. Really worthy opponents.
Didn't I say that this finals series, the first between Ateneo and UST in the UAAP, will be one for the books? Can't wait till Thursday. Malay natin... baka dalawang championship ang makuha natin. =)
Good luck to the Blue Eaglets, too! Great comeback in game two. Now let's bring the juniors trophy back to Katipunan! =)
GO ATENEO! ONE BIG FIGHT!
Just as I was leaving the house, Kri texts me to wear a shirt I've worn to any game the Blue Eagles won this season. Sabi daw ng team, ayaw nila ng malas. Well, to "test the fates," I wore a new blue shirt. Wala lang. I've never worn the same blue (I haven't worn white this season yet) shirt to any two games that Ateneo won this season eh. So far this year, I haven't watched a game live that Ateneo lost. I guess that's my own superstition, "an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear." Haha. Great. New blue shirt na naman sa Thursday. At sana may boses na ulit ako by then.
Now I can work on thesis, my Theo group report and my article.