Ateneo snatches Finals’ Game 1 over UST
By Jasmine W. Payo
Inquirer
Published on page A31 of the September 25, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
THE ATENEO de Manila University Blue Eagles got their escape act down pat.
Pulling off Houdini feats all throughout the season, the top-ranked squad did it again to claim Game 1 of the UAAP Finals.
This time, it was Doug Kramer, who buried an undergoal stab at the buzzer to lead the Eagles to a thrilling 73-72 triumph over the University of Santo Tomas Tigers yesterday at the jampacked Araneta Coliseum.
Left alone at the paint, Kramer received a perfect inbound pass from Macky Escalona to score the game-winning basket.
“It was just fortunate that Macky made a very good pass,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black. “Chris (Tiu) had been scoring the entire game, so the defense went to Chris. They forgot about Kramer underneath the basket. I was hoping that will happen when we diagrammed the play and it did.”
The Eagles, who last won the title in 2002, will be gunning for their fourth senior basketball crown on Thursday.
Apparently, the early celebration proved fatal for the Tigers.
With his head held up high and arms akimbo, Allan Evangelista proudly faced the UST crowd after nailing a jumper with only a second left.
But in that short span of time, the Tigers got a very important lesson on defense.
“There was a mental lapse,” admitted UST coach Pido Jarencio. “We’re charging it to experience.”
Black admitted that it was the first time the Eagles executed the play, but had it ready since his successful coaching stint with San Miguel in the PBA.
“Doug Kramer was the first and only option,” noted Black. “They executed it perfectly. A big play in a big game.”
JC Intal, who shot a game-high 21 points, steadied the scrambling Eagles by pumping in 10 straight points in the fourth quarter for a 67-66 edge.
But it was Kramer who came through for the Eagles at the clutch, drilling in the Eagles’ last six points to finish with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Jarencio, though, issued a quick warning after the Tigers’ heartbreaking loss: “We’ll be back on Thursday. When we’re beaten, we become more courageous.”
ATENEO 73 -- Intal 21, Kramer 14, Tiu 12, Reyes 10, Escalona 8, Quimson 6, Laterre 2, Salamat 0, Arao 0, Al-Hussaini 0.
UST 72 -- Cruz 20, Evangelista 13, Espiritu 11, Duncil 9, Cuan 9, Taylor 4, Canlas 4, Ababou 2, Gile 0, Cortez 0, Allera 0.
Quarters: 19-15, 35-35, 57-57, 73-72
Published by m4rvin
Monday, September 25, 2006 at 12:33 AM. By Jasmine W. Payo
Inquirer
Published on page A31 of the September 25, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
THE ATENEO de Manila University Blue Eagles got their escape act down pat.
Pulling off Houdini feats all throughout the season, the top-ranked squad did it again to claim Game 1 of the UAAP Finals.
This time, it was Doug Kramer, who buried an undergoal stab at the buzzer to lead the Eagles to a thrilling 73-72 triumph over the University of Santo Tomas Tigers yesterday at the jampacked Araneta Coliseum.
Left alone at the paint, Kramer received a perfect inbound pass from Macky Escalona to score the game-winning basket.
“It was just fortunate that Macky made a very good pass,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black. “Chris (Tiu) had been scoring the entire game, so the defense went to Chris. They forgot about Kramer underneath the basket. I was hoping that will happen when we diagrammed the play and it did.”
The Eagles, who last won the title in 2002, will be gunning for their fourth senior basketball crown on Thursday.
Apparently, the early celebration proved fatal for the Tigers.
With his head held up high and arms akimbo, Allan Evangelista proudly faced the UST crowd after nailing a jumper with only a second left.
But in that short span of time, the Tigers got a very important lesson on defense.
“There was a mental lapse,” admitted UST coach Pido Jarencio. “We’re charging it to experience.”
Black admitted that it was the first time the Eagles executed the play, but had it ready since his successful coaching stint with San Miguel in the PBA.
“Doug Kramer was the first and only option,” noted Black. “They executed it perfectly. A big play in a big game.”
JC Intal, who shot a game-high 21 points, steadied the scrambling Eagles by pumping in 10 straight points in the fourth quarter for a 67-66 edge.
But it was Kramer who came through for the Eagles at the clutch, drilling in the Eagles’ last six points to finish with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Jarencio, though, issued a quick warning after the Tigers’ heartbreaking loss: “We’ll be back on Thursday. When we’re beaten, we become more courageous.”
ATENEO 73 -- Intal 21, Kramer 14, Tiu 12, Reyes 10, Escalona 8, Quimson 6, Laterre 2, Salamat 0, Arao 0, Al-Hussaini 0.
UST 72 -- Cruz 20, Evangelista 13, Espiritu 11, Duncil 9, Cuan 9, Taylor 4, Canlas 4, Ababou 2, Gile 0, Cortez 0, Allera 0.
Quarters: 19-15, 35-35, 57-57, 73-72
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