A loss in the finals will always be a bitter pill to swallow. All those hours put into practice and the process to get there could end up for naught with a loss.
This year, it was the De La Salle University Green Archers’ turn to taste defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in a grueling three-game series.
Isaac Go’s dagger three in the last 50 seconds of the contest sealed the deal for the Blue Eagles, as they had an 85-80 cushion against the Green Archers. La Salle tried to make a comeback, but it was just not the Green Archers’ day. Ateneo eventually prevailed 88-86 to clinch their first championship in five years.
“Breaks of the game siguro,” lamented La Salle point guard Aljun Melecio, who averaged 17.33 points and 1.3 steals in the epic three-game series.
“Congratulations to Ateneo.”
Melecio’s fellow guard Andrei Caracut echoed his sentiments.
“Breaks of the game. Ganun talaga yung buhay sa basketball pero marami kaming natutunan ngayong game na ito. Sana madala namin next season.”
With the game tied 66-66 at the end of the third period, La Salle sought to seize an early advantage and forced three after three to no avail early in the fourth quarter. By contrast, Ateneo sunk three of their seven three-point attempts that doomed La Salle.
“Hindi lang pumapasok shots namin,” rued Melecio, a sophomore.
Come the final buzzer, it was the Blue and White who emerged victorious after 40 minutes of basketball. As the confetti rained down on center court, the Green Archers were either weeping or standing in disbelief. One of those most devastated was skipper Kib Montalbo.
“Speechless. Wala ako masabi talaga,” shared a downcast Montalbo, who posted norms of 5.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals in the series.
Overall, Ateneo simply outscored and outlasted La Salle, and a big reason for that was the Blue Eagles’ overall efficiency from the downtown. The newly crowned champions went 10-for-25 from downtown compared to La Salle’s 8-of-33.
Still, Caracut — speaking on behalf of his two closest teammates — expressed that they had given it their all even if the result did not go in their favor.
“Binigay naman namin yung best namin,” said the third-year guard, who put up 8.67 points per game in the season finale.
La Salle will have a mostly intact lineup next year, as it is only Abu Tratter who has played out his eligibility. Cameroonian star Ben Mbala is still eligible for one more year based on the current eligibility rules. Redemption mode is officially on for the Green Archers.
“For sure siyempre kailangan talaga double yung effort and hardwork. Mag-prepare kami (for) next year,” vowed Caracut. “Bounce back kami.”
Meanwhile, Montalbo declared, “I don’t know what to think right now man but we’ll bounce back. Yun lang.”
