contributed by Chrisangelo, 3 months ago
1 pat
2 pokes
11 comments
386 views
Original post here
http://hoops.blink.ph/2008/09/25/off-the-couch-the-uaap-finals-aftermath
-------------------------------------------------------------------
First up, Congratulations Ateneo! It was one heck of a run (15 and 1) and it was a well deserved win. Anyone who thinks otherwise either goes to taft every morning for school or is affiliated with one of the players from the Green side.
Now to clarify things and to avoid further internet confrontation lemme say I am not a student of Ateneo (My mom doesn’t have that kind of money to send me to that school. lol) and as a basketball fanatic, I was actually hoping that the finals would go to Game 3. I even told my younger brother that if it goes to game 3, we’re going to watch it live.
However, things didn’t go that way. Ateneo came out with a purpose and that is to end the series as soon as possible while on the other hand, La Salle looked discombabulated from the start.
The guys in blue were taking rhythm shots through great offensive flow actually, if you noticed, their first four field goals came from assists. That goes to show you how good their offensive rhythm is. While the guys in green, well, they were relying on one on one plays, long and forced three bombs while committing turnover after turnover after turnover.
If you would look at the La Salle team, you could see that this isn’t a team that would win the Championship this year. I’ll give you an example.. Rico Maierhoffer.
I honestly expected more from him in this series. Including this series, Rico has played a total of three championships. And from that stand point, you SHOULD expect bigger things from him. But no, instead.. he became DLSU’s downfall, specially in this game.
He was obviously frustrated. Nonoy Baclao and that Jobe Nkomaljbsawhatever was all over him all game long. But I didn’t expect him to be the momentum breaker for the greenies. Midway into the third where in JV Casio was being possesed by Renren Ritualo’s soul, Rico threw a finger and obviously, it wasn’t a thumbs up sign. It was the middle finger, the finger he flashed at the fans of the Blue Eagles when he was called for a technical for taunting the first time and that was, in my stupidest opinion, the turning point of the game.
After Rico went out, the Eagles came hounding at JV more and more. With no offensive threat inside for the Archers, the Eagles went for the double every single time JV touches the ball and that was the beginning of the end for La Salle.
By the way, my hat is down for JV Casio. He played one hell of a game.. showed the heart of a true champion, never gave up until he was called for his fifth foul. He carried his team into his shoulders up to the last minute of his UAAP career and we should all give this guy a round of applause. I’m looking forward to seeing him in the PBA, hopefully he’ll get his third championship in there.
Anyway.. we all know it’s inevitable. HERE. COMES. THE. EXCUSES.
From U-Belt.com
Remarking on this year’s Finals, DLSU head coach Franz Pumaren feeling the weight of the loss noted, “This is the worst officiating in the Finals.”
Moreover, he added, “It’s like giving the title to them, you just robbed off the 25,000 people watching.”
My thoughts?? LOLWUTS? SRSLY?
I actually had a good laugh at all those guys who were screaming that the game were fixed. What the heck man, the MVP Rabeh Al-Husseini who torched La Salle with 31 points in the first game actually had to sit down 3 mins into the game because of 2 personal fouls.
Now, if I’m the one who “asked” the referee to “fix” the game.. I think the first thing I would assure is the fouls of my key players. But I guess that’s the typical Filipino mentality.. Pag nanalo, malinis.. pag natatalo nadaya.
But seriously now guys, I’ve seen worse calls. You want examples? La Salle vs FEU in the first round. I know you guys remember it… the infamous unsportsmanlike foul on Mark Barocca? Right? Right? Oh and another one, La Salle vs FEU in the battle for the twice advantage. The foul on Baracael? Jens Knuttle’s swipe on LA Revilla? Remember? So yeah, I’ve seen worse calls but I don’t remember guys on the FEU side saying they were robbed in front of thousands of people.
Well, maybe that’s because they know how to accept defeat and get over bad calls? You know, maybe they actually know that bad calls do happen in a game and that at the end of the day, it’s still the players who decide the outcome of the basketball game. Who knows?
posted by seth, 3 months ago
In my opinion, he wasn't giving anyone the finger, he was just fixing his shorts and while motioning his middle finger to his teammate for screen or something. He wasn't pointing it at anybody in particular. He's face was devoid of emotions of someone giving the finger.
But that doesn't change the fact that la salle isn't championship material.They were clearly wasn't putting up a fight. they we're just there, going through the motions, and congratulating ateneo.
posted by Stingray, 3 months ago
Franz was just sour-graping.
"How could you send a player out of the game on a crucial time like that?"
Yeah right. Rico deserved it. He can stick his middle finger up his ass.
posted by Chrisangelo, 3 months ago
Seth: Why would he motion his middle finger for a screen? Lol. The universal call for pick in basketball is a closed fist.
Sting-o: Yeah, I was pretty surprised at Franz' comments. He failed to coach that's what happened. He failed to pump up his team in an all important game 2. He failed to calm down his best bigman (Rico) in the crucial stretches of the ball game. He failed to send screens to JV as he was being hounded by the Ateneo defense. Epic failure by Franz.
posted by pdropn, 3 months ago
my two cents:
mr maierhofer isnt exactly known as mr diplomatic anyway (as he had been given one T before the finger among other games he has played in)...but yeah he deserved to punished but being thrown out isnt what exactly I had in mind, another foul perhaps but not a T as the game was well, an emotional one (for them anyway), and the finger could be charged to that: an emotionally charged atmosphere. Everyone knows that La Salle's neck (or balls) was (were) on the line, absent any injury to another player, or short of a riot on the court, such emotionally action could be reprimanded short of kicking out your best inside threat (no Mr Walsham, its not you).
and yes JV did what he could, it was the others (yes you Mr Mangahasand Mr Pumaren) that fudged up the game, as they did not step up.
I just wish the refs let the game play out...too much referreing spoils the game :)
posted by Chrisangelo, 3 months ago
^ Yes, it was an emotionally charged game, it's obvious. That's why it's up to the players to control their emotions. It's ok to taunt at times, shout at times raise your first, heck you can even do the shimmy dance but after you already received your first technical, it's pretty damn stupid to do another "emotional move" that could cause you a 'T. I'm sure Rico knows that.
but yeah he deserved to punished but being thrown out isnt what exactly I had in mind, another foul perhaps but not a T
There's a certain thing called "Rulebook" that the referee follows. And for them to make exceptions for such a douchebag move is pretty much stupid. It's in the rules, you taunt, you get a T. In the PBA, you throw a finger you're fined. That's how it goes. It was Rico's fault and he knows it. My friend over at the states (See the videos section, the next Allan Caidic) laughed his ass off when I told him about the things Rico did in the court. Heck, I was dumbfounded with that move.
Bottomline, he's a veteran, he knows the rules, he knows the consequences yet he still made those "emotionally charged" mistakes. Pun intended
posted by toodles, 3 months ago
@seth: oi, check your sentences. you'll laugh at yourself.
@sting: basket ta di bala.
too bad i haven't watched the 2nd game. I was quite busy here as well in our college week. *sigh*
posted by pdropn, 3 months ago
@ chrisangelo
Point taken. No offense meant and none taken :D
Yes it was dumb move by Mr Maierhofer.
Its not that that I condone Mr Maierhofer's actions (and no one should condone it)
if rule book says giving the finger one is liable for a technical foul then its a technical foul if called by the refs. In the end its the refs decision whether to call it or not.
I just thought that refs should be more circumspect in handing out fouls when it would tilt the balance in favor of any opponent.
Neither am I saying that by losing Maierhofer they (la salle) were toast, what I meant was it was that act as well as the failure of the others la salle players to step up against a determined Ateneo squad.
disclaimer: I'm neither from ateneo or la salle :D
in sum, lets agree to disagree :)
p.s.
and yeah I watched the video...if that kid could do that in the pros he wont be the next Allan Caidic, he'd beat Allan Caidic (one of my favorite players along with Alvin Patrimonio) till then yes he could be the next Allan Caidic
posted by bangkay, 3 months ago
it was just plain dumb on maierhofer's part. rather than playing mind games with the opponent, they should have focused on making plays and converting baskets. that 4th quarter scoring by la salle was just plain ugly.
posted by pinkstar, 3 months ago
As I've said in Hoops, we all must admit that Ateneo really had a strong line-up and EVERYONE did their part. They had their focus and maintained composure even as La Salle pressed on and cussed. To say that 25,000 people have been cheated because they won is outrageous - since the Ateneo community outnumbered La Sallians in Araneta.
On the 2nd technical foul that Rico "Middlefinger" Maierhoffer committed, everyone has his/her own point of view. If he was really calling Casio by flicking his finger, then why let it linger that long? I was in Araneta and I saw the replay too. He did put the finger out. For whatever reason it is, it is one dumb move. Perhaps he missed the talk the refs did because their band was playing out loud - even though the committee has requested for silence before the briefing. He, or should I say ALL of them should learn a lesson from Jvee (hats off!) who played like a real man should and sucked it all up. He (Jvee) lifted them all off his shoulders, their scores and stats EVERY FRIGGIN GAME.
I was dissapointed at how La Salle ditched the awarding ceremonies and did not pick their trophy and medals after the game - was it because they felt that the game was fixed and that the officiating sucked? After all the games they have played on UAAP, they should know that referees are infallible when it comes to these games. When a call is made, no amount of whining can take it back. They should've had someone represent them... the commonsense to at least be civil. This is why the whole school (La Salle) is stereo-typed every single time - the people who represent them clearly didn't show up for etiquette or anger-management classes. 'Guess this is Pringles Man Pumaren's karma for leaving the RP youth team in Iran.
Too bad that the La Salle team had a bunch of sore losers in them. Sour grape all they want, but them losing to Ateneo this year 3 times before Finals game 2 is a testament to how Ateneo really deserved the crown, as they were a better team than La Salle in all aspects - the best if I should say this season. :)
posted by seth, 3 months ago
@toodles, pasugti lang kay gamadali kay may ginkadtuan ko kagina..
posted by everyonenose, 3 months ago
lasalle just showed their true colors.. the move of rico was dumb and dirty, and the act of neglecting the awards was so unsportsmanlike especially for franz who is a multi-titled basketball coach.. true, it was an ugly game but what they did after just made it worse.. they should just go back to taft and hide under the robes of the lasallian brothers.. at this point, i am ashamed of being a lasallian and i just can't wait for what the community will say about this.. hats off to ateneo for a great season and to JRU for pushing a game 3.. go Bombers!
You need to login to post a comment.
