As expected, the La Salle-Ateneo game played last Sunday at the packed Smart Araneta Coliseum was another thriller.
League-leading Ateneo came into the game with a manpower advantage over the injury-ridden La Salle squad.
The injuries of La Salle big men Arnold Van Opstal and Norbert Torres actually weakened the big-man advantage of the Green Archers. But it was the injuries to their point guards Tomas Torres and Kib Montalbo that proved to be a blessing in disguise for the squad.
The propensity of the La Salle coaching staff to field in any of the two guards together with Almond Vosotros, who plays No. 2 but has the build of a point guard, had initially created a lot of mismatches for the team, negating the advantages of its big men.
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No doubt, the 32 points produced by Jeron Teng as well as the clutch shooting and steady performance of the brainy Jason Perkins carried the Archers to victory.
To me, however, the big difference was the playing time La Salle coach Juno Sauler gave to rookies Robert Bolick and Julian Sargent. The two not only helped shut down Ateneo’s leading MVP contender Kiefer Ravena, but they contributed a combined 21 points. This was the crucial factor that gave La Salle the vengeful win.
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The shifty Ravena may have missed his last two shots that could have turned the tide in the Eagles’ favor but his standard of play is now beyond the UAAP level.
A prolific point-maker, Ravena’s ability to see the floor and issue an assist when he is double-teamed makes him, hands down, the best player in the league today.
With a bit more training and some improvement in speed to enable him to run with smaller men, he will be ready for the PBA.
If you ask me, a finals meeting between the two fierce rival schools is in the making. The dream finals would only help the league reach even greater heights.
(Send comments to tlmanotoc@yahoo.com)