Adamson vs La Salle. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
LA SALLE made sure no upset-conscious upstart would come in and ruin the Archers’ perfect record.
In a matter of minutes, coach Aldin Ayo and his wards hit a young and energetic Adamson Falcons with a dose of crippling reality: That “mayhem basketball”—a high-energy, frenetic kind of game—can obliterate a well-structured system.
“That’s the kind of system I want to go up against,” said Ayo, minutes after La Salle crushed Adamson, 91-75, to stay unbeaten in five games in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament yesterday at Mall of Asia Arena. “They’re disciplined, structured. It very well fits my system of mayhem.”
The scariest reality? As perfect as their record is, Ayo believes his Archers are still far from their ideal form.
“I can say that, if I would rate my team now, we’re just at 70, 75 percent,” said Ayo. “We started [the season] very low against FEU. We were just at 15 percent. But the good thing is every game, we’re still improving.”
All the evidence, though, is to the contrary, if you ask Adamson coach and former La Salle mentor Franz Pumaren.
“They played their best game so far this season and we played our worst game of the season, it’s as simple as that,” said Pumaren.
La Salle’s rookie sensation Ben Mbala posted another double-double of 21 points and 16 rebounds on top of four steals and three blocks, while Jeron Teng also came out firing 15 points.
Then there were the shock-troopers led by Aljun Melecio, who scored 13, and Kib Montalbo, who had an all-around game of 12 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals.
For Pumaren—who steered La Salle to five of its eight championships—the match also gave him perspective that his Falcons stand nowhere near the Archers, even if they’re just a rung below with a 3-2 record.
“It showed the composition of my team, that we’re really a young team,” said Pumaren. “They’re probably in awe of the crowd, they’re not used to this kind of environment. It’s a learning process on our part. I’m not disappointed, but I’m not happy.”
Pumaren’s older brother, University of the East coach Derrick Pumaren, wasn’t happy either after the Ateneo Blue Eagles kept his Warriors winless, 84-69, in the other match.
The scores:
First Game
LA SALLE 91—Mbala 21, Teng 15, Melecio 13, Montalbo 12, Torres 11, Baltazar 7, Tratter 6, Sargent 2, Rivero 2, Go 2, Caracut 0.
ADAMSON 75—Ahanmisi 22, Manalang 15, Sarr 14, Pasturan 9, Manganti 6, Tungcab 5, Espeleta 2, Mustre 1, Ochea 1, Bernardo 0, Camacho 0, Chua 0, Ng 0.
Quarters: 22-17, 49-34, 66-52, 91-75
Second Game
ATENEO 84—Asistio 21, Wong 17, Ikeh 11, Mi. Nieto 11, Ma. Nieto 7, Ravena 7, Verano 4, Go 3, Tolentino 3, Babilonia 0, Mendoza 0, Porter 0, White 0.
UE 69—Pasaol 22, Batiller 11, Varilla 7, Abante 6, Derige 6, Charcos 4, Manalang 3, Olayon 3, De Leon 2, Palma 2, Peneuela 2, Larupay 1, Acuno 0, Armenion 0, Bartolome 0, Gagate 0.
Quarters: 20-9, 30-32, 58-84-69