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Ateneo completes elims sweep of DLSU in style

Posted: September 8th, 2008 | Author: Ben | Filed under: Ateneo | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

DEFENDING champion De La Salle University’s road to another title got off to a wrong start, thanks to its archrivals from Katipunan.

Ateneo de Manila, already assured of the top spot and the first twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four, played with a purpose and gave the Green Archers a sound beating, 65-57 to relegate its nemesis to a virtual best-of-three tiff against Far Eastern University in the Final Four of the 71st UAAP men’s basketball tournament last September 6, 2008 at the Araneta Coliseum.

As a result, the Archers will have to take on the Tamaraws at least two more times if they are to secure their place in this year’s finals.

In front of nearly 22,200 fans, the Blue Eagles did not play like a squad content with their standing. Instead, they were relentless from the opening tip, racing to a 16-4 lead in the first quarter.

The Eagles managed to ground DLSU chief gunner JV Casio, who struggled all game and missed all but two of his 16 field goal attempts. The usually cool and steady guard failed to catch fire, due in part to a seemingly slippery pair of shoes and more so the stingy defense put up by coach Norman Black’s wards.

Ateneo continued to pummel the Green Archers in the third period, where it posted a game-high 15-point edge, 54-39, on back-to-back baskets by Eric Salamat inside the two-minute mark. Watching the Archers execute their offense seemed like an eye sore for the Green and White faithful.

However, DLSU coach Franz Pumaren, who returned from Iran after steering the Nokia Pilipinas Youth basketball team to a respectable 7th place in the FIBA Asia Junior Championships, begged to differ.

“Ateneo played good defense, no question about it,” said Pumaren. “It was a tight game until Ateneo tightened up its screws and we couldn’t find ways to crack that defense. But we’ll be back and we should concentrate now on our next game against FEU.”

Eagles slotman Rabeh Al-Hussaini shone once more, scoring 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead his unit to a 13-1 elimination round record, the highest Ateneo has ever posted since notching the same slate in 1987.

“The game has no bearing for us but we wanted to win it for the Ateneo community. Our defense bailed us out in the end,” said Black, whose team will face the University of the East Red Warriors in the semis.

The Green Archers moved closer to 33-36 thanks to a Simon Atkins three-pointer. But Al-Hussaini and Nonoy Baclao joined forces to lead a Blue Eagle breakaway.

The last time La Salle threatened was at 57-62, after Rico Maierhofer banged in a trey. But Ateneo countered with Baclao scoring on an impressive undergoal stab off Maierhofer to extend the Eagles’ edge to 64-57, with 2:28 remaining.

Baclao contributed 11 markers, six boards and four blocks while Jai Reyes added 10 markers for the three-time UAAP champions.

Maierhofer was the lone bright spot for La Salle, chipping in 16 points and hauling down 10 rebounds.

The scores:

Ateneo 65 – Al-Hussaini 18, Baclao 11, Reyes 10, Tiu 9, Salamat 8, Baldos 4, Escueta 3, Buenafe 2, Austria 0, Burke 0, Salva 0.

De La Salle 57 – Maierhofer 16, Atkins 9, Barua 8, Malabes 7, Casio 5, Mangahas 4, Villanueva 4, Ferdinand 2, Walsham 2, Bagatsing 0, Revilla 0, Webb 0.

Quarter scores: 21-12; 36-28; 54-41; 65-57

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ADM 102: Introduction to Ateneo-La Salle Games

Posted: September 2nd, 2008 | Author: Ben | Filed under: Ateneo | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments »

ADM 102: Introduction to Ateneo-La Salle Games
Thu/Sat/Sunday, 4:00 PM, Araneta Coliseum

Course Description
The course introduces the student-cheerer to the dynamics and principles of the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry. The course employs both theoretical and application dimensions. The theoretical phase exposes the student to the history of the rivalry, the tradition of cheering, the construction of the ideal Atenean 6th Man, and other theoretical concepts.

The application phase on the other hand requires the student to put into practice all the theoretical principles. These practices include, among others: effective skills in lining up for the games, cheering (pre-game, during the game, half-time and post-game), jeering, heckling, creating effective posters and banners for one’s favorite players and posing and smiling for Fabilioh.com.

Course Objectives
By the end of the course, the student should have been able to:

  • understand what it means to be the Sixth Man
  • understand the difference between an Atenean and La Sallite
  • integrated himself with the community of believers
  • develop his school spirit

Course Outline and Reading List

Chapter 1: What is School Spirit?

  • Required Readings:
    • Excerpts from the “History of the Ateneo”
    • The student’s “OrSem Manual”
    • “The Ateneo Cheerbook”
    • “Who and What is the Ateneo Sixth Man?”
    • Ruel De Vera’s “The Eagles Have Landed”
    • Selected Speeches of Angelico Sinjian (Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion)

Chapter 2: Knowing the Enemy

  • Required Readings:
    • SUSPENDED! The 2005 UAAP Scandal
    • “We Must Come From/Hit Them From Behind”
    • “What is Sports Science and Translation Management?”
    • “How To Spell Correctly During Cheerdance Competition”
  • Optional/Supplementary Readings
    • “No Cheering During Time Out”
    • “Get that Ball! — UE”
    • “Why are there Two Birds in UAAP?”
    • “Who let the (Bull)Dogs out?”
    • “You Cannot Overcheer Us!”
    • “NABRO: Equality or Social Injustice?”

Chapter 3: Pre-Game Rituals

  • Required Readings
    • “The Art of Lining Up”
    • “Sketching Great and Creative Posters and Banners for Your Favorite Players”
    • “Scalpers and Where To Find Them”
    • “Reserving Seats for Friends in Upper A and Upper B”
  • Optional Readings
    • “How to Jump From the Gen Ad to Upper B: A Step-By-Step Guide”
    • “How to Jump From Upper B to Upper A: A Step-By-Step guide”

Chapter 5: Game Time

  • Required Readings:
    • “Developing Your Endurance”
    • “The Psychology Behind Get That Ball
    • “Who are the Gang Green?”
    • “Half-time is Game-Time”
    • “Fly High” + “The Victory Song”

Chapter 6-A: When the Final Buzzer Beats (In case of Victory)

  • Required Readings
    • “The Song for Mary and the Proper Way to Sing It”
    • “How to sing The Song For Mary and Still Look Cute for Fabilioh.com”
    • “How To Argue with Sore Losers in PinoyExchange.com and Gameface.ph”

Chapter 6-B: When the Final Buzzer Beats (In case of Defeat)

  • Required Readings:
    • “Win or Lose, It’s The School We Choose: Deepening Your Spirituality — The Sesquicentennial Edition”
    • “Contemplating on the Meaning of Life: An Introduction”
    • “Surviving the Wrath of Fr. Adolfo Dacanay SJ”


Course Requirements

Written Long Test will assess your memorization of the tradition and history of the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry. The test items consist of Multiple Choice questions and an evaluation of True or False statements.

Oral Exam. The student will randomly draw two cheers from a lot. The student must cheer/sing the cheers he picked. Afterwards, he must be able to explain the significance of the cheer/song. He must also be able to identify when these cheers/songs are used.

Practical Exam:. The student must line up for tickets. This is a pass or fail exam. If the student is able to acquire a ticket, he automatically gets an A. If he doesn’t get any ticket, he must take the Make-Up Test.

Make-up Test: Negotiating with Scalpers. Students who wish to pass the first practical exam for the course but failed to do so must take the Make-Up test. The student must locate a scalper within the vicinity of Araneta Coliseum. This is not a pass or fail test. The student’s grade depends on how he was able to acquire a good ticket with the lowest possible price. The better the ticket with lower ticket price, the higher the grade.

Final Exam: Students are required to cheer during the game. The grade depends on the voice quality and frequency of the cheering.  The Ateneo standard grading system will be applied. Therefore the passing score for the Final Exam is 70%. Students who cannot stand up and cheer 70% of the time automatically fail the exam.

Bonus points are given to students who are able to convince others to cheer loudly, either through a well-articulated speech or forceful coercion. Extra points are also awarded to fans who make creative banners for their favorite players.

Written Long Test: 20%
Oral Exam: 20%
Practical Exam: 20%
Final Exam: 40%

Course Policies and Other Reminders

1. Plagiarism. Plagiarism is an extreme offense. Do not copy cheers from other schools.
2. Cellphone Use. Using your cellphone to place in bets is illegal. Do not get yourself into trouble.
3. Cuts. Once you are inside Araneta, you are not allowed to leave. You must watch all four quarters. Win or lose, you are not allowed to leave before the Song for Mary is sung. Doing so merits an automatic W for the course.

Course prepared by Migoy Lizada.

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Ateneo destroys NU, captures top seed in Final Four

Posted: September 1st, 2008 | Author: Ben | Filed under: Ateneo | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 77 Comments »

ATENEO de Manila will be the top seeds heading into this year’s Final Four.

The Blue Eagles found National University an easier prey than they did last season after an 83-58 triumph to formally secure their twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinal round of the 71st UAAP men’s basketball tournament last August 30, 2008 at the Philsports Arena.

Ateneo masterfully executed its game plan against NU in the early goings, sprinting to an 18-5 first quarter advantage.

The Blue Eagles, though, evoked memories of their bitter defeat against the same Bulldogs quintet last season that cost them the twice-to-beat cushion. They squandered a 16-point first quarter lead and found themselves trailing by one, 31-32, inside the four-minute mark of the second period.

But the perimeter troika of Chris Tiu, Jai Reyes and Eric Salamat conspired for one big play after another to turn a close encounter into a full-blown rout.

Tiu completed a three-point play, Reyes knocked in a triple and Salamat scored a breakaway bucket at the halftime buzzer as Ateneo posted a 49-37 lead after the first 20 minutes of action.

Ateneo continued its solid showing for the rest of the second half. A Salamat basket put the Blue and White up by 15, 65-50 with 8:14 in the fourth period. Norman Black’s wards even extended the advantage to 21 points on six straight points by Rabeh Al-Hussaini, the last of which came in the 5:14 mark of the final quarter.

The Katipunan outfit managed to keep its cool for the duration of the game as well. In the early part of the first quarter, NU center Raymond Aguilar was meted an unsportsmanlike foul after elbowing Ryan Buenafe in a loose-ball situation. Edwin Asoro was then assessed with the same foul in a play with Ateneo forward Nonoy Baclao, who was then warned by the officials for “trash-talking.”

Although the showdown against De La Salle will not be a no-bearing game for his squad, Black said he will use this game as a fitting way to prepare for the tougher battles in the Final Four.

“People will come there to watch and see how Ateneo and La Salle will fight it out,” said Black. “Every Ateneo-La Salle game is like a championship bout, so expect everything in that game.”

It will be an important game for La Salle as it is in the hunt for the last of the two twice-to-beat advantages in the semifinals.

“They’re going all out in our next game. But we need these kinds of games to sharpen us for the semifinals,” Black said.

Al-Hussaini paced the Blue Eagles with 20 points and six boards, while Tiu, Salamat and Reyes all scored in double-digits.

NU, meanwhile, which fell to 2-11, was bannered by Asoro’s 19 points.

The scores:

Ateneo 83 – Al-Hussaini 20, Tiu 16, Salamat 12, Reyes 11, Buenafe 9, Baclao 4, Nkemakolam 4, Long 3, Burke 2, Salva 2, Baldos 0, Chua 0, Escueta 0, Gonzaga 0.

NU 58 – Asoro 19, Galapon 7, Luy 7, Jahnke 6, Aguilar 4, Tungcul 4, Berry 3, Batac 2, Catamora 2, Garcia 2, Magat 2, dela Cruz 0, Ponferrada 0.

Quarter scores: 26-16; 49-37; 61-48; 83-58

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Original article here.


Al-Hussaini, Tiu send UST to fifth loss of the season

Posted: August 15th, 2008 | Author: Ben | Filed under: Ateneo | Tags: , , , , , , , | No Comments »

ARGUABLY the UAAP’s most explosive duo once again delivered for Ateneo de Manila University.

Chris Tiu hit the big outside shots while Rabeh Al-Hussaini delivered down low as the Blue Eagles were virtually unstoppable in disposing of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 85-76, in the 71st UAAP men’s basketball tournament last August 14, 2008 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Tiu, who is playing in his final year for the Blue Eagles, waxed hot to finish with 29 points, while Al-Hussaini went toe-to-toe with UST counterpart Jervy Cruz in the paint to tally 24 markers.

“We made our outside shots despite having a little problem in defending the shaded lane,” said Tiu, whose Blue Eagles upped their mark to a league-leading 8-1. “But we’ll take this win.”

Ateneo finished with a 14-of-31 clip from the paint, while UST shot 21-of-54.

“We’ve been hurting in the shaded lane, but the team with a high shooting percentage, of course, will win the game,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black. “We are aiming for the top two spots. I credit Al-Hussaini and Tiu for making crucial shots.”

Eric Salamat, who nearly suffered a dislocated jaw in the Eagles’ game against FEU last week, poured in 14 points.

The Growling Tigers threatened in the final period at 60-65, with Cruz scoring a jumper. But the Blue Eagles uncorked a 10-2 run to erect a 75-62 spread with 2:31 remaining.

UST, which never led throughout the game, slid to 4-5 and solo fifth place to fall a full game behind University of the East (5-4) in the hunt for the last semifinals berth.

Cruz had 23 points and 18 rebounds, while Dylan Ababou chipped in with 17 points for the Growling Tigers.

Ateneo stepped on the gas in the early going, with Tiu and Salamat scoring the points to help create a 20-7 lead with a minute to go in the first period.

The scores:

Ateneo 85 – Tiu 29, Al-Hussaini 24, Salamat 14, Austria 7, Reyes 4, Buenafe 2, Nkemakolam 2, Salva 2, Baclao 1, Baldos 0, Long 0.

UST 76 – Cruz 23, Ababou 17, Bautista 12, Allera 7, Fortuna 6, Canlas 3, Cuan 2, Gile 2, Mirza 2, Taylor 2, Camus 0, Fenequito 0.

Quarter scores: 20-11; 38-35; 63-55; 85-76

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Original article here.


Clutch Blue Eagles claw past UST, grab solo lead

Posted: August 3rd, 2008 | Author: Ben | Filed under: Ateneo | Tags: , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

ICE water ran through Ateneo de Manila University’s veins against one of the country’s oldest academic institutions.

The Blue Eagles pulled through when it mattered the most and carved out a 64-57 triumph over University of Santo Tomas to give them the solo lead at the end of the first round of eliminations of the 71st UAAP seniors basketball tournament last August 3, 2008 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Point guard Jai Reyes’ trey with 6:49 left in the third quarter gave the Blue Eagles their biggest lead, 39-29. And when the Tigers clawed their way back to a 54-52 lead thanks to back-to-back Khasim Mirza treys, the playmaker from Ateneo de Manila High School capped off a furious 9-0 run with a triple of his own with just 24 seconds left in the game.

Ateneo coach Norman Black said Reyes’ timely baskets underscored the squad’s tenacity on the defensive end, especially in the endgame.

“We just got back from what gave us a good start and that is playing good defense. We were beaten off the boards, but we made some good stops down the stretch and that was the most important thing,” said Black, whose wards improved to 6-1.

The Blue Eagles display a balanced attack against the Growling Tigers, with Rabeh Al-Hussaini leading the way with 17 points. Chris Tiu had 14, Ryan Buenafe added 12 and Reyes chipped in with 10.

Ex-West Negros College Mustang Nonoy Baclao had another splendid game as well, registering four blocks to go along with 11 rebounds.

All in all, Ateneo held the Tigers to just 26 percent from the field despite being outrebounded, 58-42.

Forward Dylan Ababou led UST, which dropped to 3-4, with 15 points. Big man Jervy Cruz was held to just eight points, and forced to take medium-range jumpers in lieu of his power game on the low block.

The scores:

Ateneo 64 – Al-Hussaini 17, Tiu 14, Buenafe 12, Reyes 10, Salamat 3, Baldos 2, Baclao 2, Nkemakolam 2, Long 1, Salva 1, Escueta 0, Austria 0.

UST 57 – Ababou 15, Allera 13, Cruz 8, Mirza 8, Fortuna 6, Bautista 3, Camus 2, Canlas 2, Fenequito 0, Gile 0.

Quarterscores: 13-12; 29-25; 49-45; 64-57

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Original article here.