ATENEO sweeps LA SALLE in the 2008 UAAP 71st season

September 26th, 2008 |

Author: admin

The Ateneo Blue Eagles dominated the court and captured the championship crown against the De La Salle Green Archers in the 71^st season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum on Thursday, September 25, 2008.

Ateneo swept the best-of-three series, and ending game 2 with 62-51 points. The win was Ateneo’s first title since 2002 and the fourth overall since joining the league in 1978.

This was the fourth UAAP championship titles of Ateneo and second this decade.

20,000 people jampacked the Coliseum of mostly students, faculty members, alumni and supporters of the two premiere universities in the country.

Coach Norman Black was ecstatic of the result of the team’s hard work. Black has been coaching the Blue Eagles for four year’s already and this was his first championship crown in the collegiate level.

Ateneo team captain Chris Tiu made up for his poor performance in the first game, contributing 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal.

Nonoy Baclao, who was later on named as the final’s most-valuable player, had 8 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks for the Blue Eagles.

The season’s most-valuable player, Ateneo center Rabeh Al-Hussaini, chipped in 7 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block.

Meanwhile, the Green Archers’ star player JV Casio finished with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal, while PJ Walsham and Rico Maierhofer combined for 15 points.

The Archers inched within just 3 points, 47-50, going into the final 10 minutes, with Casio’s triple behind the arc.

Unfortunately, La Salle’s Center Maierhofer was thrown out of the game for taunting.

The Eagles displayed a very impressive defense down the stretch, as they limited the Archers to just four points.

In the first championship game, Ateneo wins over the Green Archers 69-61.

Even if I’m not an Eagle’s or Archer’s fan, still I congratulate the Blue Eagles - the 2008 UAAP 71 Men’s Basketball Champions!