Ateneo mentor Norman Black is in cloud 9 right now as it was his first championship win against Coach Franz Pumaren and the rest of The De La Salle Green Archers since leading the Blue Eagles in his 4 year coaching tenure.
“I’d like to dedicate this victory to the community,” said Black.
“It’s different because in the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) a lot of my success were also as a player. And I’ve never coached a college team before so it was a learning experience."
Rabeh Al-Hussaini's season MVP win was made even sweeter after his Ateneo squad swept the Green Archers in Game 2. The Blue Eagles big man has been a force to reckon with the whole season and his 31 points, 9 rebound performance, just one rebound shy of a double-double in Game 1 of the UAAP Finals last Sunday was proof enough to bag the MVP award.
Ateneo's Nonoy Baclao was named the UAAP Finals MVP. He was also the league's DOY (Defensive Player of the Year) who provided defensive spark for the Blue Eagles that caused a lot of trouble for the Green Archers' offense.
De La Salle's Rico Maierhofer wasn't a very happy camper and wasn't very supportive of Ateneo's win over his team. He was obviously, very vocal about it after getting T'd up with 1:31 left in the 3rd quarter and got booted out of the game. La Salle Coach Franz Pumaren co-signs with his big man Maierhofer for the poor officiating of the game. Jvee Casio, in his final year (and game) with the Green Archers was also in foul trouble the whole game then he was fouled out late in the 4th Quarter. A "W" over Ateneo would've forced a Game 3 but it was all Ateneo all game long.
When it was all said and done, the smoke was cleared, Ateneo emerged victorious either way. A win is a win. The Championship win for Ateneo meant so much for guard Chris Tiu. A good gift per se, for a player who played his final game in a Blue Eagles jersey. It's his first 'Chip and what could be better to win it all against La Salle. Tiu was very emotional about the win and who can blame him. The win erased their championship loss with the UST Growling Tigers in 2006.
“I couldn’t describe the feeling. I can’t control my emotion because this is my first championship in the UAAP,” said Tiu who came back hard at La Salle after being held to two points last Sunday.
“But this is sweet because it’s my last year,” he added.
Now that season 71 has already closed, it's a new chapter for the Ateneo Blue Eagles as Champions. Come season 72 of the UAAP, it's gonna be their turn to defend their title and rest assured, The De La Salle Green Archers will not forget their loss against the Blue Eagles and will come back for another Championship run. It's very likely that their paths will cross again when the Championship is on the line.
For the Ateneo Blue Eagles, the party's just begun....
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