'We let Game 2 slip away' - Casio

MANILA, Philippines – Even though he failed to end his UAAP career as a champion, JV Casio came out of the La Salle dugout with a smile on his face, thankful for being part of the Green Archers’ basketball program. “Thank you to the La Salle community, all our supporters, the management, my teammates, the La Salle brothers and everyone who supported and believed in us," said Casio, after the Archers’ 62-51 loss to the Ateneo Blue Eagles in Game 2 of the UAAP best-of-three title series. “I feel really blessed for becoming a part of the La Salle community and playing in the UAAP during my college basketball career. Thank you also to coach Franz Pumaren for giving me the opportunity to play for La Salle." In his final game as an Archer, Casio scored 18 points behind six-of-14 shooting from the field in La Salle’s Game 2 loss. He also had five rebounds, two assists and one steal before fouling out with still 2:48 left in the fourth quarter. Casio scored 12 points in La Salle’s 21-9 third-quarter production as he single-handedly brought the Archers within three, 50-47, entering the final 10 minutes of the game. But Ateneo proved steadier down the stretch and quashed La Salle’s repeated comeback tries to end the Archers’ bid to repeat. “Game 1 was really theirs (Ateneo) since we failed to stop (Rabeh) al-Hussaini, but Game 2 we let it slip away," said Casio, who is one of three La Salle players who won’t be coming back next season. Casio and Arthur Walsham used up their playing years, while Rico Maierhofer, Pumaren revealed, would be turning professional next year. “It’s too bad that the season ended this way for JV. We did not win but I am still thankful for his performance in the past five years he played with us," Pumaren said of his prized recruit from NCAA juniors’ powerhouse San Beda. With Ateneo holding a 59-49 lead with 1:21 left, the La Salle side of the Big Dome showed their appreciation to Casio by repeatedly chanting, “Thank you, JV". “I am really thankful to all our supporters. Despite the outcome, they still cheered for me," said a teary-eyed Casio, who aims to finish his Masters degree and at the same time play in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL). “Hopefully I could perform well in the coming PBL season so I could get the chance to play in the [Philippine Basketball Association]," Casio added. Casio even bumped into Chris Tiu, who also bid UAAP basketball goodbye, outside the La Salle dugout where they hugged and congratulated each other. Tiu was even heard saying that he would meet Casio in the PBA. Casio debuted for La Salle in 2003 where he won the Rookie of the Year award. In 2004, Casio helped La Salle win the UAAP crown, but the Archers returned the trophy after admitting that they used ineligible players. FEU, the runner-up that season, was awarded the championship. The following year, the Archers were swept by the Tamaraws in the 2005 Finals. La Salle served out its suspension in 2006 and was banned from competing in all UAAP sports. The Green Archers came back with a vengeance in Season 70 when they beat the UE Red Warriors to win the 2007 crown. Casio and Cholo Villanueva were named Finals co-MVPs. Meanwhile, De La Salle University formally acknowledged Ateneo de Manila University’s UAAP men’s basketball championship. GMANews.TV learned on Friday that Bro. Armin Luistro, president and chancellor of DLSU-Manila, extended a congratulatory gesture to Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, the AdMU president. “On behalf of the La Sallian community, let me congratulate the better team of Season 71," Luistro said. – GMANews.TV